When Harris' remarks are relayed to Phoenix, his face tightens at the mention of his late brother, River. (It was Joaquin who made the 911 call when River, 23, collapsed from a drug overdose outside L.A.'s Viper Room in 1993.) But he actually gives River the credit for helping him discover acting: ''We had always been very expressive as children and encouraged,'' says the actor who, with his four sisters and brothers (sisters Rain, 27, and Summer, 21, also act), was raised by former missionary parents. ''And I think you just start to follow in the footsteps of your siblings. I mean, if someone's listening to the Smiths, you start listening to the Smiths. The same went for acting....''
And apparently petty larceny, too. Brought up as a strict vegan, Phoenix recalls how he and his sister would occasionally steal forbidden candy bars, ''just to, you know, rebel and have some chocolate.'' Joaquin Phoenix: mad emperor, reluctant celebrity, unrepentant shoplifter. Terribly vexing indeed.
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