The couple have reportedly named their son River to pay homage to Phoenix’s older brother, who tragically died following an accidental drug overdose at the peak of his career in 1993.

Vegan actors and passionate animal advocates Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara have welcomed a baby boy together.

According to reports, the couple has named their baby River in tribute to the Joker star’s older brother, who died aged 23 in 1993.

The news was revealed by director Victor Kossakovy, during a press conference at the Zurich Film Festival for his and Phoenix’s upcoming film, Gunda. which is executive produced by Phoenix.

Apologizing for the star’s absence for the promos, Kossakovy said: “He just got a baby by the way, his name was … a beautiful son called River, so he cannot promote it now.”

🚨 Viktor Kossakovsky 📽️, Gunda: He just had a baby Boy who's Called River. ( about Joaquin) pic.twitter.com/WuUISnuTsZ

— PAUFV | Anyways Taylor's Version (@Paula_FlorV) September 27, 2020

Vegan campaigners

Mara, 35, and Phoenix, 45, who first met on the set of their 2013 film Her began dating in 2018, and have acted together in several movies including Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot and Mary Magdalene.

While both are prominent campaigners for animal rights, Phoenix has been extremely vocal about animal welfare devoting much of his awards acceptance speeches to spotlight their plight as well as advocate a vegan lifestyle.

A day after his first Oscar win, where he delivered a powerful, stirring and emotional acceptance speech of humans being guilty of ‘going into the natural world and plundering it for its resources’ he rescued a cow and a calf from an abattoir exemplifying that he practices what he preaches.

In the same award acceptance speech, the actor also paid a tearful tribute to his late brother, River Phoenix, before quoting a lyric written by the late actor: “Run to the rescue with love, and peace will follow.”

• Read: Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara join Beyond Meat’s pledge to feed vulnerable people in COVID-19 relief efforts

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