1. In Hawaiian, the name Keanu means “cool wind over the mountains.”
2. Keanu's father, Samuel Nowlin Reeves, is half Hawaiian, half Chinese, and his mother, Patrick, is English.
3. Keanu never reads his fans' mail because he doesn't want to be responsible for what might be written there. Moreover, he prefers to spend the time it would take him to read such letters with his loved ones. He said this more than once in his interviews.
4. As children, Keanu and his sister Kim had dyslexia (speech impairment, inability to read), which many believe is the reason for his isolation.
5. Keanu never had his own computer. If he still has to communicate with the computer, he plays chess. Keanu has repeatedly stated that he is more interested in the relationship between man and computer than the computer itself.
6. Keanu is afraid to have children because this world often scares him. However, he believes that he is capable of falling in love to the point where he no longer cares what lies ahead.
7. The actor played bass guitar in the group Dogstar. In 2002, Keanu joined fellow Dogstar Rob Mailhouse in new group"Becky"
8. Since childhood, he has been fond of hockey, and also cannot imagine his life without a motorcycle; Keanu has three of them.
9. After filming Point Break, the actor became interested in surfing, and after participating in the film Much Ado About Nothing, Keanu fell in love with equestrian sports.
10. Keanu is left-handed.
11. Keanu has three sisters.
12. January 31, 2005 Keanu Reeves received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
13. Rejecting profitable proposition to star in the sequel to “Speed” (according to rumors, he was offered $11 million), Reeves chose to star in the film “The Devil’s Advocate” with Al Pacino and Charlize Theron; Reeves agreed to lower his own salary in order to attract Al Pacino to the film, and he did the same in The Understudies for the participation of Gene Hackman.
14. In 1994, Keanu turned down an offer to star in the film Heat with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, as a result the role went to Val Kilmer.
15. Reeves made his screen debut in 1979 on Canadian television. In the early 1980s, he appeared in commercials (including Coca-Cola commercials) and short films in Toronto. His first studio film role was as a hockey goalie in Rob Lowe's Young Blood (1985).
16. Keanu made a video social advertising about the benefits of a seat belt, so Keanu tried to save at least someone, if he couldn’t save his friend Jennifer Syme.
17. In 2001, Reeves' girlfriend, 29-year-old Jennifer Syme, died in a car accident; her SUV crashed into three parked cars on a Los Angeles street. Keanu buried his girlfriend at Westwood Cemetery in Los Angeles next to the grave of their stillborn daughter.
18. Reeves had an affair with Jennifer Syme, an assistant to director David Lynch and a friend of Keanu's sister, Karina. On January 8, 2000, their daughter was due to be born, whom he planned to name Ava Archer Syme-Reeves. But a week before the birth, the doctor stopped hearing the baby’s heartbeat; An ultrasound showed that the girl died in the womb; the cause of death was a blood clot in the umbilical cord.
19. Keanu has Canadian and British citizenship.
20. Reeves has three sisters: Kim Reeves (b. 1966, Beirut, Lebanon), Karina Miller (b. 1976, Toronto, Canada) and Emma Rose Reeves (b. 1980, Hawaii). Kim Reeves is an actress who also raised horses.
21. Over five years, Reeves attended four high schools, including an acting school, from which he was expelled; He began his acting career at the age of 15, participating in stage productions at a local club.
22. After leaving Catholic high school for boys, where he played hockey, he entered the free public school, combining study and work as an actor. He later dropped out of school without receiving his high school diploma.
23. On the school hockey team, Keanu's buddies nicknamed him "The Wall" because he was a top-notch goalie; future actor worked in a store flour products, sharpened his skates and was recognized as MVP (Most Valuable Player) on his school’s hockey team.
24. When Reeves first appeared in Hollywood, his agent thought the actor's name was too exotic, so in early films he sometimes appeared in the credits as C.S. Reeves, Norman Reeves or Chuck Spidena.
25. Replaced Val Kilmer as Johnny Mnemonic because he preferred the role of Batman in Batman Forever.
- In Hawaiian, the name Keanu means "cool wind over the mountains."
- Keanu's father, Samuel Nowlin Reeves, is half Hawaiian and half Chinese, and his mother, Patrick, is English.
- Keanu never reads his fans' letters because he doesn't want to be responsible for what might be written there. Moreover, he prefers to spend the time it would take him to read such letters with his loved ones. He said this more than once in his interviews.
- As children, Keanu and his sister Kim had dyslexia (speech impairment, inability to read), which many believe is the reason for his isolation.
- Keanu has never had his own computer. If he still has to communicate with the computer, he plays chess. Keanu has repeatedly stated that he is more interested in the relationship between man and computer than the computer itself.
- Keanu is afraid to have children because this world often scares him. However, he believes that he is capable of falling in love to the point where he no longer cares what lies ahead.
- The actor played bass guitar in the group Dogstar. In 2002, Keanu joined fellow Dogstar Rob Mailhouse in the new band Becky.
