Jodean Bottom is the oldest and half-sister of the famous American actor Joaquin Phoenix whose father “John Lee Bottom” left her and her mother “Trinity” for another woman after she was born. While Jodean’s profile may not be as high-profile as her siblings, her story is still intriguing.
In this article, we will learn about Jodean Bottom and her relationship with her half-siblings.
Profile summary
Birth Name | Jodean Trust Bottom |
Age | 60 years old |
Birth Date | February 29, 1964 |
Birth Place | Amadora, Portugal |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | unknown |
Height | 5’7″ 170 cm 1.70 m |
Weight | 50 kg 110 lbs |
Parents | Father: John Lee Bottom Mother: Trinity Step Mother: Arylin Phoenix |
Half-Siblings | Liberty Phoenix Summer Phoenix Late River Phoenix Joaquin Phoenix Rain Phoenix |
Children | 1 daughter |
Niece | Scarlette Jasmine Phoenix-Asch |
Net Worth | Unknown |
Who is Jodean Bottom?
Jodean Trust Bottom was born in Amadora, Portugal, on February 29, 1964. She is the daughter of Christian missionaries John Lee Bottom and Trinity. Jodean faced challenges as her father left her and her mother for Canada in a bid to escape being recruited into the Vietnam War that happened between the years Nov 1, 1955 – Apr 30, 1975.
Jodean Bottom’s Childhood
Raised solely by her mother, Trinity, Jodean came into prominence when her half-brother, River Phoenix, discovered her existence and took on the responsibility of caring for her.
Her father, John Lee Bottom, also known as John Phoenix, was born on April 5, 1947, to Robert Merrill Bottom and Beulah Ernestine Ingram.
Growing up in a humble neighborhood in Fontana, California, John had to drop out of school due to financial constraints. He worked as a gardener and carpenter to make ends meet.
In 1964, John had a relationship outside of his marriage with Trinity. Jodean was born in Portugal because of this. However, no one knew where Trinity went after Jodean was born.
When the Vietnam War started on November 1, 1955, John went to Canada to avoid being drafted into the military. This rule applied to men born between January 1, 1944, and December 31, 1950, when he was 18 years old.
Marriage to Arlyn Phoenix and Name Change
In 1969, Jodean Bottom’s dad, John Lee, got married to Arlyn Phoenix, in California. They joined a cult group called “The Children of God” and traveled to places like Mexico and South America as missionaries. During that time, they went by different names, Jochebeb (Arlyn) and Amram (John).
Their lives got tough when their first child, River Phoenix, was hurt by someone in the group. They later found out bad things about the group and left in 1977. They traveled on a big ship filled with trolleys and found safety in Englewood, Florida, living with Arlyn’s parents for a bit.
After leaving the group, John and Arlyn wanted to start fresh. They decided to change their last name from Bottom to Phoenix. This is the reason why Jodean Bottom’s last name is different from her half-siblings. It was a way for the family to move on from the tough past and make a new start.
Meet Jodean Bottom Half-Siblings
Jodean Bottom joined the Phoenix family after River Phoenix found out about her. He welcomed her into their lives. It might interest you to know that Jodean had a boyfriend, and they had a daughter, whose name is yet to be shared with the public. Now, let’s learn more about the other people in her family:
River Phoenix:
River Phoenix was a famous actor and musician born on August 23, 1970. He started acting when he was just 10, doing commercials and then starring in movies like “Explorers” and “Stand by Me” as a teenager. As he grew up, he took on more serious roles and even got nominated for an Academy Award for his part in “Running on Empty.”
Sadly, he passed away at the age of 23 on Halloween in 1993 because of a drug overdose of cocaine and heroin at a place called The Viper Room in West Hollywood. His talent and promising career ended too soon.
Rain Phoenix:
Rain Phoenix was born on November 21, 1972, in Crockett, Texas, USA. She is an American singer, songwriter, and actress.
Joaquin Phoenix:
Joaquin Phoenix is an award-winning American actor who was born on October 28, 1974. He is really good at acting and has won awards, such as an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Grammy Award to mention but a few.
He was even named one of the greatest actors in the 21st century by The New York Times. One of the movies Joaquin is famous for is his role as Joker in the 2019 DC film “Joker.”
Liberty Phoenix:
Liberty Phoenix was born on July 5, 1976. She is not just an actress and singer but also looks after the River Phoenix Centre for Peacebuilding. This special place was started by her mom to remember her brother River Phoenix.
Summer Phoenix:
Summer Phoenix was born on December 10, 1978. She is also an actress who has been featured in a bunch of movies and TV shows. Aside from being an actress, Summer is also a wife and a mother. She got married to Casey Affleck, and they have two kids together.
Jodean Bottom Net Worth
Right now, we don’t know how much money Jodean Bottom has. Even though she’s not really famous, her influence on her family and others has been recognized.