The Cursed Club of Johnny Depp: How Did River Phoenix Die in the Viper Room?

On Halloween night 1993, Oscar-nominated actor River Phoenix reportedly died of a drug overdose and heart failure outside the Viper Room, the Los Angeles nightclub co-owned by Johnny Depp. RadarOnline recently revealed that the Viper Room, located on Sunset Boulevard, has a dark history that many whisper is cursed. 

Before Depp and his 21 Jump Street co-star Sal Jenco transformed it into a rock and roll haven in August 1993, the building had been a grocery store and a series of nightclubs. Its opening drew Hollywood’s young elite, but River’s death less than three months later cast a long shadow over the club. On the fateful night of October 30, 1993, River, his girlfriend, and siblings Joaquin and Rain Phoenix visited the club, setting in motion one of Hollywood’s most heartbreaking tragedies.

What Really Happened the Night River Phoenix Died at Johnny Depp’s Viper Room

River Phoenix had reportedly planned to perform with his friends’ band, featuring Johnny Depp and Sal Jenco. Musician Bob Forrest recalled that River confided in him during the performance that he wasn’t feeling well and feared he might be overdosing. 

Forrest admitted he initially dismissed the idea because River was walking and talking, yet he offered to take him home, which River refused. Shortly thereafter, chaos erupted when River’s girlfriend found him convulsing on the sidewalk outside the club. 

Joaquin Phoenix called 911 while Rain attempted to resuscitate him. Paramedics arrived to find River in cardiac arrest, and he was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was reportedly pronounced dead before 2 A.M. Toxicology confirmed fatal amounts of cocaine and heroin, alongside traces of marijuana, Valium, and over-the-counter cold medication.

Despite the tragedy, the Viper Room maintained its allure among Hollywood’s so-called “heroin chic clique,” including Depp’s girlfriend at the time, supermodel Kate Moss. The dark reputation continued: in 1995, Jason Donovan suffered a cocaine overdose at the club during Moss’ 21st birthday party but survived. 

That same year, Courtney Love revealed in an Instagram video (via Radar Online):

In 1997, INXS frontman Michael Hutchence performed his final show at the venue before reportedly taking his own life days later.

Viper Room Curse: Disappearance of Johnny Depp’s Ex-Business Partner, What Did He Know?

Johnny Depp in Donnie Brasco | Credit: TriStar Pictures

The nightclub’s grim history extends beyond overdoses. Johnny Depp’s former business partner, Anthony Fox, who co-owned the Viper Room, mysteriously disappeared in December 2001 just before he was set to testify in a lawsuit against Depp and others. Fox, who had sued Depp in 1999 for financial fraud, left behind his truck, a revolver, and several thousand dollars in his bank account.

In 2021, RadarOnline reported that new investigations by Hollywood fixer Paul Barresi suggest Fox may have either taken his own life or disappeared off-grid. Barresi said:

Fox’s mother, Maud, allegedly had critical information she never revealed before her death in 2004, leaving questions about her son’s fate unanswered. Potential sightings, including one by Fox’s ex-wife Judith in 2002, hint at a man who lived erratically and possibly off the grid. Documentation regarding Fox’s inheritance from Maud’s estate adds more to the mystery, while police investigations continue to follow these leads.

Although Fox’s disappearance sparked speculation that Depp might be involved, no concrete evidence has ever surfaced to support these conspiracy theories. 

The Viper Room remains one of Hollywood’s most infamous nightclubs, not only for the untimely death of River Phoenix but also for the enduring shadows of overdoses, disappearances, and rumored conspiracies. Could the infamous club’s dark history ever be fully explained?

We’re curious: what’s your theory on the Viper Room curse? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!