Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of River Phoenix’s death – so it seems fitting that Bob Forrest, author of Phoenix’s memoir ‘Running With Monsters’, should come out with a harrowing account of Phoenix’s last night in Hollywood. The book describes Phoenix’s last days as a budding film actor and musician – taking the reader through his final journey to the drug overdose that claimed his life.

In his book Forrest recalls being alongside Phoenix in Johnny Depp’s nightclub, The Viper Room, when he admitted to Forrest that he thought he might be suffering from an overdose. After a performance by Phoenix and and Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante, they headed into a back room where someone brought out the candy.

Somebody broke out the coke and passed it around. River was obviously wasted and was as unsteady as a boxer who had taken one too many head shots during a 15-round bout. His complete lack of motor skills made me think he was drunk. Heroin will make users lean when they stand still, but you almost never see them stumble and fall.

Later, during a performance by Johnny Depp’s band, Forrest remembers feeling a tap on his shoulder.

Bob, I don’t feel so good. I think I’m OD’ing.

Bob offered him a lift, but Phoenix declined, saying he felt a lot better. “I tried to reassure him. ‘I don’t think it’s an OD. You can stand and you can talk,’” Forrest writes in the book. “I still have guilt that I dismissed his worries so casually.”

[Source : Business Insider]