Joaquin Phoenix Emerges From Hiding to Promote Charity

In late 2008, before the word "hoax" conjured up images of metallic balloons possibly bearing small children floating across desserts, it was usually associated with one man: Joaquin Phoenix. The Oscar-winning actor appeared one night on the Late Show with David Letterman wearing sunglasses and sporting a full, unkempt beard. During the interview, Phoenix slumped down in his seat, offered one-word answers to the host, and prompted the entire blogosphere to wonder: "What is Joaquin Phoenix doing?"

Phoenix announced his retirement from acting in October of 2008. then popped up in several previously undisclosed locaitons to give impromptu rap performances (yes, rap), which were filmed by his brother-in-law, Casey Affleck. Most people assumed Phoenix and Affleck were constructing an elaborate hoax . (Joaquin Phoenix, a rapper?) After a while, the story simply vanished from magazines and blogs ... and so did the unrecognizable Joaquin Phoenix.

Yesterday, however, the actor emerged like a Phoenix from the ashes (please forgive the obvious turn of phrase). A clean-shaven Joaquin Phoenix showed up in the unlikeliest of places: a YouTube clip with Miley Cyrus and his ex-girlfriend Liv Tyler. The trio does have a common purpose, however. Remember when we told you about Miley's campaigning To Write Love on Her Arms? Turns out the organization's name was inspired by aphorisms Phoenix had written on his arms while directing a music video with one of the organization's founders a few years ago.

Check out the video, in which Joaquin pokes fun at his famous Letterman "performance." Miley also teaches the actor how to vote for TWLOHA to win the $1 million in the Chase Community Giving Contest, tells him who Lady Gaga is (and who she is), and then helps Phoenix teach Liv Tyler how to cast her vote. Unfortunately, no answers are provided about where he's been for the past six months, or what happened to his beard.

Screengrab courtesy of TWLOHA via YouTube