Celebrity | Joaquin Phoenix Letterman Was In On Phoenix Hoax Old interview with writer reveals it By Kevin Spak Posted Sep 19, 2010 4:02 PM CDT Copied Joaquin Phoenix waves to the audience from the set of the "The Late Show with David Letterman," in New York, Feb. 11, 2009 as host David Letterman watches from the desk. (AP Photo/CBS, J.P. Flio) Casey Affleck says that absolutely no one was in on Joaquin Phoenix's hoax except for the actor, his agents, and Affleck himself. But that might not be the case. In an interview with a small independent newspaper last year, one of David Letterman's writers said that Phoenix's strange mumbling interview was "all an act," EW reports. "Think Andy Kaufman without shaving. That’s what he was doing," "Dave knew about it and Dave loved it because he could play along. He could do whatever he wanted with it," writer Bill Scheft told Nuvo. "It was great television." At the time, Scheft says people didn't believe him. "They tell me that I’m wrong and that (Phoenix) is a schizophrenic and he needs help and he’s going to end up like his brother. I said no. I saw the segment notes. It’s an act." For more on the Joaquin saga, click here. Read These Next Think twice if you're in the UAE recording any missile strikes. Old Dominion University gunman was killed by ROTC students. At least 4 crew members died in crash of US refueling plane in Iraq. Body of missing Long Island teen found in NYC waters. Report an error