Last year must have been quite disconcerting for Joaquin Phoenix fans, as the lauded actor descended into what was either a bizarre, drug/depression-induced downward spiral, an innocent (though bad) joke about a foray into hip-hop, or just a good ol’ documentary with Casey Affleck. And though we still can’t say for certain which of those mishaps are truly behind last year’s Joaquin weirdness, he has finally emerged from hiding and appears to be mentally (and comedically!) healthy again.
Phoenix appears in a brand new YouTube video aimed at encouraging people to vote for suicide prevention charity To Write Love on Her Arms in a contest to win a $1 million grant for their cause. Not only is this Phoenix’s first public appearance in at least 6 months, but the former actor/singer/rapper looks completely different from the disconnected, burly, bearded creeper of ‘09: he’s thinner, clean-shaven, charismatic and—here’s the best part—actually kind of funny.
Also in the clip is Thom Yorke’s archenemy Miley Cyrus, actress Liv Tyler, and TWLOHA founder Jamie Tworkowsk. The best part is that Phoenix pretends he has no idea who Cyrus is the whole time and even calls her “Jessica Cyrus” at one point.
Watch the “new” Phoenix here or below and vote for TWLOHA here.