On Tuesday night, the star said that he originally did the pre-interview in character and “I realized that it was just a little silly, so I called them back and I said, ‘Listen, this is what I’m doing. I’m coming out here and I’m doing this whole thing.’”

At the time, Phoenix was promoting his 2010 mockumentary “I’m Still Here,” which followed him retiring from acting and becoming a hip hop artist. When he went on Letterman’s show, Phoenix transformed into his spoof character and acted bizarrely.