Birthday Wishes: Joaquin Phoenix (39)

What do you say about a man like Joaquin Phoenix? The actor, who turns 39 today, has over 42 credits to his unusual name, including several highly anticipated films on the way — like Her — that critics are already praising before their release.

Though he got his start as a youngster in small TV roles under the name Leaf Phoenix, Joaquin climbed the ladder of Hollywood acclaim to become a revered and — let’s be honest — intimidating presence in the film industry. His reputation for immersing himself in his roles precedes him, and it’s definitely earned him innumerable unforgettable starring performances. He was the confused and misguided Freddie Quell in The Master, a shell of a man who got his mind filled by a charming leader who helped him find a home. In Walk the Line, he starred as Johnny Cash, playing the country star to perfection as he battled his demons and faced his love onscreen. We also learned that he could sing pretty damn well (and do a mean Cash impersonation), when Phoenix provided his own vocals for the film’s soundtrack.

As Mel Gibson’s brother Merrill in Signs, he was the man to save his family from alien destruction, using his wits and his baseball skills to “swing away” (sorry) to set up their demise. As the young Emperor Commodus in Gladiator, he took over an empire just to get some sweet, sweet revenge.

And of course, in 2010, Phoenix had his great meltdown/beard-growth/retirement from acting/rap career, which turned out to be a huge ruse, and actually his starring turn in Casey Affleck’s mockumentary I’m Still Here. Whether or not a teensy bit of that period of his life might have been true is still a mystery, but we’ll leave that in the ether with his rap days.

So here’s to you, Joaquin. May you have at least 39, glorious, weird years left in you. Her and The Immigrant look divine.

Photo credit: Cinemasoldier