Liberty Phoenix is a famous American actress. She is just one luminary in a constellation of talent. She is known for her roles in television shows like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Kate’s Secret,
Liberty has a passion for art and creativity, which she shares with her siblings. They form a harmonious and vibrant family, each sibling contributing a unique note to their shared interests. Liberty’s sisters, Rain and Summer, once partnered with her to create the punk band The Causey Way.
Although the band may be in the past, the strong bond between the sisters continues to endure.
Although they have followed different paths in life, Liberty remains a constant source of support for her sister Rain, who is currently focused on her new musical project, the Papercranes. In addition to her work in entertainment, Liberty, who is married to Andy Lord, also dedicates her efforts to philanthropy by promoting the cause of the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding.
The Phoenix family narrative takes a poignant turn with the remembrance of River Phoenix, the promising talent whose life was tragically cut short in 1993. His untimely demise at the age of 23, succumbing to the ravages of a drug overdose outside the Viper Room, cast a shadow over the family. Joaquin, another luminary in the Phoenix constellation, witnessed the heart-wrenching incident.
The Phoenix siblings continue to carry the torch of creativity and dedication to their craft despite facing challenges. River, nominated for an Oscar before his passing, left an unforgettable impact on the entertainment industry. His sisters, including Joaquin, have also contributed to the family’s legacy by adding their own stories to the rich tapestry of Hollywood.
The Phoenix family goes beyond the fame and extravagance of the entertainment industry. They are committed to a vegan lifestyle and actively participate in various social causes. Their approach is holistic, aiming to make a positive impact on the world. By delving deeper into the lives of these exceptional individuals, we discover a tale of talent, unity, and a collective mission to make a lasting impact on both the stage and society.
Who are Liberty Phoenix’s Siblings?
Liberty Phoenix and his brothers and sisters have always stuck together, no matter what.
They didn’t have the usual kind of growing up. Their mom and dad, John and Arlyn “Heart” Phoenix, always moved around. When Joaquin came into the picture in 1974 (the third kid), the family was part of a group called Children of God in Puerto Rico.
1. Jodean Bottom (February 19, 1964 – Present)
Jodean Bottom is the oldest of the Phoenix siblings, and she’s their half-sister because her dad, John Lee Bottom, had her with Trinity during an affair. Unlike her famous brothers and sisters, she doesn’t like being in the spotlight and isn’t into showbiz.
The family didn’t even know Jodean existed until one of River’s friends told him about his dad’s secret. River took action and connected with Jodean, and happily, she became part of their family.
Jodean grew up during the Vietnam War when the draft was happening. Her dad went to Canada to avoid being drafted, so she never really knew him.
2. River Phoenix (August 23, 1970 – October 31, 1993)
River Phoenix was famous for his amazing acting in movies like Stand by Me, Running on Empty, and My Own Private Idaho, where he played a gay hustler looking for his mom.
People loved his acting because it felt so real; he wasn’t a trained actor but someone going through real struggles. His talent was something special.
When he was 10, he started acting and doing TV commercials before getting a big role in Stand by Me (1986). River was the first child of John Lee Bottom and Arlyn Dunetz, and he called his parents “hippieish.”
River cared greatly about animals and the environment, speaking up for animal rights and conservation.
But his true love was music. He taught himself guitar at five and jammed with friends like Johnny Depp and Keanu Reeves. He even had a folk/rock band called Aleka’s Attic with his sister Rain.
Sadly, like many young stars, he struggled with drug addiction. He passed away on Halloween after a drug binge at The Viper Room in Hollywood, a club partly owned by Johnny Depp. The Viper Room closed temporarily to remember and honor River’s life.
3. Rain Phoenix (November 21, 1972 – Present)
Rain Phoenix, whose real name is Rain Joan of Arc Bottom, is quite well-known in the world of Phoenix fame, and she resembles her younger brother, Joaquin.
Rain had to grow up quickly, especially because she was there when their brother, River, had a tough time in 1993.
She spoke about it in a 2011 interview, saying there’s sadness in not seeing him physically, but he’s a part of everything she does.
Rain is a talented musician and joined River’s band, Aleka’s Attic when she was just 16. After he passed away, she finished all his unmixed songs, finding it healing.
In 2019, she released a whole album, “River,” on the 26th anniversary of his death. It took her a long time to feel joy sharing her brother with others, but now she does.
4. Joaquin Phoenix (October 28, 1974 – Present)
Joaquin Phoenix is the most famous of the Phoenix siblings. You might know him as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line or the Joker. He has many awards, like a Grammy, two Golden Globes, and even an Academy Award.
The New York Times calls him one of the greatest actors of the 21st century. He’s married to actress Rooney Mara, and they have a son.
Fun Fact: Joaquin is really into animal rights and has been vegan since he was three, probably inspired by his brother River. He’s made documentaries to tell people about the environmental problems with factory farming.
5. Summer Phoenix (December 10, 1978 – Present)
Summer Phoenix is the youngest among the Phoenix siblings, and she’s 43!
She started acting as a kid, just like her brothers River and Joaquin. You might have seen her in shows like Murder, She Wrote, Growing Pains, and Swamp Thing. Even in 2019, she was in a short film called Skin, playing a character named Lucy.
She got together with actor Casey Affleck after they worked on a play called This is Our Youth in 2002.
They got engaged in 2003 and had their first son, Indiana August. They married in 2006 and later had another son, Atticus, but they decided to go separate ways in 2017.
Besides acting, Summer is also into fashion. She opened a cool vintage clothing store in Manhattan called Some Odd Rubies.
Below is a table summarising the facts about Liberty Phoenix’s siblings.
| Sibling | Date of Birth | Status | Career |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jodean Bottom | February 19, 1964 | Alive | Private individual, not involved in showbiz |
| River Phoenix | August 23, 1970 | Deceased | Renowned actor known for roles in “Stand by Me,” “Running on Empty,” etc. |
| Rain Phoenix | November 21, 1972 | Alive | Musician; part of the band Aleka’s Attic and solo artist |
| Joaquin Phoenix | October 28, 1974 | Alive | Award-winning actor known for roles in “Walk the Line” and “Joker” |
| Summer Phoenix | December 10, 1978 | Alive | Actress and fashion enthusiast; appeared in shows like “Swamp Thing” |
Change of Last Name
Back in 1979, when their youngest child, Summer, was born, John and Arlyn Bottom decided to change the family’s last name to “Phoenix.”
Liberty’s parents chose that name because it represents a fresh start, reminiscent of their departure from a cult after difficult times.
And it worked out well because, just three years later, the Phoenix kids started getting acting jobs.
You won’t find any cast of early ’80s movies or TV shows with the name “River Bottom” in the cast list because they were already using “Phoenix” by then.
The Siblings Were Each Born in Different Locations
The Bottoms family had a nomadic life, even when they started having kids. Not many kids get to travel as much as the Bottoms kids did, especially if their parents aren’t in the military.
The parents of John and Arlyn had kids, each of whom was born in different places.
Their first child, River, was born in 1970 in Madras, Oregon. Two years later, they were in Crockett, Texas, for the second child, Rain. The third kid, Joaquin, was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Liberty, the only one born outside the U.S., came into the world in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1976. She was actually named Libertad, which means “liberty” or “freedom” in Spanish, but she goes by Liberty.
Finally, the fifth child, Summer, was born in Winter Park, Florida. So, that’s three U.S. states, one U.S. territory, and a whole different country as “home cities” for this one family.