River Phoenix rose to fame from being in films and television appearances.
River Phoenix . Phoenix 's work encompassed 24 films and television appearances , and his rise to fame led to his status as a `` teen idol '' . He starred in the science fiction adventure film Explorers ( 1985 ) , and had his first notable role in 1986 's Stand By Me , a coming-of-age film based on the novella The Body by Stephen King . Phoenix made a transition into more adult-oriented roles with Running on Empty ( 1988 ) , playing the son of fugitive parents in a well-received performance that earned him a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor , and My Own Private Idaho ( 1991 ) , playing a gay hustler in search of his estranged mother .