Keanu Reeves is a Canadian actor born on September 2, 1964. He’s known for his calm demeanor in many different kinds of movies, especially action ones. In 2020, The New York Times said he’s one of the best actors of the 21st century, and in 2022, Time magazine called him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Then, in 2024, Gold House recognized him as one of the 100 most impactful Asian Pacific leaders who’ve shaped American culture recently.
Reeves started his acting career on Canadian TV in 1984 with the show “Hangin’ In,” and then he moved onto the big screen in 1986 with “Youngblood.” He became famous for playing Ted in the funny sci-fi movie “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” in 1989, and he did two sequels. After that, he got praise for his role as a hustler in the serious movie “My Own Private Idaho” in 1991 and then solidified his status as an action star with movies like “Point Break” in 1991 and “Speed” in 1994.
Even though he had some movies that didn’t do well at the box office, Keanu Reeves got a lot of attention for his role in the scary movie “The Devil’s Advocate” in 1997. But his biggest role came in 1999 when he played Neo in “The Matrix”. He became the highest-paid actor ever for his role in the sequels, “Reloaded and Revolutions”. After that, he was in other big movies like “Constantine” in 2005, “The Lake House” in 2006, and “John Wick” in 2014.
Besides acting, Reeves also directed a movie called “Man of Tai Chi” in 2013. He’s into music too, playing bass guitar for the band Dogstar. He’s also worked on creating the BRZRKR franchise and does a lot of charity work.
| Full Name | Keanu Charles Reeves |
| Date of Birth | September 2, 1964 |
| Place of Birth | Beirut, Lebanon |
| Occupation | Actor, Producer, Director, Musician |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.86 m) |
| Spouse | Never Married |
| Children | One daughter (Ava Archer Reeves, deceased) |
| Net Worth | $380 Million |
Keanu Reeves’s Early Life and Education
Keanu Reeves was born in Beirut, Lebanon, on September 2, 1964. His mom, Patricia was into making costumes and performing. His dad, Samuel Nowlin Reeves Jr. was American and had a mix of backgrounds: Native Hawaiian, Chinese, English, Irish, and Portuguese. Reeves’s grandma on his dad’s side was both Chinese and Hawaiian. His parents split up when he was three, and his dad wasn’t around much after that. They moved around a lot, first to Sydney, then to New York City, and later to Toronto. His mom remarried a couple of times, first to a director named Paul Aaron and then to a rock music promoter named Robert Miller.
Growing up, Keanu Reeves and his sisters spent a lot of time in Toronto. They had a nanny who looked after them while their mom worked. Because of his grandma’s Chinese heritage, Reeves was exposed to Chinese culture at home. He also got a taste of British humor and manners from his mom.
Reeves wasn’t the easiest kid to handle. He went to four different high schools, getting kicked out of one because he was too rowdy and mouthy. He struggled in school because he had dyslexia which made reading tough for him. Despite this, he was good at ice hockey and even thought about trying out for the Canadian Olympic team. But acting won out in the end. He left high school at 17 to focus on acting and eventually moved to Los Angeles with the help of his stepdad. Even though he’s lived in the US for a while, he still holds Canadian citizenship.
Career
In 1984, Keanu Reeves started his career as a reporter on a Canadian youth TV show. That same year he began acting on TV and in stage plays including a notable role as Mercutio in “Romeo and Juliet”. He also appeared in commercials and short films.
During auditions in the mid-1980s, Reeves was advised to change his name because his first name sounded “too ethnic”. He briefly used “K. C.” or “Casey” Reeves before returning to his original name Keanu.
Reeves moved into TV movies in 1986 and made his big-screen debut in “Youngblood” and a romantic drama called “Flying”. He gained attention for his role in “River’s Edge” a film about high school friends dealing with a murder. Critics praised his natural performance.
Towards the late 1980s, Keanu Reeves starred in several dramas aimed at young audiences like “The Night Before” and “Permanent Record”. Despite mixed reviews for some films his performance was often highlighted positively.
In 1989, Reeves appeared in “Dangerous Liaisons” and achieved broader recognition with “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure”. The film was a hit praised for its charm and humor.
He continued to diversify in the early 1990s starring in “Parenthood” and “Tune in Tomorrow” as well as appearing in Paula Abdul’s music video for “Rush Rush”.
From 1991 to 1994, Keanu Reeves transitioned to more mature roles including the sequel “Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey” and the critically acclaimed “My Own Private Idaho” alongside River Phoenix. He also starred in the action thriller “Point Break” which was a commercial success.
In 1991, Reeves formed a rock band called Dogstar and took on the role of Jonathan Harker in Francis Ford Coppola’s “Bram Stoker’s Dracula”. Despite some criticism, the film was a box office hit.
