Actor passing early runner somewhere in Arizona (5,7)

I believe the answer is:

river phoenix

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'actor passing early' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I cannot judge whether it can be defined by this definition.

'runner somewhere in arizona' is the wordplay.
'runner' becomes 'river'.
'somewhere in arizona' becomes 'phoenix' (capital city of Arizona).
'river'+'phoenix'='RIVER PHOENIX'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for river phoenix that I've seen is " Actor departed".)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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