"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.