- Since childhood, he has been fond of hockey, and also cannot imagine his life without a motorcycle; Keanu has three of them.
- After filming Point Break, the actor became interested in surfing, and after participating in the film Much Ado About Nothing, Keanu fell in love with equestrian sports.
- Keanu is left-handed.
- Reeves has three sisters: Kim Reeves (born 1966, Beirut, Lebanon), Karina Miller (born 1976, Toronto, Canada) and Emma Rose Reeves (born 1980, Hawaii). Kim Reeves is an actress who also raised horses.
- On January 31, 2005, Keanu Reeves received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- Having turned down a lucrative offer to star in the sequel to Speed (he was reportedly offered $11 million), Reeves chose to star in The Devil's Advocate alongside Al Pacino and Charlize Theron; Reeves agreed to lower his own salary in order to attract Al Pacino to the film, and he did the same in The Understudies for the participation of Gene Hackman.
- In 1994, Keanu turned down an offer to star in the film Heat with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, as a result the role went to Val Kilmer.
- Reeves made his screen debut in 1979 on Canadian television. In the early 1980s, he appeared in commercials (including Coca-Cola commercials) and short films in Toronto. His first studio film role was as a hockey goalie in Rob Lowe's Young Blood (1985).
- Keanu made a PSA video about the benefits of a seat belt, so Keanu tried to save at least someone, if he couldn’t save his friend Jennifer Syme.
- In 2001, Reeves' girlfriend, 29-year-old Jennifer Syme, died in a car accident; her SUV crashed into three parked cars on a Los Angeles street. Keanu buried his girlfriend at Westwood Cemetery in Los Angeles next to the grave of their stillborn daughter.
- Reeves had an affair with Jennifer Syme, an assistant to director David Lynch and a friend of Keanu's sister, Karina. On January 8, 2000, their daughter was due to be born, whom he planned to name Ava Archer Syme-Reeves. But a week before the birth, the doctor stopped hearing the baby’s heartbeat; An ultrasound showed that the girl died in the womb; the cause of death was a blood clot in the umbilical cord.
- Keanu has Canadian and British citizenship.
- Over five years, Reeves attended four high schools, including an acting school from which he was expelled; He began his acting career at the age of 15, participating in stage productions at a local club.
- After leaving an all-boys Catholic high school where he played hockey, he attended a free state school, balancing his studies and work as an actor. He later dropped out of school without receiving his high school diploma.
- On his high school hockey team, Keanu's buddies nicknamed him "The Wall" because he was a top-notch goalie; the future actor worked in a bakery store, sharpened skates, and was recognized as MVP (Most Valuable Player) on his school’s hockey team.
- When Reeves first appeared in Hollywood, his agent felt that the actor's name was too exotic, so in early films he sometimes appeared in the credits as C.S. Reeves, Norman Reeves or Chuck Spidena.
- Replaced Val Kilmer as Johnny Mnemonic because he preferred the role of Batman in Batman Forever.
Now you know more :)
Keanu Reeves is an outstanding actor, producer, director and musician. His biography and personal life are filled with grief and loneliness, his career is a constant rise.
Photo: www.flickr.com/CHARLIE ROCKET
So why does everyone love this actor so much and how does he manage to play such different and such bright roles?
The actor's filmography includes dozens famous paintings and stunning images. His ability to transform himself from the protagonist of a touching melodrama into an unstoppable crime fighter helped win millions of fans.
Facts from the biography, career and personal life of Keanu Reeves.
Biography of Keanu Reeves
1. Full name
Keanu Charles Reeves is the name the boy received at birth. The name Keanu is translated from Hawaiian as “cool wind over the mountains.”
2. Born in Beirut
Reeves has Canadian citizenship, but by nationality it is difficult to attribute him to any specific nation.
3. Keanu Reeves' parents
Keanu was born into the family of costume designer Patricia Bond (nee Taylor) and geologist Samuel Nowlin Reeves Jr.
His mother is English, his father is American, born in Hawaii and has English, Irish, Portuguese, Hawaiian and Chinese roots. The couple met in Beirut when Patricia was working in that city. Samuel ended up in this city after his imprisonment in Hawaii on charges of selling heroin at the airport.
4. His father abandoned him at three years old.
Keanu Reeves' biography has been filled with unpleasant moments since childhood.
When the boy was only three years old, his father abandoned Keanu and his mother. Currently, the actor does not maintain a relationship with his father.
5. The family moved often
After his parents' divorce, Reeves' family moved first to Australia and then to New York. In this city, Patricia met and married Paul Aaron, a Broadway and Hollywood director. The family moved to Toronto.
Reeves spent most of his childhood and youth in Toronto. And his upbringing was mainly carried out by his mother’s parents and nannies.
6. I changed schools often as a child.
While living in Toronto, the boy changed 4 schools over the 5 years of his studies. He said that he was very playful and could not keep his mouth shut. He was expelled from one school for yet another antics.
