Jodean Bottom biography- Sister of Joaquin Phoenix

Who is Jodean Bottom?

Conversely, Jodean Bottom is a lesser-known name than other family members. She is the half-sister of renowned celebrities like River Phoenix and Joaquin Phoenix. Now that we have taken the name of the Phoenix family, you will know who Jodean is.

Jodean has remained away from the spotlight and gossip despite belonging to a famous family. But likewise, she is not involved in the entertainment industry like her siblings.

She is the eldest of her siblings. However, there are no biological siblings for her either. Instead, she resulted from her father’s extramarital affair with her mother.

All her siblings love Jodean. However, it was her brother River who found her. He even took full responsibility for her and her child. She is six years older than River. Sadly, River passed away at age 23 due to drug abuse.

If you wonder why Jodean has a different surname than her siblings, we have the answer to that question.

Quick facts

Interesting facts

1. One of the family’s close friends had revealed to the Phoenix family that Jodean was their sister.

Jodean was born during her father’s relationship with his former girlfriend. Her father later moved to Canada, fearing the Vietnam draft. As a result, Jodean had no contact with her father.
Later, John married Arlyn. So, Jodean’s half-siblings knew nothing about her. However, one of River’s close friends told him about his half-sister. It was only then that River contacted his sister.

2. Jodean has a mythical bird, Phoenix, tattooed on her left arm.

Several photos of Jodean have an interesting tattoo on her arm. The tattoo is that of a Phoenix, also her father’s adopted surname.

3. Jodean lost her left eye in a car accident.

The car accident details are unknown; however, we know that Jodean lost her left eye in that accident.

4. Jodean Bottom’s brother River always took good care of her.

River Phoenix found out the truth that Jodean was his half-sister. He took all her responsibility. Jodean was accepted and loved by the Phoenix family. However, it was River who cared for her the most.

5. Jodean’s father changed his last name from Bottom to Phoenix.

It is indeed true. The famous Phoenix family previously had a different surname. Their last name was Bottom which they later legally changed to Phoenix.

Jodean Bottom Childhood

Jodean Bottom was born on February 29, 1964. She is the eldest daughter of John Lee Phoenix. She was the result of John’s affair with his girlfriend, Trinity.

Bottom was born in Amadora, Portugal. Sadly, before her birth, her father fled to Canada for fear of the Vietnam war draft. So, she never got to know her father.

Jodean came to public attention only after her brother discovered she was his sister. 

Jodean Bottom is of American nationality and was born under the zodiac sign Pisces.

She must be well educated though we don’t have any information about the school and university.

jodean bottom Parents

John Lee Bottom (Father)

John Lee Bottom, also known as John Phoenix, is most popularly known as the father of the Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix. On April 5, 1947, he was born to Robert Merril Bottom and Beulah Ernestine Ingram. John was born and raised in Fontana, California.

Born in a low-income family, John had to struggle throughout his childhood. He had to give up his studies and start working at a young age. He worked as a gardener and carpenter. Later, he became a cult member called “The Children of God.”

John was diagnosed with cancer many years. Sadly, he passed in 2005 at the age of 68.

Trinity (Mother)

We don’t have much information about Jodean’s mother. John was deeply in love with Trinity. However, due to circumstances, John had to flee Canada. He didn’t know Trinity was pregnant back then.

Arlyn Sharon Phoenix (Step-mother)

Most commonly known as Heart Phoenix, Arlyn Phoenix is an American social activist and mother of recognized actors. On December 31, 1944, she was born in the Bronx, New York, to Margaret and Meyer Dunetz.

Arlyn was raised with her two sisters, Rhoda and Merle. Although her family was Jewish, they did not attend synagogue.

Arlyn left New York in 1968 and moved to California, where she met her future husband, John Bottom. She worked as an executive secretary at N.B.C.

Similarly, she was also the Executive Director of The Florida School of Traditional Midwifery. Additionally, Arlyn is also on the Board of Directors of the Peace Alliance organization.

How did John and Arlyn meet?

The story of John and Arlyn’s meeting isn’t less than a Hollywood movie. The two met while hitchhiking in California.

Arlyn left her home in her early twenties and joined the free-moving hippie culture. Then she met John in Northern Carolina, and their love blossomed.

After dating for a few months, they tied the knot in 1968. Then they traveled together along the West Coast, picking fruit and vegetables. The couple had their first son River in 1970. Soon after, their second child, Rain, was born.

They then joined the religious group “The Children of God” and were born their other two children, Joaquin and Liberty.

Unfortunately, the couple took their separate ways in 1997. The two ended their thirty years of marriage and divorced in mutual understanding. Arlyn is now married to her second husband, Jeffrey Weisberg.

The Phoenix family’s tumultuous history

The Phoenix family today is prominent and well-recognized. However, the family struggled and went through many hardships to reach where they are today.

The Phoenix family still had their surname Bottom when they joined the “Children of God” and moved to Crockett, Texas, to live in the cult’s central commune. Then John Bottom was designated the cult’s Archbishop of Venezuela and the Caribbean.

Once this happened, the family moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, money became scarce since the cult didn’t pay the missionaries. Consequently, the children were forced to become street performers to make ends meet. As River’s biographer said,

“At an early age, River was busking on street corners, trying to spread the word and proselytize for the cult. But if he didn’t bring home enough loose change that day, the family wasn’t going to eat.”

