Who is Jodean Bottom?
Jodean Bottom is the half-sister of Joaquin Phoenix and River Phoenix. Her father abandoned her after an illicit affair with her mother. She’s also the half-sister to Liberty Phoenix, Summer Phoenix, and Rain Phoenix.
Joaquin Phoenix and River Phoenix are famous Hollywood movie actors. After River heard of his step-sister, Jodean, he sought to reunite her with the Phoenix family. Although Jodean Bottom has stayed out of the limelight for the most part, she has played an important role in her siblings’ lives and careers. Please continue reading to learn more about her.
Profile summary
| Name | Jodean Trust Bottom |
| Age | 60 years |
| Date of birth | 29th February 1964 |
| Birthplace | Amadora, Portugal |
| Zodiac | Pisces |
| Nationality | American |
| Gender | Female |
| Occupation | unknown |
| Height | 5’7 |
| Father | John Lee Bottom |
| Siblings | Liberty Phoenix, Summer Phoenix, River Phoenix, Joaquin Phoenix, Rain Phoenix |
| Niece | Scarlette Jasmine Phoenix-Asch |
| Net worth | Unknown |
Jodean Bottom Biography
Jodean Bottom was born to a Christian family on 29th February 1964 in Amadora, Portugal. Her parents were missionaries John Lee Bottom and Trinity, living in Portugal. They had Jodean in Portugal but later moved to the United States, where Jodean last saw her father. Her father left the US for Canada to avoid being drafted into the military during the Vietnam War.
Jodean was raised solely by her mother, Trinity, due to her father’s absence. She became popular after River Phoenix found out about her and took responsibility for caring for her as his sister.
Jodean Bottom Father
Jodean Bottom’s father, John Lee Bottom, also known as John Phoenix, was a missionary born on April 5, 1947, to Robert Merrill Bottom and Beulah Ernestine Ingram. He grew up in a poor neighborhood in Fontana, California. His parents couldn’t afford his education, which led him to drop out. He worked as a Gardener and as a Carpenter to earn a living. He later joined the Children of God cult in 1973 and rose to the level of Archbishop.
John got into an extramarital affair with Trinity and gave birth to Jodean in 1964. Trinity has not been heard from since her child’s birth.
In September 1969, John Lee married Arlyn Phoenix, whom he met in California. The couple lived in the Children of God cult headquarters at Crockett, Texas. They often traveled to Mexico, South America, and other parts of the United States as missionaries for “The Children of God” cult.
John Lee left Jodean and her mother for Canada to avoid being drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, which started on November 1, 1955, till April 30, 1975. John was 18 when the government conscripted men born from January 1, 1944, to December 31, 1950.
On August 23, 1970, they gave birth to River Phoenix. Two years later, they had Rain Phoenix. On October 28, 1974, two years later, they gave to Joaquin Phoenix. Two years later, they had Liberty Phoenix. After another two years, they had Summer Phoenix, their last child and daughter.
While serving as “The Children of God” missionaries, they went by Jochebeb (Arlyn) and Amram (John).
Their first child, River Phoenix, was sexually abused by a cult member. Subsequently, they later discovered the dirty secrets of the cult and left in 1977. They escaped on a trolley-filled freighter, which dropped them in Englewood, Florida, to live with Arlyn’s parents for a while.
John and Arlyn changed their surname from Bottom to Phoenix after they left the group to start a new life – this is why Jodean Bottom has a different surname from her step-siblings.
In 1997, John and Arlyn divorced. They were married for 27 years before filing for divorce, reasons unknown. In 2001, Arlyn re-married another man called Jeffrey Weisberg.
John Lee Bottom later died in 2005 from cancer at 68.
Jodean Bottom Family
The Phoenix family welcomed Jodean after River Phoenix discovered her. She had a boyfriend, and they shared a daughter, whose name is withheld. However, her boyfriend was never in their life. Let’s look at a rundown of her family’s profile. I already gave details about her father; we will continue with the rest of her family below.
Arlyn Phoenix
Arlyn Phoenix was born on December 31, 1994, in the Bronx, New York, to her Jewish parents, Margaret and Meyer Dunetz. She is also known as Heart Phoenix and was raised with her two sisters, Rhoda and Merle.
She left New York in 1968 for California, where she married her husband, John Lee Bottom. She has worked as an executive secretary at N.B.C. and as the Executive Director of The Florida School of Traditional Midwifery. She established the River Phoenix Centre for Peacebuilding with her second husband, Jeffery, in memory of her eldest son, River Phoenix.
River Phoenix
River Phoenix, the eldest son of John Lee Bottom, was born on August 23, 1970. He passed away on October 31, 1993, from a drug overdose aged 23. He started acting when he was ten. He was famous for his role in the Support Me movie and went on to feature in blockbusters such as Indiana Jones and Running Empty. He was also part of a band called Aleka Attic, formed by his sister Rain.
Rain Phoenix
Rain Phoenix Jodean’s half-sister was born in Texas on November 21, 1972. She is an actress and musician. She began her music career when she was 15 and formed the band Aleka’s Attic with her elder brother, River.
Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix, born on October 28, 1974, is the most popular member of the Phoenix family because of his immense success in the movie industry. He won the Best Actor award at the Venice International Film Festival for his role in The Master and is known for his role in The Joker movie.
Liberty Phoenix
Liberty Phoenix, born on July 5, 1976, is the fourth child of John Lee Phoenix and Arlyn Phoenix. She is an actress and a singer. She manages River Phoenix Centre for Peacebuilding, a charity organization founded by her mother in memory of River Phoenix.
Summer Phoenix
Summer Phoenix was born on December 10, 1978, and is the youngest in the Phoenix family. She has appeared in various movie productions and has credit for some movies. She is married to Casey Affleck and has two children. She was featured in Roost and Mary Pickford: Love Wild.
Jodean Bottom Net worth
Jodean Bottom’s net worth is not estimated at the time of this publication. She has maintained a low-key life, and her family supports her.
Despite her business success, she remains close to her family and has supported and inspired her brother Joaquin. She has often been credited with helping Joaquin overcome his addiction and mental health issues and has played a crucial role in his personal and professional life. While Jodean may not be a household name, her contributions to her family and the wider world have not gone unnoticed.