Four years later -- October 31, 1993 -- he was at Johnny Depp's Los Angeles nightclub The Viper Room when his brother River died of a drug overdose.
Joaquin made the call to 911, something much televised and replayed across America for years, and was severely traumatised by the event. He stayed away from acting, completely overshadowed by his talented late brother.
Finally, after a lot of persuasion, he decided to work with Gus Van Sant, who had directed River in his most acclaimed films, My Own Private Idaho and Even Cowgirls Get The Blues. The film (left) cast him opposite Nicole Kidman and Matt Dillon -- it was called To Die For.
Playing Kidman's helplessly smitten student lover, Joaquin became an indie film rage, even as the film itself received mixed reviews.