"You've interviewed many, many people and I assumed that you would know
the difference between a character and a real person, so -- but I
apologize," Phoenix said. "I hope I didn't offend you in any
way." No offense taken, Letterman replied. The chance to lob jokes at
Phoenix was like batting practice, he said. "Every one of them was a
dinger," he said. Phoenix was clean-cut and shaven Wednesday, without the
shaggy beard, unruly hair and sunglasses he wore on Feb. 11, 2009 when he told
a befuddled Letterman that he was giving up acting for a rap career. Describing
that appearance on Wednesday, Letterman said it was "like you slipped and
hit your head in the tub." Instead, Phoenix was playing a role for
filmmaker friend Casey Affleck. The fake documentary on Phoenix's "career
change," called "I'm Still Here," just hit theaters.