Joaquin Phoenix Quits Acting: "I'm Done"

Oscar-nominated actor Joaquin Phoenix made a shocking announcement to "Extra," saying, "I want to take this opportunity...to give you the exclusive ... that this will be my last performance as an actor... I'm not doing films anymore."

Probed further by "Extra's" Jerry Penacoli, "Are you serious?" Phoenix, who was curiously being followed by his own camera crews, reiterated, "Yeah. I'm working on my music. I'm done. I've been through that."

Penacoli, still suspicious, followed up with Casey Affleck who was standing next to Phoenix. Penacoli asked, "I take it that he's kidding?" Affleck responded, "I don't think he's kidding. He's got music and stuff."

Today, "Extra" contacted Phoenix's rep for clarification and got this response: "That is what he told me."

Comments

[collima]

I really liked, We Own The Night....

Don't quit... Your Greatest Work Is Still Ahead....

[jobecky20]

He'll be back once he runs out of money.

[SFkid]

Good for you dude, Hollywood sux.

[tahoegal]

I really hope he isn't serious. I'm watching him in Reservation Road right now, and I think he's one of the finest actors out there.

[jugganaut]

Even assuming he's being truthful, he'll be back.

Once he realizes his musical talent isn't nearly good enough to cut the mustard, he'll go back to what he knows.

I personally couldn't care less either way. He's a decent actor but I wouldn't even place him in the top 5 among his peers.

[dallashailee]

I think he's a pretty good actor...not the best...but pretty good.

What I don't like is his attitude. If somebody spends so much energy acting like they don't care...I guarantee you they do.

[peskypesky]

Publicity stunt. Plain and simple.

[Geranium]

He should have won the best actor Oscar for "Walk The Line". I loved him in that. He was a great Johnny Cash.

[DeepCreekPagan]

I can't say I see this as a great loss to acting, or much of an addition to music. River was the actor in that family. Similar to the Belushi brothers and the Baldwin brothers, the lesser talented followed on the coattails and name-recognition of the forerunners. Not to say that talent can't run in a family; witness the Sheen clan and the Carradines.

[flatus]

Sweet heaven, say it aint so! Do you mean that we will now have to lift another actor of equal or higher calibre from the many thousands waiting to take his place?

[beartrack]

What ? Who cares, he isn't good anyway.

[grizhead63]

This would be a waste of some great talent. Hope he just needs a break.

[Dimikats]

Gee, your definition of "great" must be very different from mine! LOL

[AlmostLiberal]

Wood-yee says, "What will we do?"

[DrDemon]

Good Luck !

[Pookster84]

If only he coulda quit *before* his painful turn in "Gladiator"...

[Sparty1]

good one. :)

[Pookster84]

Thanks. I thought I'd get attacked for that one. I did think he was pretty good in Walk The Line, even though he looks nothing (and sounds very little, when he sings) like Johnny Cash. I also didn't think Reese deserved the Oscar; it seems like anyone who stars in a biopic these gets awarded for accuracy and spunk, while some great original performances in fictional dramas (and comedies) get completely overlooked.

[AriUp]

"I am vexed. I am most vexed!"