(A young girl learns that she must believe in the existenc...)
A young girl learns that she must believe in the existence of toys or Toyland and Christmas will be ruined by the evil Barnaby Barnacle. Beloved storybook characters come to the little girl's rescue by convincing her to see the light in this delightful tale about saving Christmas.
(The lives of a group of teenagers are thrown into a moral...)
The lives of a group of teenagers are thrown into a moral spin when one of them murders his girlfriend. Faced with the brutal reality of death, each must decide whether to turn their friend in to the police, or to help him escape the consequences of his actions.
(Winston Connelly wakes up in the middle of the night in a...)
Winston Connelly wakes up in the middle of the night in an alley with no idea of how he got there. Through a series of flashbacks, he remembers that he was sidetracked on his way to the prom the night before. In the meantime, he has to figure out what happened to his wallet, his car keys, his date, and why a pimp named "Tito" wants him dead.
(Johny Utah, an FBI agent goes undercover to unmask band o...)
Johny Utah, an FBI agent goes undercover to unmask band of thrill-seeking surfers who rob banks fund their addiction to pulling off most daring score & riding biggest wave-Point Break.
(Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix star in Academy Award-nomi...)
Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix star in Academy Award-nominated director Gus Van Sant's seminal meditation on the nature of innocence as two young men living on the fringes of society.
(In this visually stunning film, a disillusioned WWII vet'...)
In this visually stunning film, a disillusioned WWII vet's (Keanu Reeves) life takes a surprising turn when he poses as the husband of the daughter of a domineering vineyard owner.
(Beat Poet Neal Cassady is pulled between two women, Mary ...)
Beat Poet Neal Cassady is pulled between two women, Mary (Gretchen Mol), a teen temptress and Joan (Forlani), his first true love. Based on a letter written by Cassady to his friend, author Jack Kerouac, this beautifully photographed film is about the choices people make and how they alter the course of one's life
(Keanu Reeves and Oscar-winner Al Pacino star in this sexy...)
Keanu Reeves and Oscar-winner Al Pacino star in this sexy thriller about temptation and ambition. Co-starring Charlize Theron, Emmy-winner Craig T. Nelson.
(Keanu Reeves stars in an explosive sci-fi adventure about...)
Keanu Reeves stars in an explosive sci-fi adventure about a man who comes to believe that his everyday world is the product of a computer-driven digital matrix that feeds on humans.
(An aimless young man who is scalping tickets, gambling an...)
An aimless young man who is scalping tickets, gambling and drinking, agrees to coach a Little League team from the Cabrini Green housing project in Chicago as a condition of getting a loan from a friend.
(Neo, Trinity & Morpheus lead revolt against Machine Army ...)
Neo, Trinity & Morpheus lead revolt against Machine Army unleashing their arsenal of extraordinary skills & weaponry against systematic forces of repression & exploitation.
(This third instalment focuses on action. Neo is trapped i...)
This third instalment focuses on action. Neo is trapped in limbo between reality & Matrix, while Zion, last human city, is attacked by hordes of machines.
(Based on the ground-breaking DC/Vertigo comic book "Hellb...)
Based on the ground-breaking DC/Vertigo comic book "Hellblazer," Keanu Reeves plays John Constantine, a modern-day mystic on a personal quest to send demons hiding on Earth back to Hell.
(In The Day the Earth Stood Still, a contemporary reinvent...)
In The Day the Earth Stood Still, a contemporary reinvention of the 1951 science fiction classic, renowned scientist Dr. Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly) finds herself face to face with an alien called Klaatu (Keanu Reeves), who travels across the universe to warn of an impending global crisis.
(Released from prison for a crime he didn't commit, an ex-...)
Released from prison for a crime he didn't commit, an ex-con targets the same bank he was sent away for robbing. Starring an ensemble cast including Keanu Reeves, Vera Farmiga and James Caan.
(John and his girlfriends, Mia and Violet, enjoy late nigh...)
John and his girlfriends, Mia and Violet, enjoy late night partying, sex, and drugs. On a night out in New York, secrets are revealed and compromises are made as these three friends search for self discovery in a corrupt world.
(After a warlord banishes their kind, a band of 47 leaderl...)