7. As a child, I wanted to become a professional hockey player.
Intellectual work did not attract the young actor. He had a great interest in hockey and theater. As a hockey goalie, Keanu earned the nickname "The Wall" for his outstanding success in the sport.
However, an injury put an end to his hockey dreams.
8. Never received a high school diploma
When he had to forget about hockey, Keanu began attending an alternative free school (“Avondale Alternative”). This allowed him to receive an education and earn extra money as an actor at the same time. But in the end, he dropped out of school without receiving a high school diploma.
9. Encounter with the ghost suit
A fantastic incident happened to the actor as a child. He, together with his nanny, saw a ghostly suit.
It was a double-breasted white suit, without arms, legs, head, only the suit entered the room and disappeared. Both the boy and the nanny were very shocked. After this incident, he could not sleep peacefully for a long time.
10. Worked as an administrator in a restaurant
As a teenager living in Toronto, Keanu worked as a manager at a pasta restaurant.
Career of Keanu Reeves
11. Beginning of an acting career in the theater
Keanu's acting career began at the age of 9, the boy appeared in theatrical production musical "Damn Yankees".
At the age of fifteen, he played the role of Mercutio in a theatrical production of Romeo and Juliet.
12. First appearance on screens
Reeves' television career began with the CBS channel.
He first appeared in one of the series on this channel, and in 1984 he worked as a correspondent in a youth program.
13. First commercial with Keanu Reeves
In the early 80s, another job for the actor was filming commercials. The most famous of them is an advertisement from the Coca-Cola company.
14. Was a correspondent
In Toronto he was a correspondent for a radio company - the program “It’s going great.”
15. First film role
He made his debut on the big screen in Rob Lowe's film Young Blood, filmed in 1986 in Canada. Keanu got a small supporting role.
16. Moving to Hollywood
Realizing that an acting career can only be fully developed in Hollywood, the actor went in search of better life on an old Volvo 1969. At that time, the future celebrity lived with her ex-stepfather Paul Aaron, a director and television director.
By the way, it was his stepfather who convinced film producer Erwin Stoff to become Keanu’s manager and agent. Stoff continues to perform this role to this day, and also produces Reeves' films.
17. Breakthrough with the film “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”
For some time, the actor played small roles until he got to film the film “ Incredible adventures Bill and Ted”, where he played one of the main roles of Ted Logan. The film became cultural phenomenon in the film industry.
18. Beginning of a musical career
In the early 90s, the actor joined the musical group “Dogstar” as a bass player. And although the group broke up, music played an important role in the actor’s life.
During its existence, the group was able to achieve some success; in 1995, it was the opening act for Bon Jovi at a concert in Australia. And in 1999 she took part in music festival Glastonbury.
19. Development of an acting career
After success in a youth film, Keanu Reeves's career is going uphill, he receives invitations to roles in many films. The most notable of them were: “Point Break”, “The New Adventures of Bill and Ted”, “My Own Private Idaho”, “Dracula”, but the real breakthrough happened a little later.
20. New breakthrough in acting career
In 1994, the film “Speed” was released. and Keanu Reeves. For Keanu, this was the first serious action role after a number of comedies and dramas.
21. Refused to participate in the filming of “Speed 2”
After the success of the film “Speed,” Reeves was immediately offered to star in the second part, but the actor refused. He gave preference to touring with the production of Hamlet.
22. Often refuses part of the fee
Quite often, Reeves gives up a significant portion of his fee so that the filmmakers can invite famous actors to play other roles. For example, for filming “The Devil’s Advocate,” the actor agreed to take a meager fee so that the producers could afford it.
He also acted on the set of the film “Stunt Understudies,” leaving small sums for himself to give him the opportunity to invite Gene Hackman.
23. But sometimes he refuses famous colleagues too
Not all actors get the chance to star in a film with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. But this was not a godsend for Keanu, and he turned down the role in the film Heat in favor of touring Hamlet, playing it in the 789-seat Manitoba Theatre.
24. A new milestone in his career came with the Wachowski trilogy.
If after the successful films “Speed” and “The Devil’s Advocate” many people knew about Keanu, then the success of the first film “The Matrix” brought him worldwide fame. Until now, Keanu Reeves is associated with Neo.
After the international fame of the first part, the next two brought the actor even greater popularity and a star on the Walk of Fame. The film itself hit the top.
25. He wasn’t the only one who made a lot of money from The Matrix
The advance for his role in the film The Matrix was $10 million. After filming, Reeves received another 35 million.
After the film was released, Keanu distributed his multimillion-dollar fee among all the employees who participated in the filming. These were costume designers and make-up artists, special effects directors, etc. In his opinion, these people worked no less and deserved the award.
According to general estimates, the actor donated about $80 million from his fee for filming in all parts of “The Matrix.”
The actor gave a Harley Davidson motorcycle to the 12 stuntmen who performed dangerous stunts in the trilogy.
