Joaquin Phoenix retiring from acting?

Joaquin Phoenix caught the industry and an entertainment reporter off guard recently by suddenly announcing that he is retiring from film acting to focus on his music career.

Check out this video from the recent production of Ernest Hemingway’s “The World of Nick Adams” benefitting Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Camps, where Phoenix, 34, made the announcement. I found the video on Elizabeth Snead’s L.A. Times blog, The Dish Rag. (Note that Phoenix’s best pal Casey Affleck is uncomfortably left to field questions after Phoenix makes his surprise announcement and then bolts.)

Phoenix’s last movie apparently will be James Gray’s “Two Lovers,” co-starring Gwyneth Paltrow and set for Feb. 13 release.

Phoenix has been nominated for two Oscars, for best supporting actor for his role in “Gladiator” and best actor for his starring role in the Johnny Cash biopic “Walk the Line.” He also won a Grammy for his work on the “Walk the Line” soundtrack, for which he did his own singing, so he’s certainly got musical talent.

-BAM