After a warlord banishes their kind, a band of 47 leaderless samurai must seek help from Kai (Keanu Reeves) - an enslaved half-breed - in their ultimate fight for vengeance and redemption.
(Keanu Reeves stars in and directs this epic tale about a ...)
Keanu Reeves stars in and directs this epic tale about a young martial artist who must compete in an underground fight club to protect his way of life. As the fights intensify so does his will to survive.
(When a retired hit man is forced back into action by a sa...)
When a retired hit man is forced back into action by a sadistic young thug, he hunts down his adversaries with the skill and ruthlessness that made him an underworld legend.
(A family man's (Keanu Reeves) kind gesture turns into a d...)
A family man's (Keanu Reeves) kind gesture turns into a dangerous seduction and a deadly game of cat and mouse when he opens his door to two stranded young women.
(Keanu Reeves is a defense attorney trying to clear a teen...)
Keanu Reeves is a defense attorney trying to clear a teen in the brutal stabbing of his father. As more evidence comes to light, the whole truth seems darker than ever.
(When aspiring model Jesse moves to Los Angeles, her youth...)
When aspiring model Jesse moves to Los Angeles, her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will use any means necessary to get what she has in this horror thriller from Nicolas Winding Refn.
(As a police officer investigates the death of his partner...)
As a police officer investigates the death of his partner, the case exposes disturbing police corruption and a dangerous secret leading him to a troubled young woman.
(John Wick is forced out of retirement, and this time, he ...)
John Wick is forced out of retirement, and this time, he must face off against a shadowy international assassins' guild and more of the world's deadliest killers.
(When a business deal in Russia goes south, a U.S. diamond...)
When a business deal in Russia goes south, a U.S. diamond merchant (Keanu Reeves) and his lover are caught in a lethal crossfire between the buyer and local federal agents.
(Keanu Reeves leads this suspenseful sci-fi thriller about...)
Keanu Reeves leads this suspenseful sci-fi thriller about a neuroscientist who secretly tries to clone and create replicas of his family after a tragic car crash.
Keanu Charles Reeves is a Canadian actor, director, producer, and musician. He gained fame for his starring role performances in several blockbuster films, including comedies from the Bill and Ted franchise (1989–1991); action thrillers Point Break (1991), Speed (1994), and the John Wick franchise (2014–2019); psychological thriller The Devil's Advocate (1997). In addition to his film roles, Reeves has acted in theatre.
Background
Ethnicity:
Reeves's father is a Native Hawaiian, Portuguese, English, Scottish, at least 1/16th Chinese and remote Dutch, his mother is English.
Keanu Reeves was born on September 2, 1964, in Beirut, Lebanon, and was raised in Toronto, Canada. His parents, Samuel Nowlin Reeves, a Chinese-Hawaiian geologist, and Patricia, an entertainer, divorced when Keanu was three. Reeves used to move around from one place to another with his mother and had many stepfathers. After his parents’ formal divorce, Reeves and his mother shifted to Sydney, Australia, where she worked as a costume designer. In there his half-sister Kim was born and the three of them again moved to New York, while his father went to live in Hawaii where Reeves visited him until he was 13 years old. He and his dad have no relationship. His father served time in prison. He was paroled after serving two years of a ten-year sentence for selling heroin at Hilo Airport (1992). "I feel like I got my father's blood, and I am not that happy about it," he told Rolling Stone magazine in 2000.
It was a matter of sometime that his mother again married for the second time in New York to director Paul Aaron and they all moved to Toronto with him and attained Canadian citizenship. But only a year after, the couple split and Reeves’ mother married for the third time in 1976 to a rock promoter called Robert Miller and Reeves second half-sister Karina was born. She got divorced again and married for the fourth time in 1994 to a hairdresser called Jack Bond.
All of this emotional instability and geographical vagrancy, Reeves and his sisters were mostly raised by baby-sitters and grandparents. Reeves has said, "My grandmother is Chinese and Hawaiian so I was around Chinese art, furniture, and cuisine when I was growing up." He has also spoken of his English ancestry, mentioning happily watching British comedy shows such as The Two Ronnies during his childhood, and how his mother imparted English manners that he has maintained into adulthood.
Reeves was named after his uncle Henry Keanu Reeves. "Keanu" is a derivation of Reeves' great-great-uncle Keaweaheulu, whose name means "the soft breeze raising" in Hawaiian.
