or
Sign in with lockrMail
BREAKING NEWS
OK LogoPHOTOS

Leonardo DiCaprio Recalls Seeing River Phoenix On The Night He Died — 'I Looked Back And He Was Gone'

Esquire-Summer-Cover-pp
Source: Getty

May 22 2019, Published 5:25 p.m. ET

Link to FacebookShare to XShare to FlipboardShare to Email

Leonardo DiCaprio revealed that he was one of the last people to see actor River Phoenix alive way back in 1993. The Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood star made the shocking revelation in a new interview with his costar Brad Pitt and the film's director, Quentin Tarantino. Keep reading to learn more.

Article continues below advertisement
Esquire-Summer-Cover-pp
Source: Esquire

The trio sat down with Esquire, dishing on their film and sharing stories about meeting several Hollywood legends. Leonardo, 44, spoke about one of the “most ominous and sad” experiences he’s had in his early years of his career.

Article continues below advertisement
Esquire Summer Cover 7
Source: Getty

“I grew up revering River Phoenix as the great actor of my generation, and all I ever wanted was to have just an opportunity to shake his hand,” he started. “And one night, at a party in Silver Lake, I saw him walk up a flight of stairs. It was almost like something you would see in Vertigo, because I saw there was something in his face, and I’d never met him."

Article continues below advertisement
Esquire-Summer-Cover-pp
Source: Getty

Leo continued, "I always wanted to meet him, always wanted to just have an encounter with him — and he was walking toward me and I kind of froze. And then the crowd got in my way, and I looked back and he was gone.”

Article continues below advertisement
Esquire Summer Cover 8
Source: Getty

“I walked back up the stairs and back down, and I was like, ‘Where did he go?’ And he was . . . on his way to The Viper Room,” he told the publication.

Article continues below advertisement
Esquire-Summer-Cover-pp
Source: Getty
MORE ON:
river phoenix

Want OK! each day? Sign up here!

“I walked back up the stairs and back down, and I was like, ‘Where did he go?’ And he was . . . on his way to The Viper Room,” he told the publication.

Article continues below advertisement
Esquire Summer Cover 6
Source: Getty

The Stand By Me star tragically died due to a combined drug overdose on October 31, 1993, at the age of 23 in Los Angeles.

Article continues below advertisement
Esquire Summer Cover
Source: Esquire

The Wolf of Wall Street star added, "It was almost as if — I don’t know how to describe it, but it’s this existential thing where I felt like . . . he disappeared in front of my very eyes, and the tragedy that I felt afterward of having lost this great influence for me and all of my friends. The actor we all talked about. Just to be able to have that, always wanting to just—and I remember extending my hand out, and then . . . Two people came in front and then I looked back, and then he wasn’t there.”

Article continues below advertisement
Esquire Summer 3
Source: Esquire

Leo and Brad also recalled the time they met Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood costar Luke Perry. They encountered the late Riverdale star on set. “We were like kids in the candy shop because I remember going to the studios and Beverly Hills, 90210 was going on and he was that icon of coolness for us as teenagers. It was this strange burst of excitement that I had, to be able to act with him," Brad said.

GettyImages-1150760170
Source: Getty

What are your thoughts on what Leo had to say about River? Sound off in the comments below!

More From OK! Magazine

    Opt-out of personalized ads

    © Copyright 2024 OK!™️. A DIVISION OF MYSTIFY ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK INC. OK! is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Offers may be subject to change without notice.