Throughout the early 1990s, Reeves appeared in various films including “Much Ado About Nothing,” “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues,” and “Little Buddha” receiving mixed reviews.
In 1994, Keanu Reeves starred in “Speed” a blockbuster hit where he played a police officer trying to stop a bomb from exploding on a bus. The film was a critical and commercial success earning Reeves praise for his energetic performance.
Keanu Reeves continued to take on different roles in the mid-1990s. In “Johnny Mnemonic” he played a man with a computerized brain implant who must deliver important data before it kills him or the yakuza gets to him. The movie got mostly negative reviews with critics feeling Reeves wasn’t the right fit for the role. Roger Ebert called it a big silly movie that’s strangely captivating in its way. They even made a CD-ROM game to go along with the movie.
In “A Walk in the Clouds” Keanu Reeves starred in a romantic drama set just after World War II. Reviews were mixed with some praising the film’s beauty and acting while others thought it was too sentimental like a glossy magazine ad.
Besides movies, Reeves took a break to perform in theater notably as Hamlet in 1995. Critics at the time thought he brought a powerful mix of innocence and fury to the role.
Reeves then moved on to more science fiction with “Chain Reaction” in 1996. It’s about a scientist who’s framed for murder and has to clear his name. The movie wasn’t well-received and was criticized for sticking too closely to the usual formula for thrillers.
After that, Keanu Reeves starred in several more movies but many of them were seen as disappointments by critics. One bright spot was “The Devil’s Advocate” in 1997 where Reeves took a pay cut so Al Pacino could also star. Critics liked this supernatural thriller, especially Reeves’s solid performance.
In 1999, Reeves landed a role in the groundbreaking sci-fi hit “The Matrix.” He played a computer hacker who discovers that reality as we know it is just a simulation created by machines. The movie was a huge success praised for its innovative special effects and story.
Following the success of “The Matrix” Reeves chose lighter fare like the sports comedy “The Replacements” in 2000. Despite some missteps such as appearing in “The Watcher” under unfortunate circumstances he continued to explore different genres.
In 2001, Keanu Reeves kept trying new things in movies. He did a love story called “Sweet November” with Charlize Theron but people didn’t like it much. Then he tried a sports comedy called “Hardball” but critics thought it wasn’t very deep and they didn’t like Reeves’s acting in it.
Reeves returned to “The Matrix” universe with two sequels in 2003 shot back-to-back in Australia. While “The Matrix Reloaded” received mostly positive reviews the third installment “The Matrix Revolutions” was more divisive.
In 2005, Keanu Reeves starred in “Constantine” where he played a character who could see and talk to half-angels and half-demons. The movie did well at the box office making $230 million worldwide though reviews were mixed. After that, he was in “Thumbsucker” a comedy-drama about a teenager with a thumb-sucking problem. Critics liked it with one saying it was emotionally rich.
Keanu Reeves then appeared in “A Scanner Darkly” an animated sci-fi film where he played an undercover agent in a surveillance-heavy future. It didn’t do great financially but got good reviews for its visuals. Next, he starred with Sandra Bullock in “The Lake House” a romantic drama based on a South Korean film. Despite making money it was criticized for being overly sentimental.
In 2008, Reeves starred in “Street Kings” a crime thriller where he played an undercover cop trying to clear his name. The movie did well but got mixed reviews. He also starred in “The Day the Earth Stood Still” a sci-fi film where he played an alien trying to save Earth. Critics didn’t like it much especially the heavy-handed environmental message.
In 2013, Keanu Reeves directed his first film “Man of Tai Chi” a martial arts movie with multilingual dialogue. It got positive reviews for its fight scenes. That year he also starred in “47 Ronin” a fantasy film set in Japan but it flopped at the box office.
From 2014 onwards, Reeves’ career picked up with the “John Wick” series where he played a retired hitman seeking revenge. The movies were praised for their action and Reeves’ performance. He also appeared in other films like “To the Bone” tackling serious subjects like anorexia and had roles in comedies and thrillers.
Next in 2015, Keanu Reeves starred in a creepy movie called “Knock Knock” and narrated two documentaries. He had a busy 2016 with five movie releases. Some were hits like Keanu where he voiced a kitten and some didn’t do so well like Exposed. In 2017, he returned for the sequel to John Wick which was even more successful than the first.
Reeves also took on different roles like playing a doctor in the drama “To the Bone.” In 2018, he teamed up with Winona Ryder again for a comedy called “Destination Wedding.” Then he starred in two thrillers “Siberia” and “Replicas” but they weren’t well received.
In 2019, Keanu Reeves was back as John Wick in the third installment which did great at the box office. He also lent his voice to “Toy Story 4” and was honored with a film festival in Scotland. He had a cameo in “Always Be My Maybe” and started work on a secret Netflix series.