Reeves is entitled to British citizenship through his English mother. He holds Canadian citizenship by naturalization. He grew up as a Canadian and identifies as such, and holds an American green card. Reeves' biological father was born in the United States but Reeves required a green card because he was not eligible to claim automatic citizenship by birth abroad to one United States citizen.
Education
Reeves went to four different high schools which included Etobicoke School of the Arts from where he was expelled but he was not a very adhering young boy. Reeves stated he was expelled because he was "just a little too rambunctious and shot his mouth off once too often... he was not generally the most well-oiled machine in the school". Reeves excelled more in sports than in academics, as his educational development was challenged by dyslexia. He was a successful ice hockey goalie at one of his high schools (De La Salle College "Oaklands"), and earned the nickname "The Wall". Reeves dreamed of playing hockey for Canada but an injury ended his hopes for a hockey career.
Reeves attended Avondale Secondary Alternative School, which allowed him to obtain an education while working as an actor. He later dropped out and did not obtain a high school diploma and decided to take up acting in the movies as his career choice.
Reeves began his acting career at the age of nine, appearing in a theatre production of Damn Yankees. At 15, he played Mercutio in a stage production of Romeo and Juliet at the Leah Posluns Theatre. Reeves dropped out of high school when he was 17. He obtained a green card through his American stepfather and moved to Los Angeles three years later. He lived with his ex-stepfather, Paul Aaron, who was a stage and television director.
Reeves made his screen acting debut in an episode of Hangin' In. In the early 1980s, he appeared in commercials (including one for Coca-Cola), short films including the NFB drama One Step Away and stage work such as Brad Fraser's cult hit Wolfboy in Toronto. In 1984, he was a correspondent for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation TV youth program Going Great.
Reeves soon began turning up in small roles on various Canadian television programs, making his feature debut in the 1985 Canadian film One Step Away before American audiences got their first good look at him in the 1986 Rob Lowe drama Youngblood. Subsequently going back to television and garnering favorable notice for his role in 1986's Young Again, it was the release of Tim Hunter's The River's Edge later that year that would provide Reeves with his breakthrough role. A harrowing tale of teen apathy in small town America, The River's Edge provided Reeves with a perfect opportunity to display his dramatic range, and the film would eventually become a minor classic in teen angst cinema.
Appearing in a series of sometimes quirky but ultimately forgettable efforts in the following few years, 1988 found Reeves drawing favorable nods for his role in director Stephen Frears' Dangerous Liaisons. It was the following year's Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, however, that would transform the actor into something of an '80s icon. Reeves' performance of a moronic, air guitar wielding wannabe rocker traveling through time in order to complete his history report and graduate from high school proved so endearingly silly that it spawned both a sequel (1991's Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey) and a Saturday morning cartoon. In an odd twist of fate, Reeves and co-star Alex Winter had initially auditioned for the opposite roles from those in which they were ultimately cast. Though he would later offer variations of the character type in such efforts as Parenthood (1989) and I Love You to Death (1990), it wasn't long before Reeves was looking to break away from the trend and take his career to the next level.
After drawing favorable reviews for his turn as a rich kid turned street hustler opposite River Phoenix in Gus Van Sant's 1991 drama My Own Private Idaho, Reeves battled the undead in Francis Ford Coppola's lavish production of Dracula (1992). Showing his loyalty toward fellow Bill and Ted cohort Winter with a hilarious extended cameo in Freaked the following year, Reeves once again teamed with Van Sant for the critically eviscerated Even Cowgirls Get the Blues before surprising audiences with an unexpectedly complex performance as Siddhartha in Bernardo Bertolucci's Little Buddha (1993). Just as audiences were beginning to ask themselves if they may have underestimated Reeves talent as an actor, the mid-'90s found his career taking an unexpected turn toward action films with the release of Jan de Bont's 1994 mega-hit Speed, starring opposite Sandra Bullock.
The Devil’s Advocate in 1997, an American mystery-thriller, escalated Reeves's career. He starred along with Al Pacino and Charliez Theron. The movie did very well at the box-office and many film critics said that Reeves’ acting skills were maturing with time. But there were still a few who thought that he could have done better.
