Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "River Phoenix" in English language version.
James Cameron had originally considered River Phoenix for the role, but the young actor tragically passed away before he could be asked to play the leading man part.
The image of actor River Phoenix as a quiet, clean-cut member of Hollywood's youth fraternity has been shattered by autopsy results that showed he died from a mix of cocaine and heroin.[dead link]
His attitudes and ethics obviously echo the 60's sensibilities of his parents, but it was the 8-year-old River who persuaded his parents to give up milk and eggs. The chickens that lay eggs are so frustrated, he said. There's no sunlight in egg farms. It's like a concentration camp. Just the squealing of thousands of birds.