Later, their mother grew disillusioned with the cult when they preached that women should use sex to recruit male members. As she said,

“The guy running it got crazy. He sought to attract rich disciples through sex. No way.”

So, the family finally decided to escape. In 1978, the Phoenix were smuggled into America on a toy-filled freighter that dropped them in Englewood, Florida, to live with Arlyn’s parents. There they began their new life.

Why did the family change their last name?

The cult of the family was a part of harming their children, which probably will never completely heal. The cult’s teaching involved children in bizarre sexual activities.

According to Gavin Edwards, author of River Phoenix’s biography,

“Children as young as three were encouraged to ‘play’ sexually with their parents and other adults…But even greater emphasis was put on children stimulating each other.”

So, once the family fled the cult, they changed their last name. So, they changed their name from Bottom to Phoenix. It was to symbolize the beginning of their new lives.

Soon the family settled in California after their mother got a job there. But, while living in California, the kids still sang for change in the streets when a talent agent spotted them and decided to represent the four Phoenix siblings.

Jodean Bottom siblings

Jodean Bottom doesn’t have biological siblings. However, she is the eldest of her five step-siblings. All of her siblings are well-recognized in the Hollywood industry.

River Phoenix (step-brother)

River is the eldest son of the couple. He was born on August 23, 1970.

The brother of Jodean started his acting career at the early age of 10. His first breakthrough role came in the film Support Me. Similarly, he starred in the movies such as Indiana Jones, The Last Crusade, and Running on Empty. The latter even earned him an Oscar nomination for his role as Donnie Pope.

Additionally, River also is a talented musician. He had even formed a band called Aleka’s Attic, which did well.

Despite all the fame, River was experiencing personal struggles and began using drugs. Sadly, the star died on October 23, 1993, when he was only 23. He died from an overdose of cocaine and heroin outside the Viper Room in Los Angeles. His brother Joaquin and girlfriend Samantha were there to see this tragedy.

Rain Phoenix (step-sister)

Rain Phoenix was born on November 21, 1972, in Texas. She is the second child of the Phoenix family. She is an American actress, musician, and singer.

Rain got into the music industry at an early age, and at 15, she formed the band Aleka’s Attic with her elder brother River. She has also appeared in a few T.V. shows like Amazing Stories and Family Relations. In addition, Rain has also appeared in films such as Maid to Order, Even Cowgirls Get Blue, Stranger Inside, and Hitch.

River also released her solo album titled River in 2019. In addition, she is also involved in various social initiatives.

Joaquin Phoenix (Step-brother)

Joaquin Phoenix is the most recognized member of the Phoenix family. Born Joaquin Rafael Bottom, on October 28, 1974, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he is an American actor, singer, and animal activist.

Joaquin made his big-screen debut as the youngest crew member in the interstellar romp SpaceCamp. However, his most significant breaks came after he landed a role in the comedy film Parenthood. Similarly, he appeared in films such as To Die For, Inventing the Abbotts, and U-Turn.

 Similarly, his role in the movie Gladiator earned him an Academy Award nomination for best-supporting actor. He was also nominated for an Oscar for his exceptional acting in the film Walk The Line.

Joaquin won the award for best actor at the Venice International Film Festival for his role in The Master. Similarly, his psychological thriller movie The Joker was a blockbuster hit and won him the Academy Award for best actor.

Liberty Phoenix (Step-sister)

Liberty is the fourth child of the Phoenix family. Born on July 5, 1976, she followed her siblings’ footsteps and began acting in the 1980s.

She appeared in Kate’s Secret and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. However, Liberty hasn’t acted in other movies.

Liberty had formed a band in the late’90s named The Causey Way with her sisters. However, it disbanded in 2001. She is now the manager of River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding, a charity organization founded by her mother.

Summer Phoenix (Step-sister)

Born on December 10, 1978, Summer Phoenix is the youngest of all the Phoenix siblings. She is also a child actor, with her initial roles being guest appearances in the T.V. shows Airwolf, Murder, Swamp Thing, and others.

Similarly, she has appeared in many films like Girl, Esther Kahn, Suzie Gold, and All at Once.

Children

We know that Jodean is the mother of a daughter. She already had a daughter when River found her. So River had been taking care of both Jodean and her daughter.

Jodean Bottom Career

He prefers to stay away from media attention. So, we don’t have much information about the profession she is involved in.

Jodean Bottom Net worth

Jodean Bottom’s siblings are very successful in their careers. For instance, Joaquin Phoenix’s net worth is around USD 50 million. Similarly, her late brother River Phoenix’s net worth is USD 5 million.

There is limited information regarding her source of income and net worth. However, we can assume that she has an impressive net worth and lives a luxurious life. His net worth as of 2021 is estimated to be USD 1 million.

FAQs

How old is Jodean Bottom?

Jodean was born on February 29, 1964. So, she is 59 years old as of 2023.

How much is Joaquin Phoenix’s net worth?

Joaquin Phoenix is a very successful actor, singer, and producer. So, he has an impressive net worth of USD 50 million.

Who are Jodean’s siblings?

Jodean’s siblings are the famous Phoenix siblings. River Phoenix, Rain Phoenix, Joaquin Phoenix, Liberty Phoenix, and Summer Phoenix.