Hoakin Phoenix gara n'ụlọ ezumike na Osimiri Pico, California. Onye nwe ya jụrụ igbu ehi ahụ, enweghị atụ anya dị tupu ZAM. Vidiyo pụtara na netwọdi, dị ka Phoenix na-ewere anụmanụ ndị ahụ, nke o mere n'ubi na-awa a na-elekọta ugbo. Hoikin banyere ihe omume a kwuru, sị:
Echetụbeghị m na onyeisi enyi n'ozuzu ya, mana ezutere m Anthony (onye nwe anụ ụlọ) ma chọpụta na anyị nwere ọtụtụ ihe jikọrọ anyị. Na-enweghị obiọma nke nnwere onwe ya na Hed Indigo ga-anwụ anwụ jọgburu onwe ya. Anyị na-aga n'ihu na-echekwa ụmụ anụmanụ ma kwụọ ndị na-enyere anyị aka ụtụ.
Hoakin Phoenix bụ vegan, mejupụtara "na-agbachitere ụmụ anụmanụ" na "ndị mmadụ maka njikwa anụmanụ". N'afọ 2003, o keere òkè n'ịmepụta ihe nkiri uzuzu "ụwa" na ndọpụ nke iji ụmụ anụmanụ emetọ ụmụ anụmanụ. Maka ọrụ a, a nyere ya onyinye banyere ya.
N'ikwu okwu na emume onyinye Oscar, onye na-eme ihe nkiri gbachiara ụmụ ehi mmiri ara ehi, na-ebo ụmụ mmadụ ebubo na ha bụ nke kọfị ha na mmiri ara ehi.