Martha Plimpton on River Phoenix's Fame Struggles

Martha Plimpton reflected on her formative relationship with River Phoenix, whom she described as her first love and a significant influence on her life. The two met as teenagers while filming 'The Mosquito Coast' and dated for nearly four years, both struggling with the intense public scrutiny of their high-profile romance in the late 1980s. Plimpton recalled that Phoenix, an innocent and loving person, had difficulty coping with the demands and contradictions of fame, which contributed to his substance abuse issues. Despite their eventual breakup, they remained close friends until Phoenix's tragic death from a drug overdose at age 23. Plimpton believes Phoenix would have become an influential advocate for sobriety had he lived, and she emphasized that their relationship and his struggles have left a lasting impact on her identity. She expressed that such a significant early love never truly leaves a person.