He is the third of five children, including River (1970-1993), Rain (1972), Liberty (1976), and Summer (1978). in 1968, Arlyn left her family and moved to California, later meeting Phoenix’s father while hitch-hiking. They began travelling throughout South America. His parents eventually became disenchanted with the Children of God; they made the decision to leave the cult and returned to the U.S. in 1978. ) Leaf became the name he would use as a child actor; at fifteen, he changed it back to ‘Joaquin’. He made his big-screen debut in Space Camp (1986), playing the role of Max, after starring in an Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode “A very happy ending” the same year. He later co-starred in Ron Howard’s Parenthood (1989), in which he was credited as Leaf Phoenix.
