River Phoenix: Religious Cults, Deadly Speedballs, and a Disappearing Act
River Phoenix was a once in a generation actor. His death shocked Hollywood and is still hard for many to accept. His deadly drug overdose has never been fully explained, but his back story—born into a religious cult, steeped in immersive movie role research, constantly toying with his famous identity—does explain the big talent he brought to the screen and the big heart he brought into the world.
This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including child sexual abuse and sex trafficking.
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The skinny
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