Best Week Ever posted the video below of actor Joaquin Pheonix, 34, announcing his retirement from acting while at a benefit for the late Paul Newman’s charity on October 27th. Wearing sunglasses and looking unkempt, Phoenix told a reporter from Extra! in a kind of mumbling monotone, “I want to take this opportunity… also to give you the exclusive and just talk a little bit about the fact that this will be my last performance as an actor… I’m not doing films anymore.” He then referred to his friend Casey Affleck, standing next to him, and said “It’s Casey’s time now.” When the reporter asked him if he was kidding he said “no,” and then got annoyed and walked away. Casey stuck around looking kind of surprised and when asked if Joaquin was really going to retire he said “yeah, I guess he’s going to get into music.”
A couple of you speculated in the links on Friday when we posted this story that Phoenix was on something, and he definitely seems at least hungover. It’s hard to tell with that kind of thing, and maybe the guy is just genuinely fed up with acting. His rep confirmed the news that he wanted to retire and focus on his music career. His last film, Two Lovers, was shot with Gwyneth Paltrow and she probably nagged him incessantly about his diet and exercise habits.
Phoenix was seen on the red carpet for Two Lovers at the AFI Film Festival in Los Angeles on Saturday. He posed with his other Two Lovers costar, Vinessa Shaw, and the director, James Grey. He confirmed his retirement by holding up his clenched fists to show the scrawled words “Good” and “Bye!” written on his fingers below the knuckles. Phoenix puffed on a cigarette as he walked the carpet and made Jack Black-type triumphant gestures. He seems pretty serious about his retirement and he wants us to know about it. At least Gwyneth wasn’t there to ruin his moment.
This guy has come a long way from his former heart throb status and that’s probably his intent.
Photo credit: WENN and Bauergriffin
He looks like Jim Morrison. 😯
I don’t know about “heart throb status” but I just want to bring him home with me, make him take a bath and cook for him. His issues aren’t so big that the love of a good woman couldn’t help!
Agree, kaiser. I’m a sucker for these mixed-up, f*d up, muddled up boys. All they need is a little bit of TLC. You’re nearer (and as you pointed out elsewhere, I’m busy), so you should do it.
I think I read that his parents were members of some cult. He and and remaining siblings prob do have issues.
G, I’ll make him pork chops. Then he’ll love me forever. 8)
*wait, he’s vegan, isn’t he? I’ll grill him some veggies.
after the loss of his brother river years ago, i’m sure he does have some demons.
i hope that music and kaiser will help to soothe those worrisome issues! 😉
Joaquin is easily one of my favorite actors, but this need to make a spectacle of his “retirement” is annoying. Ditch the histrionics and just stop making films, for Christ’s sakes. And we’ll see you in a year or so when you change your mind.
Codzilla:
Yes, yes and yes!
I have to agree with the above. With all the musicians trying to get expand into acting I think it’s only a matter of time before he goes back to it – even if it takes ten years.
High out of his mind. He’ll be dead before Winehouse.
Thank you, Codzilla, I was going to say the same thing. I definitely like Joaquin and I think he’s a great actor, but yeah, OK, we get it drama llama, now put up or shut up already. 🙄
OH – and I meant to add – he’s definitely had a major drug addiction going on for a while now. There was a blind item not too long ago (wish I could find it, it SCREAMED Joaquin) and one of the hints was something like “do you want your parents to go through this AGAIN” or something along those lines.
Hopefully he gets help. 🙁
this is one actor i really like. but i guess it´s for the better when he quits. he never liked the spotlight and he seemed troubled for years.
I guess I was wrong….I did see his “bye! good” on his hands, homeboy may not be the most sober of souls.
That’s such an uncomfortable interview. jeez.
That’s weird that him and casey affleck are friends because they SOOO remind me of eachother. “It’s casey’s time now”…so weird. Casey would totally play Joaquin in a biopic about his life. I really want to make some “walk the line” vs. “line of coke” biopic joke right now. hehe.
p.s. I really miss river phoenix. I surely hope Joaquin gets the help he needs, Kaiser. Don’t let there be another one.
He’s one of my favorites. I pray he doesn’t follow the same path as River. But, he looks like he’s headed that way at 100mph. Disturbing and very sad.
Oh my after watching the video and repeating a previous comment he seems to be fast forwarding to Jim Morrison’s last stages with the bloat and aloofness(looks to be drug induced). I hope he gets help fast because he looks to be in real trouble.
Ps, others mentioned about why hasn’t his family pushed him into rehab… no one can make an addict do anthing they don’t want to do. It is extremely hard to have someone committed.
His family was a part of the City of God movement. If you have the time, the cult is worth a wikipedia trip or two… but it’s very disturbing. Lots of sexualization of children so be forewarned; River says that he lost his virginity at 4.
It helps to explain the drug use.
isn’t casey affleck also his brother-in-law? thought he had married joaquin’s sister, summer phoenix…
It’s the Children of God.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_God#Recent_teachings
So has he been ill since last MAY? “flu”?
Did playing Johnny Cash get to him or the new Indiana Jones? or is he feeling the age-pressure-family-procreation thing. bah
Hands off, Kaiser. I will woo him with my mad vegetable skills. If I can make veggies palatable for a five-year-old, this crusty junkie doesn’t stand a chance.
He can sober up on my “casting couch”.
it isn’t fair to automatically blame parents for their kids’ problems.
But when it comes to the Phoenix family, the parents have a lot to answer for.
Jaundice – *fuming* Whoever makes the best bean curd shall prevail. 😈
Mollination – Thank you, I *will* take good care of him. 8)
BYYEEEEEE !!! You were only in 2 movies I liked anyway.
I was truly moved by his performance as Johnny Cash. Reese Witherspoon was great in that movie but he should have got the award, not her. Life imitating art.
bye!! good
ya, hes not sober there at all.
i feel bad for him but i hate when celebs make a big showy “im retiring” announcement, like people are going to BEG them not to go!! or something.
just go if youre going to go.
Kaiser – “best bean curd” – hilarious!
Perpetua, I’m confused, was Joaquin really in the latest Indiana Jones??? I think you mean Shia LeBeouf.
He’s never liked the spotlight, but why quit acting altogether? There are plenty of huge actors who make a film a year and manage to stay well out of the way of the papparazzi.
Kaiser – I’ll see your bean curd and raise you organic ho’made momos. There isn’t a hippie alive who can resist its Tibetan wiles.
I think the first I’ll do when Joaquin comes over for dinner is pour him my speciality – an extra heavy vodka and rubbing alcohol. After about three or four of them, I imagine he’ll get a little tipsy and pass out on my floor. I’ll spend the next couple hours getting a serious contact high while gently running my fingers through his greasy, greasy hair.
Some will call it infatuation, but we’ll call it love.
Jaundice 😯 😆 😯
Errr…okay, you can have him. I’ll make do with Sean Bean.
why do famous actors/actresses think that they can just become “musicians” without actually paying any sort of dues or actually working in that side of the industry ever.. and the crazy thing is the guy is average when it comes to music yet they give him money because he’s famous. Why can’t the rich and famous ever stick to what it is they are actually good at.. he is no longer a respectable person … gross….why why why 😕
Im not really fellin this jack black look he is goin for. He is usually really attractive but he looks like he is messed up on some good ish. 😯