In the March Esquire, Dicaprio talks about the night River Phoenix Died:
"When I was eighteen, River Phoenix was far and away my hero. Think of all those early great performances -- 'My Own Private Idaho.' 'Stand by Me.' I always wanted to meet him. One night, I was at this Halloween party, and he passed me. He was beyond pale -- he looked white. Before I got a chance to say hello, he was gone, driving off to the Viper Room, where he fell over and died. That's a lesson."
