Ruggedly handsome Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix is often recognized for his intense performances, but keen-eyed fans have also noticed a distinctive feature on his face: a small, vertical gap in the facial hair above his upper lip.
The space, located just to the left of his philtrum, has appeared in photos of Phoenix for decades. It resembles the type of scar left from a surgical repair of a congenital cleft lip and/or palate, a condition that the Mayo Clinic notes is among the most common birth defects, developing during the first trimester of pregnancy.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that cleft lip and palate can occur separately or together, and repair typically leaves a visible mark. This has led to widespread speculation that Phoenix may have undergone such surgery as a child.
However, Phoenix has never publicly confirmed having been born with a cleft lip or palate, nor has he addressed whether the mark is the result of surgery. The feature has been visible for as long as he’s been in the public eye, suggesting it’s a long-standing part of his appearance.
Phoenix isn’t the only public figure with a similar trait. The late Oscar-winning actor José Ferrer and civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson have also been known for distinctive upper lip markings that some have associated with repaired cleft lips.
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Whatever the origin, Phoenix’s facial mark remains part of his unmistakable look — one that fans have seen in everything from Gladiator to Joker.
