Joaquin Phoenix made his professional acting debut in the 1985 TV movie "Kids Don't Tell," a heady primetime drama about child victims of sexual assault. Phoenix was only 11 at the time. The following year, Phoenix first appeared in theaters in the kid-friendly drama "SpaceCamp," about teenagers and children who are accidentally launched into space. Phoenix continued to land high-profile roles with interesting directors, appearing in Ron Howard's "Parenthood" in 1989 and Gun Van Sant's "To Die For" in 1995. Phoenix soon became an indie darling, and a go-to actor for extreme, quirky, sometimes dark roles. He played a kooky thug in Oliver Stone's "U Turn," and a wise pornographer in Joel Schumacher's "8mm."

By the time he appeared in Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" in 2000, Phoenix was a household name. The role earned him the first of four (to date) Academy Award nominations. He would also be nominated for playing Johnny Cash...