Thanks, MrF. :)

I have no "dots to connect" on this, it's only a thought that has troubled me over the years.

The gone-too-soon abrupt demise of River Phoenix in 1993 seriously shocked his many fans. It just "didn't seem right" to many. I remember reading at the time someone's reporting that River had said he'd been betrayed by someone, which if true might have been a trigger event that led him into drug use and the drugs he was using on the night he died. He was 23 at the time.

Arguably, Leonard DiCaprio's role alongside Johnny Depp in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" (also in 1993), which brought him acclaim and his first Academy Award nomination, marked the start of his rise to major stardom, at age 19. A short 4 years later, he starred in James Cameron's "Titanic", making him an international star, himself now age 23.

Was Phoenix killed to make way for DiCaprio? Had Phoenix declined to fulfill someone's plans for him? Did that person then select DiCaprio as a replacement in those plans?

As I said, I have no "dots to connect" on this, just a feeling and speculation, brought to mind tonight by your post.

--hobie

*************************************************************