Keanu Reeves is a handsome actor who is popularly known for giving blockbuster hits and is a phenomenal actor who rose to fame after his major breakthrough role in the science-fiction comedy movie called Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure which was released in 1989, after which he has re-appeared in his role in its subsequent sequels.
In no time, Keanu has gained more distinction for portraying a hustler in the independent drama called My Own Private Idaho which was released in 1999, after which Reeves established himself as an action hero with central roles in Point Break released in 1991, and Speed alongside Sandra Bullock and Dennis Hopper which was released in 1994.
What was Keanu Reeves’ earlier life before following his dreams?
Keanu Charles Reeves was born in the year 1964 on September 2 in Beirut, Lebanon to Patricia who was a costume designer as well as a performer, and father Samuel Nowlin Reeves Jr. Keanu took part in the theatre production of Damn Yankees when he was just nine and because of his mother’s different marriages, Keanu had to attend four different high schools.
When Reeves was attending De La Salle College, he was selected as an ice hockey goalkeeper which aspire him to become a professional ice hockey player for the Canadian Olympic Team. Reeves later felt his passion pull him towards being an actor when was 15 years old because of this, Reeves dropped out of high school when he was 17 and moved to Los Angeles, California to follow his dreams.
How did Keanu Reeves’ career start in the Hollywood Entertainment Industry?
Keanu Reeves was a reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) youth TV program called Going Great in the year 1984, and in the same year, Reeves made his acting debut in one of the episodes of TV series called Hangin’ In. Keanu also made his appearance in a Coco-Cola commercial in the year 1983. Reeves’ first motion picture appearance was in the movie called Youngblood which was released in 1986 and was directed by Peter Markle.
By the end of the 1980s, Keanu focused to star in various dramas that were aimed at teen audiences such as The Night Before released in 1988, the Prince of Pennsylvania, and Permanent Record all of which were released in the year 1988. Reeves’ also appeared in a supporting role in Dangerous Liaisons which had acquired seven nominations at the Academy Awards.
After successful blockbuster hits like Bill & Ted’s Excellent Journey and its sequels, My Own Private Idaho, and Point Break, Keanu Reeves won the category of Most Desirable Male Award at the MTV Movie Awards in the year 1992. Even though there were certainly ups and downs in his successful movie graph, Keanu again rose to popularity with his appearance in the science-fiction movie called The Matrix’s first installment released in the year 1999 which was written and directed by the Wachowskis.
Keanu had to undergo rigorous martial arts training in order to prepare for his fight scenes in the movie. The movie did very well at the box office and even received Academy awards in the category of Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, Best Visual Effects, as well as Best Sound.
Let us explore what else Keanu Reeves has accomplished in Hollywood and outside the entertainment industry?
After successful movies under the Matrix franchise, Keanu made his appearance in the movie called The Private Lives of Pippa Lee written and directed by Rebecca Miller was released in the year 2009 and it was also premiered at the 59th Berlin International Film Festival. In the year 2013, Keanu made his directorial debut with a martial arts movie called Man of Tai Chi which was premiered at both the Beijing Film Festival as well as Cannes Film Festival and received wide acclaim.
Reeves made his blockbuster resurgence with an action thriller called John Wick which was released in 2014 and its subsequent sequels were directed by Chad Staheslski. For his prolific acting in hit movies, Keanu has won four MTV Movie Awards and acquired two nominations for the Saturn awards in the category of Best Actor. In 2021, Reeves was deemed the #1 martial arts movie star in the world by Taekwondo Life Magazine. Reeves acquired a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the year 2005 and in the year 2020, Keanu Reeves ranked fourth in the list of 20 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century released by The New York Times.
Apart from this, Keanu Reeves supports numerous charities and causes. When his sister was battling leukemia, Reeves founded a private cancer foundation that helps children’s hospitals and also provides for cancer research. Around June 2020, Reeves also volunteered for Camp Rainbow Gold which is an Idaho children’s cancer charity. Keanu Reeves has even co-founded a production company along with Stephen Hamel called Company Films. So far, Reeves has written two books titled Ode to Happiness and Shadows and both were in partnership with Alexandra Grant who has furnished text to her photographs and art.
What comprises Keanu Reeves’s personal life apart from work?
In the year 1998, Keanu met Jennifer Syme who was director David Lynch’s assistant at a part after which they both started seeing each other. In December 1999, Jennifer Syme gave birth to their first child, Ava who was sadly stillborn. Reeves and Syme broke up, however, they started seeing each other again. Unfortunately, in April 2001, Jennifer died when her car crashed with three parked cars in Los Angeles. Keanu was one of the pallbearers for Jennifer and she was buried right beside their daughter.
Keanu is romantically linked with filmmaker and old friend Brenda Davis as well as well-known model-actress China Chow. In 2019, when Reeves was invited to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert where he was asked about his views on what happens after Death and Keanu very calmly replied that the ones who love them will miss them.
In the year 2009, Reeves met artist Alexandra Grant at a dinner party, and together they collaborated on Keanu Reeves’ two books. Finally, in November 2019, Grant and Reeves went public with their relationship.