Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara 'name baby after actor's late brother'
Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara have reportedly paid homage to the actor’s late brother with their new baby’s name.
The couple, who are notoriously private about their personal lives, are thought to have welcomed a baby boy into the world last month.
According to reports, Director Victor Kossakovsky revealed at the 2020 Zurich Film Festival that Joaquin and Rooney have called their son River.
When asked where the executive producer of Kossakovsky’s new documentary film, Joaquin, was, the director said: "He just got a baby, by the way, his name was… a beautiful son called River, so he cannot promote it now."
River Phoenix, who starred in the 1986 film Stand By Me, died from a drug overdose outside the Viper Room club in Hollywood in 1993. He was just 23-years-old.
Joker star Joaquin was incredibly close with River and in January he opened up to 60 Minutes in the US about his brother’s passing.
“I feel like in virtually every movie that I made, there was a connection to River in some way,’ Joaquin said.
“And I think that we’ve all felt his presence and guidance in our lives in numerous ways.”
He went on to say that his family were completely oblivious to just how successful River had become until his death, as they didn’t watch TV or read magazines.
“River was a really substantial actor and movie star, and we didn't really know it,” he went on to say.
“So during that time in which you're most vulnerable, there are helicopters flying over. There are people that are trying to sneak onto your land.
“Certainly, for me, it felt like it impeded on the mourning process, right?”
Back in May, an insider told US Weekly: "Rooney is about six months along. Joaquin is great and has been accompanying her to appointments."
The couple are believed to have gotten engaged in July 2019 after dating for just over one year.
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