26. Success after “The Matrix”
Fortunately for Reeves himself, he did not become a hostage to one role. After playing the role of Neo, he was showered with roles in a variety of films, most of which became successful: “Sweet November”, “Constantine: Lord of the Dark”, “The Lake House”, “The Day the Earth Stood Still”, “47 Ronin”, “ John Wick" and many others.
From latest works You can note: “How to Marry a Bachelor”, “Reproduction”, “The Professional”, “John Wick 3” and “Bill and Ted”, where Keanu Reeves returns to the role of Ted Logan.
Personal life of Keanu Reeves
27. Keanu Reeves is single
The talented and interesting actor has never been married, he can rarely be found in the company of the opposite sex, or in company in general. He modestly celebrated his 50th birthday with his sister at home.
28. Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Syme
Perhaps this is a consequence of the tragic events that happened one after another. In 1999, he began a relationship with actress Jennifer Syme. The girl became pregnant and was due to give birth to a daughter in early 2000; the couple planned to name her Ava Archer Syme-Reeves.
Unfortunately, at the end of 1999, a week before giving birth, the doctor stopped hearing the baby’s heartbeat. An ultrasound showed that the girl died in the womb; the cause of death was a blood clot in the umbilical cord.
On April 2, 2001, Jennifer Syme herself was in a car accident while returning from a party at the house of musician Marilyn Manson. The girl lost control and crashed into parked cars.
Because she was not wearing a seat belt, Jennifer was thrown through Windshield. She died instantly. Police believed Jennifer was under the influence of drugs or drugs at the time of the accident, but detailed information there is little information about that accident.
Keanu Reeves buried his girlfriend at Westwood Cemetery in Los Angeles next to the grave of their stillborn daughter.
David Lynch dedicated the film Mulholland Drive (2001) to Jennifer Syme, as indicated in end credits film.
29. Rumors about the relationship between Keanu Reeves and Angelina Jolie
In the summer of 2019, the media fanned the rumor that Angelina Jolie was dating Keanu. A woman recently, and Reeves hasn’t had a serious relationship since Syme.
But everything turned out to be rumors. The fact is that Keanu’s mother’s house is located, so it is not surprising that famous actors often see each other and communicate well.
30. Alexandra Grant and Keanu Reeves
As mentioned above, Keanu Reeves has been lonely for a long time. Imagine the surprise of fans when he appeared in the company of 46-year-old artist Alexandra Grant.
Most fans were happy that Keanu had finally found a girlfriend. But there were also those who found a lot of “non-standard” and “unusual” in a woman. According to such opponents of the girl, Reeves could find himself a younger and prettier girl. But these are hardly the actor’s real fans.
Keanu Reeves wouldn't choose a girl based on her appearance. Most likely, Alesandra Grant interested him with her rich inner world.
We are glad that Keanu Reeves's personal life is filled with positive moments.
Questions and answers
31. Who voices Keanu Reeves in Russia?
In the Russian dubbing, he is voiced by Vsevolod Kuznetsov, one of the most famous Russian dubbing actors. Keanu Reeves speaks with the voice of Kuznetsov in films such as “House by the Lake”, “Constantine”, the “Matrix” trilogy, “Sweet November” and others.
32. Why does everyone love Keanu Reeves?
Keanu's positive image has been developing over the years. A variety of roles have found their responses in the hearts of people of all kinds age categories: youth comedies, serious dramatic roles, action films “The Matrix” and “John Wick”, voice acting for cartoons and work with motion capture in games.
Don't forget about modest behavior and charity.
33. What color are your eyes?
Dark brown.
34. What color is your hair?
Dark chestnut.
35. How tall?
36. What is the weight?
37. What is your zodiac sign?
38. Does he have tattoos?
Reeves does not have tattoos, but he had them painted on him for many roles.
Other facts
39. Sad Keanu Reeves
Despite his fame, Keanu Reeves often appears on the streets sad and completely alone.
He is met sitting on a bench in the park, drinking coffee on a concrete curb or reading a newspaper on the subway. In 2010, a photo of a sad Reeves eating a sandwich led to the Internet meme "Sad Keanu."
A little later, on the actor’s Facebook fan page, June 15 was declared “The Unofficial Day to Cheer Up Keanu Reeves.”
40. Other memes with Keanu Reeves
It’s not just “Sad Keanu” that fills the Internet. Many people love the actor, so they actively follow his life and turn many moments with him into memes.
Meme “You are amazing”
Appeared on June 9, 2019. Reeves appeared at the E3 conference and presented new trailer Cyberpunk 2077 games with yourself in one of the roles.
During the presentation, one of the listeners shouted from the audience: “You are breathtaking” (literally, “You are breathtaking”). In response to this, Keanu Reeves replied: “No, you’re the one who’s amazing. You are all amazing,” and made a characteristic gesture.
Meme “Little Keanu Reeves”
At the same E3 conference, another meme with Keanu Reeves was born. Someone shrunk his image and posted it online. The picture became the perfect backdrop for jokes about typical child behavior.
