Joaquin Phoenix, who plays the Joker, made rare comments about his brother’s death in a new interview.

River Phoenix, who appeared in the 1986 coming-of-age picture Stand By Me, died of a heroin overdose outside Hollywood’s Viper Room club in 1993, at the age of 23.

The 45-year-old, who is notoriously secretive, seldom speaks about his brother’s death, but he told Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes how much River meant to him.

He said: ‘I feel like in virtually every movie that I made, there was a connection to River in some way.’

‘And I think that we’ve all felt his presence and guidance in our lives in numerous ways.’

River’s fame was unknown to Joaquin and his family at the time of his death because they “were so removed from the entertainment world,” not watching television or reading magazines.

River Phoenix died from a drug overdose outside the Viper Room club in 1993 aged 23Credit: Getty – Contributor

“River was a really substantial actor and movie star, and we didn’t really know it,” he said. “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?”

Heart, the actor’s mother, concurred, adding that she still has sadness from not properly dealing with her son’s death at the time.

“The grieving process happens out of nowhere, you know?” she said.

“I’ll be driving and all of a sudden, I will feel it. And I’ll just welcome it.”

River’s performances in My Own Private Idaho, The Mosquito Coast, and Running on Empty, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, had gained him critical praise at the time of his sad death.

After introducing Joaquin to Martin Scorsese’s film Raging Bull, featuring Robert De Niro, River convinced him to continue acting.

“He came home and very excitedly say, here’s this movie,” said the star. “I think it just… awakened something in me.”

Phoenix, of course, followed in the footsteps of his older brother and pursued acting as well. Phoenix admits to being “petrified” on set, despite the fact that he’s been doing it since childhood.

“There are so many things that I want to express when I take on a role,” he explained to Cooper. ” And I go through the script I – just full of ideas. I guess I’m just nervous that I’m not gonna be able to – to find the right kinda space to express that.”

Joaquin’s honest interview comes only one day after he won the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actor.