Thread by @phoenixsgallery

In honor of Keanu Reeves’ 56th birthday, here’s a thread about Keanu and River Phoenix’s friendship:

River and Keanu met through River’s ex-girlfriend Martha Plimpton. She was Keanu’s love interest in Parenthood (1989). After Parenthood, River and Keanu started working on I Love You to Death (1990). During the shooting, they started to hangout together and became friends

It was also during I Love You to Death that River and Keanu got the offer for My Own Private Idaho (1991) dir. Gus Van Sant

Contrary to popular belief, Keanu didn't drive all the way to River's house in Florida to give him the script. They accepted the roles together

“I think he's the best. He asks questions that I don't normally think about sometimes. He works in a way that, at least for me, showed me how to get it more in my blood and more imaginative.” — Keanu Reeves on River Phoenix

“Keany, he's a sweetheart. People don't understand him. He's on this earth, he's a together guy. He'll rule the world-very smart, indigenous, and very productive.” — River Phoenix on Keanu Reeves

“I’ve always loved you, River. River is my best friend and I don’t have many of them.”

Keanu was shooting Speed (1994) with Sandra Bullock when River died. Sandra also worked with River in The Thing Called Love (1993)

“All I can say is that I have never felt a thing like that before in my life,” he says quietly. “I was very sad, and something beyond sad. I don't know what it is, just that you sob for hours.” — Keanu Reeves on River's death

“River felt differently about things than I do. He allowed the suffering in the world to get to him and he wanted everyone to be as free and happy as he was.”

“River was a remarkable artist and a rare human being. I miss him every day.”

— Keanu Reeves on River Phoenix

“I don’t have any friends in the business. Just River. Oh where, oh where has my Juliet gone?” — Keanu Reeves on River Phoenix (1994)

Throughout the years, Keanu talks about River dearly.

“I enjoyed his company. Very much. And enjoyed his mind and his spirit and his soul. We brought good out in each other. He was a real original thinker. He was not the status quo. In anything.” — Keanu Reeves

“Keanu and River were kind of soulmates, they had known each other for a few years… but they were.”
— Gus Van Sant (Director of My Own Private Idaho)

“I miss him dearly. Fucking sucks. I know so many people miss him dearly.”
— Keanu Reeves (Esquire Magazine, 2017)

Keanu Reeves talking about My Own Private Idaho and River Phoenix

Currently, Keanu’s last statement about River was in the 26th anniversary of his death for People Magazine because of Rain Phoenix’s album release “River” in 2019

“River's the best, he's the god man, he's a king. I pray to the church of River Phoenix” — Keanu Reeves for The Word (1992)