In 1999 Reeves’ career was about to touch the heights with Wachowski Brothers’ sci-fi The Matrix. The movie did extremely well at the box-office and Reeves’ character Neo became an instant hit with the audience and the film critics. The success of this movie was used in making another two sequels namely: The Matrix Reloaded (2003) and The Matrix Revolution (2003). The trilogy performed as expected and did wonders for his career. He had now established himself as an actor with versatile talent and mature demeanor.
In between completing the trilogy of The Matrix, Reeves did movies like The Gift in 2000, The Watcher in 2000, Sweet November in 2001- a romantic drama starring Charlize Theron opposite him, a comedy called The Replacements in 2000 and Something’s Gotta Give with Jack Nicholson. None of these movies could really leave a mark on the entertainment world and Reeve was criticized for his acting skills. But Constantine in 2005, a horror-thriller, did quite well at the box-office and everyone again started talking about how good Reeve’s was.
Again in 2006, Reeve’s movie A Scanner Darkly, a sci-fi based on the novel by Philip k. Dick, did fairly well business wise but his much awaited romantic drama The Lake House in 2006 alongside his Speed co-star Sandra Bullock did not quite workout for him and his career and left audiences and his fans feeling disappointed. His next few releases like: Street Kings in 2008, The Day the Earth Stood Still in 2008 and The Private Life of Pippa Lee in 2009 did mildly at the box-office.
In 2008, Reeves was sued in Los Angeles Superior Court by paparazzo Alison Silva. The unsuccessful $711,974 suit claimed that Reeves hit and injured Silva with a Porsche after concluding a family visit at a Los Angeles medical facility. The lawsuit took a year and a half to make it to trial, during which time Silva continued to attack Reeves and demand payment. At the trial, all 12 jurors rejected the suit, needing only an hour of deliberation to reach their verdict.
In 2010, Reeves did some low-budget movies like Henry’s Crime and Generation Um… and did a big-budget film as well, known as 47 Ronin. During the filming of these movies, Reeves did pre-production work on his home-production and directorial debut, Man of Tai Chi, a movie inspired by the life of a famous stuntman and his friend Tiger Chen. Man of Tai Chi was premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and the Beijing Film Festival and was admired by John Woo, director of action movies, alongside being awarded in Beijing.
In 2011, Reeves produced a documentary on the replacement of the photochemical film by the digital camera technology called Side by Side. He interviewed the ace directors of the industry like: Christopher Nolan, James Cameron, Martin Scorsese, etc. In the same year, he wrote a book called Ode to Happiness with photographs by Alexandra Grant.
In 2014, the action movie John Wick with Reeves in the title role was released. Keanu played a simple citizen, who recently buried his wife and lives with a dog, the last gift of a beloved woman. But when a rich heir to the mafia kills this dog, the connection with the past, the hero shows his real face, a cruel and merciless killer. The film combines both dynamic battle scenes as well as deeply emotional dialogues, and a story about a man who has nothing to lose.
After a loud success, there was a failure. The film Exposed did not collect 50 thousand dollars at the box office. The audience didn’t understand why Keanu Reeves, who all his life chose only good roles, got to this obviously weak film, which belongs to the beginning director and screenwriter. Reeves plays a policeman who, during an investigation, meets a girl who saw a mystical revelation. But the combination of mysticism and detective didn’t save the film and made it boring.
In 2016, a new film with Reeves, The Neon Demon, was released. With a simple plot - a young girl wants to become a supermodel - the film was successful. Before The Neon Demon, the idea of shooting a thriller and horrors about the "hard" life of models and celebrities seemed like a phantasmagoria. The Neon demon not only set a new tone for the stories about the beginning models but also got into the contest program of the Cannes festival. At the same time, news about the release of the second part of the story about John Wick appeared. In May, 2019 the third chapter of the story will be released.
In early 2005, Reeves' accomplishments in Hollywood were recognized by the Hollywood Walk of Fame with a star located at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard.
In 2010, Reeves gained a lot of publicity on the internet when someone posted his photograph in which he is sitting on a bench and eating alone and he looks miserable. It was posted on a 4chan forum. It became viral on the internet and was soon famous under the title of ‘Keanu is Sad’ or ‘Sad Keanu’. Reeves told The Guardian, when prompted to speak over the matter, ‘It is hopefully transformative. The kind of thing that takes you from one place to another - to look at yourself and you know, it can always be worse. I hate that sentence: of course it can always be worse!’. An unofficial holiday was created when a Facebook fan page declared June 15 as "Cheer-up Keanu Day".
