It’s so hard to say goodbye: Celebs gone too soon (+Photos)

RIVER PHOENIX

River Phoenix began acting in commercials at the tender age of ten. After snagging a few roles, a 15-year-old Phoenix scored his breakout role in coming of age film “Stand By Me.” He made the leap to more adult-themed films by playing the son of fugitive parents in “Running on Empty,” which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. But his career was cut short when Phoenix collapsed and died of a drug-induced heart failure on the sidewalk outside of a nightclub in West Hollywood. He was just 23 years old.