Finally, after years of talk, the third “Bill & Ted” movie was released in 2020. Critics had mixed feelings but fans enjoyed seeing Reeves back in action. He also had a small role in “The SpongeBob” Movie and appeared in the video game “Cyberpunk 2077.”
In December 2021, Keanu Reeves returned to “The Matrix” franchise for the fourth film. Unfortunately, it didn’t do as well as expected. In 2023, he reprised his role as John Wick for the fourth installment and also returned to “Cyberpunk 2077” for an expansion.
Keanu Reeves has been busy with several exciting projects lately. In March 2023, he starred in “John Wick: Chapter 4” which received great reviews for its action-packed storyline. Reeves also continued his role as Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion Phantom Liberty. He co-wrote the popular comic book series BRZRKR which sold over 615000 copies of its first issue.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Reeves and his band Dogstar reunited to create their new album “Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees” released in 2023. They performed together for the first time in 20 years at the BottleRock Napa Valley festival and embarked on a tour across North America and Japan.
Reeves appeared on the TV show “Ride with Norman Reedus” and hosted a documentary series called “Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story.” He also announced a new book project with China Miéville titled “The Book of Elsewhere” set to release in July 2024.
In the film world, Keanu Reeves is set to star in several upcoming movies including “Good Fortune,” “Outcome Apple TV+,” and “Sonic the Hedgehog 3.” He’ll reprise his role in the John Wick spin-off “Ballerina” and star in Ruben Östlund’s satire “The Entertainment System Is Down.” Reeves is also producing a documentary about Benny Urquidez and developing a film adaptation of BRZRKR for Netflix.
Reeves is open to directing and has plans for a two-season anime series based on BRZRKR. While a fifth John Wick sequel was planned director Chad Stahelski mentioned a possible hiatus for the franchise.
Net Worth
Keanu Reeves has an estimated net worth of $85 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The main source of Keanu Reeves’s main source of net worth comes from his successful career as an actor.
Over decades in the entertainment industry, he has starred in numerous blockbuster films such as “The Matrix” series, “John Wick” series, and “Speed,” among others. Reeves earns significant income from starring roles, endorsements, and producing credits in these high-profile movies.
Additionally, he has invested wisely in real estate and other ventures, further contributing to his wealth. Keanu’s enduring popularity and diverse talents have made him not only a beloved actor but also a wealthy entrepreneur in the entertainment world.
Personal life
Back in 1998, Keanu Reeves met Jennifer Syme who worked as an assistant to director David Lynch at a party for his band Dogstar. They hit it off and started dating. Sadly, on December 24, 1999, Syme gave birth prematurely but their baby didn’t make it. They split up shortly after, but later got back together. Tragically, on April 2, 2001, Syme was in a car accident in Los Angeles and didn’t survive. Reeves was devastated. He even helped carry her casket and she was laid to rest next to their baby.
Reeves has been linked romantically to others too, like his longtime friend Brenda Davis and model-actress China Chow. He also met Alexandra Grant in 2009, and they’ve worked on a couple of books together. They made their relationship public in 2019.
Keanu Reeves keeps his spiritual beliefs private but has hinted at them in interviews. He believes in things like God, faith, and inner strength. Buddhism has influenced him, especially after he worked on a movie called “Little Buddha.” When asked about what he thinks happens after we die, he said, “I know that the ones who love us will miss us.”
In 2023, a substance deadly to fungi was named after Reeves, called Keanumycin, to honor his contributions.
Philanthropy
Keanu Reeves is a big supporter of charities and causes. When his sister got sick with leukemia he started a special cancer foundation to help out. This foundation supports children’s hospitals and funds cancer research. He also helps out at events like Camp Rainbow Gold, a charity for kids with cancer in Idaho. He’s even been named one of the 100 most influential celebrities in oncology.
Despite being super successful, Keanu Reeves isn’t all about money. He once said, “Money is the last thing I think about. I could live on what I have already made for the next few centuries.” There’s a rumor going around that he gave away a huge chunk of money, somewhere between $35 to $125 million, from his earnings in “The Matrix” movies. But that’s not entirely true. He negotiated a deal where he took less money in exchange for more money being spent on special effects.
After working on “John Wick: Chapter 4,” Reeves along with his director Chad Stahelski and a jiu-jitsu instructor named Dave Camarillo, signed a special training uniform. This uniform was then auctioned off to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Keanu Reeves is also into business ventures. He started a production company called Company Films with his friend Stephen Hamel. He’s a big fan of motorcycles, so he co-founded a company that builds and sells custom bikes called ARCH Motorcycle Company. In 2017, he helped start a book publishing company called X Artists’ Books with Jessica Fleischmann and Alexandra Grant. He even wrote two books with Grant, called Ode to Happiness and Shadows, where he wrote the words to go along with her photos and art.
