Kiefer Sutherland recalls River Phoenix's contribution to his movie 'Stand by Me' on Jimmy Fallon's show

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In a candid conversation on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon', Kiefer Sutherland delved into the fascinating origin of the title of iconic film 'Stand by Me' and its unexpected connection to late actor River Phoenix.

Sutherland reminisced about his teenage days when he bonded with Phoenix over music.

Kiefer Sutherland reflects on River Phoenix's guitar lesson and its impact on the film

Recalling a momentous guitar lesson with Phoenix, he unveiled how this encounter sparked the name of the timeless coming-of-age movie.

Sutherland quipped, "We were making 'Stand By Me', which was a Stephen King short story called 'The Body' and River Phoenix was learning guitar and playing guitar, and he was actually very, very good. And he was getting really good at a very, very fast rate. And I was playing 'Stand By Me' and singing that song, and he said, 'oh, I love the melody of that song', and he hadn’t heard it before."

How a casual guitar lesson gave birth to 'Stand By Me'

The actor revealed that during their guitar session, Phoenix had mentioned the idea of calling the film 'Stand by Me'. Sutherland acknowledged Phoenix's suggestion as being 'pretty extraordinary', emphasizing the sentimental value it held for him due to their friendship and musical connection.

"So I was teaching it to him. And Rob Reiner walked by and said, 'Oh, I haven’t heard that song for a long time, I love it'. And then that was the end of that discussion. And then, uh, Rob Reiner ended up using that song for the film and changing the title to 'Stand By Me'."

Throughout the interview, the actor exuded warmth and humor, entertaining the audience with his anecdotes and insights into his life as a Hollywood veteran. His anecdotes about behind-the-scenes experiences and interactions with fellow actors added a delightful layer to the conversation.

Sutherland's revelation provided a poignant insight into the film's inception, shedding light on the meaningful impact of a casual guitar lesson between friends and how it led to the iconic name that has become synonymous with the heartfelt narrative of 'Stand by Me'.

The actor's heartfelt recounting of the origin of the film's title as a touching tribute to River Phoenix and encapsulates the profound friendships and memories forged in the midst of youthful exuberance.