Later, the picture was supplemented with life-size Reeves.
41. Everyone is against Reeves' sadness
4Chan, a web-based organization that raises donations to fight cancer, organized an event in 2010 to lift the actor's spirits.
Many noted that Reeves has become sad, is constantly sad and no longer has the “drive” that he had before. Therefore, they created a campaign in which they encouraged people to send encouraging letters to the actor.
And for those who really want to help him and people, donate to cancer research. After all, the actor’s sister Kim was sick with leukemia and such activity should please him.
42. Cyberpunk
By the way, there is something to tell about the E3 conference itself. It presented the first trailer for the game Cyberpunk 2077, in which the role central character Johnny Silverhand was played by Keanu Reeves.
43. Started smoking because of roles
Many actors who don't smoke in real life must smoke cigarettes while getting into character. Keanu himself admitted that in this way he transferred a bad habit to real life, at the age of 30.
44. Keanu Reeves and motorcycles
The actor is a fan of motorcycles and even organized the production of bikes of his own brand, Arch Motorcycle Company.
One day, riding a motorcycle without the lights on at night led a young biker to disaster. While riding at night in Topanga Canyon, he crashed on the mountainside, suffering serious injuries: broken ribs and a ruptured spleen.
Experiencing terrible pain, the actor received a supplement from a health worker. The orderly loading Keanu into the ambulance dropped the stretcher while loading.
45. Love for the works of Marcel Proust
In an interview with Details Magazine, Reeves said that he had read all of Proust's works.
His works amount to more than 1.5 million words, 3000 pages, 7 volumes. Scott Derrickson, director of The Day the Earth Stood Still, called Reeves "the world's most voracious reader."
46. Charitable foundations
The actor organized a personal fund to help children medical institutions who are working to cure cancer. His sister's illness prompted him to do this. He personally participated in her treatment, spending more than $5 million.
47. Likes to watch the Olympic Games on TV
Due to his busy schedule and heavy workload, the actor does not have the opportunity to watch TV often.
But one event forces the actor not to look away from the TV - Olympic Games. He says athletes who compete in the Olympics spend an incredible amount of time preparing for this one second event in their lives. Their performances are years spent for a moment worth watching.
48. Made it to the list of “Famous Atheists”
When the question of Keanu Reeves’ religion comes up, it is worth remembering the case of the actor’s inclusion in the “Famous Atheists” list. But Keanu himself considers religion too personal and says little about his preferences.
He himself does not consider himself a religious fan, although in 2013 he was actively interested in Buddhism, and at the age of 11 he even briefly joined a Bible study group. But there he quickly became bored.
In one of his interviews he stated: “Religion, spirituality? Yes I spiritual person, highly spiritual, religion, faith - they are inside each of us.”
Reeves' fans found an extraordinary resemblance between the actor and the French star Paul Mounet, whose portrait was painted in the century before last.
By the way, it was after this that they began to search the Internet for pictures of the past with people similar to famous actor, claiming that Keanu Reeves does not age and is immortal.
50. In 2008, he sued the paparazzi
In 2008, a paparazzo filed a lawsuit against Reeves, accusing him of causing injuries. Allegedly, the actor hit a photographer in his personal Porsche. Alonso Silva spent 2 years trying to recover more than $700 thousand, but when he reached court, the claim was completely rejected.
51. Stalkers are trying to get into Reeves' house
Several incidents happened between Reeves and the stalkers. In 2014, a woman snuck into his library, citing the desire to meet the actor. The police arrested the woman.
A few days later, another representative of the movement snuck into his house, washed herself in his shower and began swimming naked in the pool. Employees of the cleaning company suspected something was wrong and informed Reeves. The girl was arrested.
52. Where does Keanu Reeves live?
Reeves did not have his own home for a long time. He preferred to live in hotels and rented apartments. He was a regular at the famous California hotel Chateau Marmont.
Now he is the owner of a house in Hollywood and apartments in the area Central Park in NYC.
53. Keanu Reeves quotes
“To get what you want from life, you must first determine what you want.”
“You need to be happy to live, but I don’t need…”
“I don't consider myself beautiful or sexy. But that doesn’t mean I’m hopeless.”
“I've never been obsessed with money, that's not why I became an actor, and I've never liked fame.<…>It's nice not to worry about bills though.
It's a cliché that money can't buy happiness. They can buy you the freedom to live the life you want.”“I hate it when people lie to me. And I can’t stand violence, especially without reason.”
54. Keanu Reeves has three sisters
In total, the actor has three sisters: Kim Reeves (born 1966), Emma Reeves (born 1980) and Karina Miller (born 1976).
In January 2003, Kiuna's older sister's leukemia began to progress. Kim was given a terrible diagnosis back in 1993, but for 10 years the disease was controlled.
In 2003, Keanu Reeves practically abandoned filming and surrounded his sister with love and care. He donated huge amounts of money for her treatment and care. A few years later, the actor took part in the “Stars Against Cancer” program, where he stated that his sister managed to defeat leukemia.
55. Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder are married
In an interview, actress Winona Ryder stated that she is married to Keanu Reeves.
During the filming of “Dracula,” director Francis Ford Coppola invited a real Romanian priest for the wedding scene, who completely performed the necessary ceremony and married the actors. This happened on Valentine's Day.
The actors were never officially married.
56. Keanu Reeves on the subway
The actor has proven many times in practice that he is not a star. In the USA he often uses public transport, gives way to other passengers and even gives autographs to everyone.
But most of all, the actor’s Russian fans were surprised to see Reeves in the St. Petersburg metro. He was actually in Russia during the filming of the film “Siberia”. During breaks, he calmly walked around the city, had lunch in ordinary cafes and took pictures with everyone.
57. Keanu Reeves speaks Russian
Of course, you won’t be able to have a full conversation with him in Russian, but he already knows a few phrases in our language.
As Keanu himself admitted, before the film “John Wick” he didn’t know a word of Russian, but he learned a few words and expressions specifically for the role.
58. Keanu Reeves with a mohawk and beard
In the summer of 2019, the actor shocked the audience in an unusual way: he had a mohawk, a gorgeous beard and a bare stomach. It quickly became clear that these were photographs from the filming of the new part of the film about the adventures of Ted Logan and his friend: “Bill and Ted.”
59. Keanu Reeves Instagram
The actor basically does not maintain any accounts on social networks.
Although he would definitely be popular, because even Reeves’ fan accounts are gaining a large number of subscribers.
For example, one of the popular Twitter accounts is keanu doing things, with more than 250,000 followers. This page publishes photographs of Reeves doing everyday things. But the most popular are the photos where Keanu Reeves is drunk.
60. Marvel Studios offered Keanu Reeves a role in all of their films
Marvel Cinematic Universe producer Kevin Feige admitted that they have long wanted to invite Reeves to their films. But so far they simply haven’t found a suitable role for the actor.
Something similar happened with someone else. They looked for a suitable role for a long time until they finally introduced the character of Mysterio in the film Spider-Man: Far From Home.
As for Keanu, they want to give him a role in the future in the film “The Eternals” - this is another film adaptation from Marvel about superhumans.
61. How Keanu Reeves' stunt double became his boss
When the Wachowskis were looking for a stunt double for Keanu Reeves in The Matrix, they chose Chad Stahelski. The man had to undergo a 1.5-hour test, during which he repeated the movements of a consultant in action scenes. The effort was worth it, because Chad was Reeves' stunt double in all three Matrix films.
But in 2014, Chad was already Keanu Reeves’ boss. It was Chad who directed all three John Wick films, and the main actor was Reeves.
62. Keanu Reeves became the new face of Saint Laurent
In 2019 the brand Saint Laurent shocked everyone by starting to post photos of Keanu Reeves from the filming of an advertising campaign on Instagram.
63. Rarely appears in commercials
Reeves rarely poses for glossy magazines, and even less often does he participate in advertising campaigns for commercial companies. Therefore, appearing in a Saint Laurent advertisement was very unexpected.
A year earlier, the actor also starred in a promotional video for the website creation platform Squarespace.
64. Prepare responsibly for every role.
For “The Matrix,” he and other actors studied martial arts for six months, and for “John Wick” he took special courses in firearms.
Photo by Keanu Reeves
Quick Facts
- 65. Reeves is left-handed, but plays bass guitar right hand.
- 66. In 2011, he became the author of the script for the film “Ode to Happiness.”
- 67. This may sound strange and unpredictable, but the actor really likes ballroom dancing.
- 68. In the 2000s, he performed with the grunge band Becky.
- 69. Keanu Reeves celebrated his 46th birthday outside with a cupcake. And if fans asked to be photographed, he never refused anyone.
- 70. The actor’s net worth is estimated at $350 million.
Keanu Reeves is called the saddest actor in Hollywood. His fans even created an “unofficial day to cheer up Keanu Reeves,” which is celebrated on June 15th.
Keanu Reeves has experienced many tragedies and disappointments, which have taught him to enjoy life. Judge for yourself.
1. Keanu Reeves' childhood was not prosperous.
His father left the family when the boy was only 3 years old. Now Keanu doesn't even maintain a relationship with him. Reeves' mother was no gift either. She was too busy organizing her personal life and paid little attention to her children. The woman could not stay in one place for a long time and constantly moved. Her relationships with men developed in the same way: Keanu did not have time to get used to one stepfather before he was replaced by another.
Keanu's parents
Because of such a chaotic life of his mother, the boy had to change schools frequently, which affected his academic performance. The situation was aggravated by dyslexia, which prevented the boy from learning school curriculum. He was always on the list of slow students, which affected his self-esteem.
2. He failed to fulfill his cherished dream.
His only joy as a child was hockey. He could play it for hours and dreamed of becoming a professional hockey player. At school he received the nickname The Wall, because, as a goalkeeper, he did not miss a single puck. Unfortunately, a leg injury dashed his dream.
