Joaquin Phoenix Opens Up About Scary Moment Before He Checked Himself Into Rehab

Joaquin Phoenix is opening up about a moment that likely saved his life.

The 45-year-old Joker actor spoke about his Hollywood lifestyle in the May 2020 issue of GQ, out now.

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In the story, Joaquin spoke about how he lived his life just after shooting Walk the Line around 15 years ago, when he was drinking heavily and going to clubs.

“But I wasn’t engaging with the world or myself in the way I wanted to. I was being an idiot, running around, drinking, trying to screw people, going to stupid clubs,’” he explained.

He went on to flip his car on a side road in Los Angeles, and was going to light a cigarette when there was a knock at the window.

“…A German voice said, ‘Just relax.’ Phoenix said he was relaxed and rolled down the window, but the German voice replied, ‘No, you’re not,’ pointing out that he was about to light a cigarette in a car that was leaking petrol. The Good Samaritan, Phoenix realised after climbing out, was the director Werner Herzog. Phoenix didn’t need the push to go to rehab: he just checked himself in. And while he hasn’t exactly quit drinking altogether – he still drinks when he flies, because he still hates flying – he has stopped smoking weed.”

Joaquin did this incredible act just hours after winning his Best Actor Oscar at the 2020 Academy Awards this year.

For more from Joaquin Phoenix, head to GQ-magazine.co.uk.