The role earned him a Volpi Cup and his second nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor. Phoenix starred as a World War II veteran in the Paul Thomas Anderson-directed drama film The Master opposite Philip Seymour Hoffman. Throughout the filming period, Phoenix remained in character for public appearances, giving many the impression that he was genuinely pursuing a new career as a rapper. The following year, he made his third film with Gray, Two Lovers (2008) and followed this with the mockumentary I'm Still Here (2010). This was followed by a reteam with Gray in the crime drama We Own the Night (2007) and the lead role in the drama Reservation Road (2007) opposite Mark Ruffalo. He also narrated the animal rights documentary Earthlings (2005). This earned him the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media and garnered his first nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor. Phoenix played and sang all of Cash's vocal tracks in the film and on the accompanying soundtrack. Phoenix portrayed musician Johnny Cash in the biopic Walk the Line (2005) opposite Reese Witherspoon. He followed this with a supporting role in the historical drama film Hotel Rwanda (2004). In 2004, Phoenix starred as a farmer in the psychological thriller The Village and as a Baltimore firefighter in the drama Ladder 49. He starred in the romance- drama It's All About Love (2003) and voiced Kenai in the animated film Brother Bear. Phoenix starred opposite Mel Gibson in the science fiction thriller Signs (2002), a massive commercial success. The following year he starred in a satire of the US military, Buffalo Soldiers (2001). For his role as the villain Commodus in the former, Phoenix earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

He followed this with supporting roles in the Ridley Scott-directed historical epic Gladiator (2000) opposite Russell Crowe and as priest Abbé de Coulmier in the Philip Kaufman-directed period film Quills (2000), opposite Geoffrey Rush. Phoenix's first role in 2000 was in his first collaboration with director James Gray in the crime film The Yards. Phoenix starred in the crime- comedy film Clay Pigeons (1998), Return to Paradise (1998) followed by a role in the crime mystery thriller 8mm (1999) with Nicolas Cage. In 1997, Phoenix co-starred in Oliver Stone's crime thriller U Turn opposite Sean Penn and starred opposite Liv Tyler in the coming-of-age film Inventing the Abbotts.

Six years later, he changed his name back to Joaquin and co-starred opposite Nicole Kidman in the Gus Van Sant-directed crime comedy-drama To Die For (1995), a critical hit. During his period as a child actor, he was credited as Leaf Phoenix, his self-given name. His first major film release was Ron Howard's dramedy Parenthood (1989) with Steve Martin. He made his feature film debut in SpaceCamp (1986) and had his first starring role in Russkies (1987). He appeared on the shows Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1982) and Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia (1984) with his brother River Phoenix and on an episode of Murder, She Wrote (1984) with his sister Summer Phoenix. Joaquin Phoenix is an American actor who started his career performing as a child on television. Phoenix at the 2018 Berlin International Film Festival

Joaquin phoenix to die for