3. His best friend died of a drug overdose.
Aspiring actor River Phoenix, with whom Reeves was very friendly, died at the age of 23 after taking a large dose of a drug mixture. In 2014, Reeves recalled him in an interview:
"He was wonderful person and an actor... I miss him and think about him often"
4. He lost his only child.
At one of the parties he met David Lynch's assistant, 26-year-old Jennifer Syme. A spark broke out between the young people, and soon they began an affair.
Jennifer Syme
Jennifer got pregnant. The couple was looking forward to the birth of the baby, they were making plans for the future, were going to get married... When it became known that they would have a daughter, the parents decided to name her Ava Archer. But a week before the birth, a misfortune occurred: the girl’s little heart stopped beating... Jennifer had to give birth to a stillborn child.
“The doctors decided to artificially induce labor. I was there and saw everything with my own eyes... This is not fair!”
All this happened on the eve of Christmas, so Keanu does not like this holiday. Now he associates it not with gifts, colorful garlands and magic...
5. His beloved woman died.
After the tragedy, Keanu and Jennifer moved away from each other. He immersed himself in work, and she tried to drown her grief in alcohol and drugs. On April 1, 2001, while returning from a party, she crashed into three cars and was thrown out of her car. Death came instantly. She was buried next to her daughter. Keanu was crushed. Jennifer's mother said:
“I thought Keanu didn’t love my daughter enough, but when I saw him at the funeral, I realized I was wrong.”
6. He used drugs.
After Jennifer's death, he plunged into a deep depression, which he tried to escape with the help of cocaine. Fortunately, he managed to pull himself together.
7. His sister has leukemia.
Keanu has been very friendly with his sister Kim since childhood. One day, the adults jokingly told him that they were going to be separated: Kim would live with her grandmother in Hawaii. Hearing about this, Keanu cried for a whole day.
Kim's diagnosis of leukemia was a real blow for Keanu. He spent a lot of money on his sister’s treatment; if her condition worsened, the actor would drop everything and rush to her. The fight against the disease lasted more than 10 years. On this moment it is known that the disease has subsided.
8. He avoids serious relationships.
The tragedies with Kim, Jennifer and Ava Archer crippled the actor. He's afraid to start serious relationship, fearing that he might harm those he loves.
“Once is a case, but three times is already a system”
According to the actor’s friends, he immediately breaks off relationships with women when he feels something more than simple sympathy for them.
9. He has monstrously low self-esteem.
As proof, here are a few statements from the actor.
“I’m ugly and asexual. But even more hopeless"
“I hope that someday I will become a good actor”
"I am stupid. And I can’t do anything about it"
“I'm pretty boring. All I do is read, play hockey and play music.
10. He will never have children.
The actor believes that his time is lost. Recently he said:
"Too late. Everything is over. I'm 52 and I'm not going to become a father..."
The name of Keanu Reeves is most often associated with one of his “main” roles - Neo from the legendary “Matrix” trilogy. However, the trilogy, which at one time became a new breakthrough in cinema and once and for all became a classic of sci-fi action films, is in fact just one episode in Reeves’ long and eventful career, and it is not at all limited to cinema. This collection contains facts that reveal new aspects of the life of the actor, who became known not only as a Hollywood movie star, but also a musician, poet, philanthropist and simply a person for whom it is impossible not to feel sympathy.
Keanu Reeves (who turns 53 this year) has appeared in more than 70 films throughout his career in a wide variety of roles. Viewers are so accustomed to seeing him on screen that they rarely think about how long the career of an actor who has already turned half a century. Moreover, Reeves is “preserved” very well - which is not a reason to suspect him of collusion with the Matrix. There is a joke about Reeves that he is actually immortal. It's worth remembering here that he gave up $80 million of his $114 million fee for filming three parts of The Matrix in favor of the special effects creators and makeup artists. At the same time he said:
“The last thing I care about is money. What I have already earned is enough for me to live a comfortable life for several centuries.”
Reeves' fee for filming The Devil's Advocate was cut due to his own initiative for $2 million so that Al Pacino could be invited to play John Milton.
Being a person with modesty (especially for Hollywood star) requests, Reeves managed for a long time without substantial cash savings, and finally bought himself a house in Hollywood only at 39 years old.
The name "Keanu" means "cool wind over the mountains" in Hawaiian. When Reeves was still a little-known actor, his agent thought his name was too exotic. In some early films, Reeves is credited as K.C. Reeves, Norman Kreeves or Chuck Spadina.
Reeves' mother is English and his father is Hawaiian-American with English, Irish, Portuguese, Hawaiian and Chinese ancestry. Reeves had a difficult childhood. He was born on September 2, 1964 in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, then moved with his mother and father to Australia, where his sister was born. There his parents divorced (Keanu was three years old at that time), after which his mother and two children moved to America, to New York, where she remarried. Then the whole family moved to Canada and received Canadian citizenship. This was followed by a new divorce from Reeves' mother and new marriage, in which his second sister was born - half-sister.
