River Phoenix's Family Keeps His Memory Alive, 'Run To The Rescue With Love And Peace Will Follow'

River Phoenix's family is keeping his spirit and memory alive. On what would have been the late actor's 52nd birthday on August 23, his family posted loving tributes remembering him. River's mom, Arlyn "Heart" Phoenix, shared a black-and-white photo of herself with her son captioned, "On August 23, 1970, at 12:03 PM in a little town called Madras in Oregon, I became a mother. 52 years ago I experienced a LOVE beyond all of my understanding which transformed my life and multiplied in and out of my being."

The caption went on to say, "During the past years since I have posted on Facebook, I have shared how deeply his life and passing affected me. He remains a guiding light on my pathway forward. When I am reminded of the lyrics to a song River wrote at 15, "RUN TO THE RESCUE WITH LOVE AND PEACE WILL FOLLOW", I am ever grateful for this inspiration which is foundational to the work of The River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding!"

His younger sister Rain Phoenix also posted a tribute to her brother captioned, "Happy birthday River 💙 ‘I’m only as good as your friendship has made me…’ 'On the death of a friend, we should consider that the fates through confidence have devolved on us the task of a double living, that we have henceforth to fulfill the promise of our friend's life also, in our own, to the world.' —Henry David Thoreau"

Comments of love and support filled the post.

"This is so beautiful! Happy Birthday River from your sisters & brother & family & the world of sisters & brothers you made love you through this very changing world you brought us all peace & inspiration ❤️I love you Rain, you know, you do fulfill his promise! You always have ❤️"

"Forever love. Sending soooo much love to you and yours dear Rain. Happy birthday dearest River. Forever in our hearts. ❤️"

"'Run to the rescue with love, and peace will follow.' Happy birthday, legend."

"A light to the world, a guardian angel to his family, an inspiration to all of us ❤️ We can still learn from you. Happy birthday River."

River was only 23-years-old when he died outside of the Viper Room in West Hollywood, California due to a drug overdose. He died on October 31, 1993, after making his mark on the world in well-known movies such as "Stand By Me," "My Own Private Idaho," "Running on Empty," and many others. His final film was completed in 2012, "Dark Blood."

In 2020 during the Academy Awards, River's younger brother, actor Joaquin Phoenix, paid tribute to River while accepting the Best Actor Oscar for "Joker." He recited a lyric River had written when he was a teeanger.

"I've been a scoundrel all my life. I've been selfish. I've been cruel at times, hard to work with, and I'm grateful that so many of you in this room have given me a second chance. And I think that's when we're at our best, when we support each other. Not when we cancel each other out for past mistakes, but when we help each other grow, when we educate each other, when we guide each other towards redemption. That is the best of humanity."

Joaquin welcomed his first child with Rooney Mara later that year and named his son after River.

The River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding was founded by River's mom and her husband Jeffrey Weisberg in 2012 with the mission "to enrich the lives of individuals, families, and communities by providing and promoting the best practices and principles of peacebuilding and global sustainability." The organization is mission-driven "working toward prevention, intervention and healing from conflict and violence."