Samantha Mathis talks about the night River Phoenix died

<p class = "canvas-atom-canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "It took Samantha Mathis 25 years and a single viewing of The Thing Called Love, a 1993 dramedy in which she starred alongside boyfriend River Phoenix, to be able to talk about his death. "data-reactid =" 31 "> It took Samantha Mathis 25 years and a single viewing of The Thing Called Love, a dramedy 1993 in which she starred alongside boyfriend River Phoenix, to be able to talk about his death.

<p class = "canvas-atom-canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "She finally did so this week, when to report for the Guardian approached her after watching the film for the first time since he died. Mathis felt "like the universe wanted me to talk about him," she said in the new interview. "Data-reactid =" 32 "> She finally did so this week, when a reporter for the Guardian approached her after watching the film for the first time since he died. Mathis felt "like the universe wanted me to talk about him," she said in the new interview.

Mathis was 23 when Phoenix, also at the time, died of an overdose of cocaine and heroin in the early morning hours of Oct. 31, 1993, outside the Viper Room nightclub on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Mathis, along with Phoenix's younger siblings Joaquin and Rain, were by his side when it happened.

Even though it was years ago, Mathis remembered her last night with Phoenix vividly, and broke into tears twice during the interview. She was visited by Johnny Depp, who was unexpectedly, at least on her part. She thought they were dropping off her brother and sister, but asked if it was OK if they stayed to watch the live music.

<p class = "canvas-atom-canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "" I knew something was wrong that night, something I did not understand, "said Mathis, who's also known for roles in movies Little Women and Pump Up the Volume. "I did not see anyone doing drugs, but it was uncomfortable – I was in my way. Forty-five minutes later, he was dead. "" Data-reactid = "35"> "I knew something was wrong that night, something I did not understand," said Mathis, who's also known for roles in movies such as Little Women and Pump Up the Volume. "I did not see anyone doing drugs, but it was uncomfortable – I was in my way. Forty-five minutes later, he was dead. "

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Mathis is going to the bathroom not long after arriving at the club. When she came out, she said, Phoenix appeared to be in a scuffle with another man. Security forced them out of the place by a side door, and Mathis followed Phoenix onto the street. He fell to the ground and began convulsing, she recalled.

"What have you done? What are you on? "Mathis recalled yelling at the man.

She remembered that he's gone back to her, "Leave him alone, you're spoiling his high."

Mathis thrown into the room, but it was closed, so she had to go to the front. She quickly summoned Phoenix's sister and sister, and Joaquin made the heartbreaking call for help.

"I knew it was high that night, but the heroin that did not happen until he was in the Viper Room," Mathis said. "I have my suspicions about what was going on, but I did not see anything."

Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm "type =" text "content =" mathis and phoenix met when they were both 19, when he asked for a cigarette at LA club. The Thing Called Love"Data-reactid =" 61 "> Mathis and Phoenix put them when they were both 19, when he asked for a cigarette at an L.A. club. The Thing Called Love.

<figcaption class = "C ($ c-fuji-gray-h) Fz (13px) Py (5px) Lh (1.5)" title = "Phoenix River and Samantha Mathis in The Thing Called Love. (Photo: Michael Tighe / Donaldson Collection / Getty Images) "data-reactid =" 78 ">

Phoenix River and Samantha Mathis in The Thing Called Love. (Photo: Michael Tighe / Donaldson Collection / Getty Images)

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"This sounds incredibly cheesy, but I knew I would be with him one day," Mathis said. "It just felt fated between us, and there was such chemistry."

She described Phoenix as "sensitive and obsessive," someone who "felt things in his heart very deeply."

<p class = "canvas-atom-canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "In an obituary, the Los Angeles Times Phoenix, Phoenix: "Unlike other twenty-something stars with bad-boy and bad-girl images, Phoenix was described as the model of good health, clean living, and professional dedication – a clean-up '90s James Dean. He is known as a vegan, or ultra-vegetarian, who would not eat meat or dairy products. "" Data-reactid = "84"> In an obituary, the Los Angeles Times Phoenix, Phoenix: "Unlike other twenty-something stars with bad-boy and bad-girl images, Phoenix was described as the model of good health, clean living, and professional dedication – a clean-up '90s James Dean. He is known as a vegan, or ultra-vegetarian, who would not eat meat or dairy products or wear leather. "