John Lee Bottom was the father of famous Hollywood actors, including Oscar-winner Joaquin Phoenix and the late River Phoenix. His life was full of interesting experiences, from working as a simple gardener to traveling the world as a missionary, and finally supporting his children to become successful in entertainment.
Personal Info
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | John Lee Bottom |
| Also Known As | John Phoenix |
| Born | 1947 |
| Birthplace | Fontana, California, USA |
| Died | 2015 (Age 68) |
| Cause of Death | Cancer |
| Occupation | Carpenter, Gardener, Missionary |
| Spouse | Arlyn Phoenix (married 1969-1997) |
| Children | River, Rain, Joaquin, Liberty, Summer Phoenix, and Jodean Bottom |
| Famous For | Father of Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix and late actor River Phoenix |
Early Life
John Lee Bottom was born in 1947 in Fontana, California. His parents were Robert Merrill Bottom and Beulah Ernestine Ingram. John grew up in a poor family. He could not continue school after high school because of money problems. He started working as a gardener to pay for his basic needs.
Meeting His Wife
In 1968, John met Arlyn Dunetz while traveling in California. They fell in love quickly and got married on September 13, 1969. The young couple traveled along the West Coast and picked fruits and vegetables to make money. Their first son, River, was born in 1970.
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Life as a Missionary
After their daughter Rain was born in 1972, John and Arlyn joined a religious group called “The Children of God.” They worked as missionaries and traveled to Mexico, Puerto Rico, and South America. Their son Joaquin was born in Puerto Rico in 1974, and Liberty was born in Venezuela in 1976.
After some years, John and Arlyn learned that the group did bad things. They did not agree with these practices. In 1977, they left the group and came back to the United States.
A New Beginning
The family moved to Winter Park, Florida. Their youngest daughter, Summer, was born there in 1978. The family decided to change their last name from “Bottom” to “Phoenix.” A phoenix is a special bird from old stories that comes back to life from ashes. This name meant they wanted a fresh start. The family also became vegan, which means they stopped eating meat.
Supporting His Children
John worked very hard for his family, sometimes fourteen or fifteen hours a day. But an old back injury made it hard for him to continue this heavy work. The family decided to move to Los Angeles, California.
In Los Angeles, Arlyn got a job at NBC television. She found an agent named Iris Burton who helped their children start acting. The children performed on the streets to practice. Soon, they got real jobs in movies and TV shows.
His Children’s Success
River Phoenix became a very famous actor in the 1980s. He was in popular movies like “Stand by Me” and “Running on Empty.” John was proud but also worried. He thought Hollywood might hurt his children. He tried to protect them, but they made their own choices.
Sadly, John’s worries came true. In 1993, River Phoenix died at age 23 in Los Angeles. He took too many drugs. This was very sad for the whole family.
But John’s other children kept working. Joaquin Phoenix became one of Hollywood’s best actors. He won an Oscar in 2020 for playing the Joker. Rain Phoenix became an actress and singer. Liberty and Summer also worked in movies.
A Family Secret
Before John married Arlyn, he had another relationship. He had a daughter named Jodean Bottom in 1964. The family did not know about her for many years. When River was six years old, he found out about his half-sister. River wanted to help Jodean and make her feel like family.
His Final Years
John did not like being famous. He stayed away from cameras and lived a quiet life. In 2015, John passed away at age 68. He had cancer. His children said he was a good father who taught them important values like working hard and caring for others.
His Legacy
John Lee Bottom was not famous, but he had a big impact on his children. All his children became successful. They care about animals, nature, and peace. The River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding was made to remember River. It helps communities around the world.
Joaquin Phoenix often talks about his family with love. The lessons from his father stayed with him all his life. John’s life was not perfect. He made mistakes. But he did his best for his family. He raised children who help the world. That is something to remember.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who was John Lee Bottom? He was the father of famous actors Joaquin Phoenix and River Phoenix.
2. When did John Lee Bottom die? He died in 2015 at age 68 from cancer.
3. How many children did he have? He had six children: River, Rain, Joaquin, Liberty, Summer, and Jodean.
4. What was his job? He worked as a gardener and carpenter.
5. Why did he change his family name? He changed it from “Bottom” to “Phoenix” for a fresh start in 1978.
6. Was he part of a religious group? Yes, he joined “The Children of God” but left in 1977.
7. Where was he born? He was born in Fontana, California in 1947.
8. Who was his wife? His wife was Arlyn Phoenix. They married in 1969 and divorced in 1997.
9. Did he support his children’s acting? Yes, but he worried Hollywood might hurt them.
10. What is his legacy? His children became successful actors and activists who help the world.
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