Difficult circumstances of his family life Keanu Reeves himself summed it up like this:
“I'm a middle-class white guy from a wealthy family. With an absent father, a strong mother and two wonderful little sisters."
Living in Toronto as a child and teenager, Reeves attended four schools. He was better at sports (hockey) than at school. As a result, he left school without receiving a high school diploma.
Reeves played bass in two music groups. Reeves is left-handed but plays bass with his right hand. His band Dogstar was formed in 1991. In total, the group released only two albums, although in 1995 it opened for Bon Jovi on the Australian and New Zealand tours, and also performed on the same stage with David Bowie himself.
Reeves spoke with humor about the well-known “Sad Keanu” meme:
“One day I saw “Sad Keanu” and that’s how I first became acquainted with memes. It was very funny."
According to Reeves, he once saw a ghost as a child. The apparition looked like “an empty white double-breasted suit that walked on its own. He appeared in the room and scared me and my nanny to death.”
Reeves is a follower of Buddhism and a principled advocate of peace. Despite his role as an action star, he repeatedly refused roles in films that contained too much violence.
More from early childhood Reeves aspired to become an actor. He received his first role at the age of 9 in the play “Damn Yankees.” His acting debut took place in 1984 in the television series “Perseverance.” This began his career, which led him to Hollywood.
A breakthrough film in acting career Reeves, which attracted positive attention from critics, was the crime drama “River's Edge” (dir. Tim Hunter, 1987).
Before achieving fame, Reeves faced criticism over his "flat acting" and "lack of versatility in his roles." However, he starred in films of various genres, ranging from arthouse to action thrillers. In 1991, renowned film critic Janet Maslin praised Reeves' versatility as an actor when commenting on his performance in Point Break. Maslin wrote that Reeves "acts with clarity and a wide variety of techniques. He easily transitions from the restraint and formality appropriate for a police crime drama to the freewheeling manner inherent in his comedic roles."
Reeves loves to read despite the fact that he has suffered from dyslexia all his life (dyslexia is a disorder in the ability to master the skills of reading and writing). His favorite books include The Lord of the Rings, The Count of Monte Cristo and In Search of Lost Time.
In 2011, Reeves released his own book of poems, Ode to Happiness.
In the fall of 2014, a woman secretly entered Reeves' house, dreaming of meeting her idol. Finding her in his library, Reeves spoke to her calmly and friendly - but still called 911.
Just three days after this, the incident was repeated - but with another fan of the actor, who also illegally entered his home and managed to swim in his pool before being discovered.
In 2008, one Alison Silva, a paparazzo, sued Reeves, claiming that he allegedly intentionally hit him with a car. Silva estimated his moral damages at $711,974. For two years, until the trial took place in this case, Silva did not stop pursuing the actor and demanding money from him. Reeves was ultimately acquitted by a jury and Silva's lawsuit was dismissed.
In 1998, Reeves began dating actress Jennifer Syme. The following year, Jennifer was already expecting a child - a girl they wanted to name Ava, but she died in the womb a week before giving birth. Another year and a half later, Jennifer Syme herself died in a car accident. Just at this time, Reeves was supposed to begin filming the first film of the Matrix trilogy.
Reeves turned down a role in the action film Speed 2 (dir. Jan de Bont, 1997) in order to play Hamlet in a small Canadian theater.
Reeves spoke about acting:
“People say every now and then: “Here again is some kind of vague, uninteresting role.” I find it funny for the most part. Ultimately, you always hope that people will like your work. If not, then it can be depressing. But the strangest thing for me is when people confuse me with the character I play."
Reeves loves motorcycles and has been riding them for many years. The stuntmen who took part in the filming of “The Matrix” received Harley-Davidson motorcycles as a gift from him.
For filming The Matrix Reloaded, Reeves learned more than 200 fighting techniques.
Reeves rides the subway. There is even a video of an eyewitness who filmed the actor giving way to a woman in a subway car.
Reeves not only took custody of his sister when she contracted leukemia, but also donated millions of dollars to hospitals and cancer research. He also created his own oncology charitable foundation, and initially chose not to make his role in organizing the fund public. In addition, he supports and funds the organization PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), leading the fight for animal rights, as well as organizations involved in the treatment of childhood diseases (Sick Kids Foundation) and support for cancer patients (Say No to Cancer ").
As a child, Reeves played hockey well and even earned the nickname “The Wall” as an excellent goalkeeper. His dream was to make the Canadian Olympic hockey team, but an injury prevented his sports career. But later, in 1986, Reeves took to the ice again when he starred in the sports drama Young Blood, in which he played the goalkeeper of the Quebec hockey team.
Despite his status as a movie star, Reeves is modest, and about his appearance once even stated:
“I don’t consider myself particularly beautiful or sexy.”
In 2005, Reeves was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.