(This third instalment focuses on action. Neo is trapped i...)
2003
Religion
Religion was not much a part of Keanu’s life growing up – though he did briefly attend a Catholic school – and it seems to be rather unimportant to this day. He has said: "I wasn’t raised in any special denominations and I haven’t taken on any so far."
It is widely rumored that Reeves is a Buddhist, especially after he played the Buddha in the film, Little Buddha. He even co-narrated a documentary along with Richard Gere (an outspoken Buddhist) called Discovering Buddhism where principles, history, and theology of the religion are discussed. Still, Reeves denies any official connection to Buddhism, saying: "I learned that there is no self and no ego involved in Buddhism. I’m not Buddhist, but I certainly learned not to fear death - that death is a part of a new life."
Speaking of an afterlife, Keanu has had something to say about it, though he seems to acknowledge its mystery. Reeves said: "Energy can’t be created or destroyed, and energy flows. It must be in a direction, with some kind of internal, emotive, spiritual direction. It must have some effect somewhere…I do think there must be some kind of interaction between your living life and the life that goes on from here."
Politics
Reeves routinely avoids questions about politics and has never endorsed any platform.
Views
Reeves set up a cancer charity, choosing not to attach his name to the organization. Reported to be one of the more generous actors in Hollywood, Reeves helped care for his sister during her lengthy battle with leukemia, and has supported such organizations as Stand Up To Cancer and PETA.
Quotations:
"I never cared about the money, that's not why I started acting, and I never liked the fame. The paparazzi culture is more pervasive than it used to be, kind of: 'Let's watch the actor pump gas.' It's nice not to have to worry about bills, though. It's a cliche that money doesn't buy you happiness, but it does buy you the freedom to live your life the way you want. Knock on wood, I've been very fortunate: I've been able to earn a really good living and start a charity foundation, which is nice."
"Mortality is very different when you're 20 to when you're 50."
"I believe in love at first sight. You want that connection, and then you want some problems."
"I've been pleased to work with so many wonderful stars through the years. This has been an amazing journey. I hope it continues."
"Kissing someone is pretty intimate, actually very intimate, and your heart always kind of skips a beat before you do that."
"Money doesn't mean anything to me. I've made a lot of money, but I want to enjoy life and not stress myself building my bank account. I give lots away and live simply, mostly out of a suitcase in hotels. We all know that good health is much more important."
Personality
When Reeves first arrived in Hollywood, his agent thought his first name was too exotic, so during the early days of his film career, he is sometimes credited as K.C. Reeves, Norman Kreeves or Chuck Spadina.
Reeves is quoted as saying "Money is the last thing I think about. I could live on what I have already made for the next few centuries." Reeves only charged a million US dollar for The Devil’s Advocate, when he could easily earn more so that the producers could afford Al Pacino for the movie. Also for The Replacements, he took a pay cut so that Gene Hackman could be afforded for the movie.
Reeves is an avid fan of Formula 1 and IndyCar racing. He is also a longtime motorcycle enthusiast. After asking designer Gard Hollinger to create a custom-built bike for him, the two went into business together with the formation of Arch Motorcycle Company LLC in 2011.
Reeves is hard to blame for avoiding society or excessive snobbery. He often uses the subway, despite the fact that he can afford to move in a more comfortable way. And in one of his birthdays, Keanu was seen in the park, putting a cupcake with a candle next to him, so that anyone who recognized the actor could come to him, congratulate him or talk.
Physical Characteristics:
Reeves is of average height and slim. His face is oval and his eyebrows are thin. He has small brown eyes and black, straight hair. Keanu also has a beard and moustache
Quotes from others about the person
"He's a kind, beautiful person. There are so many beautiful people in this world, and that's not what gets me. That's a dime a dozen and it gets old. Then you meet somebody who happens to be blessed that way and is one of the kindest, most respectable people that'll you'll ever meet and that's Keanu." - Sandra Bullock
"You know, Keanu's an incredibly funny guy, and he doesn't think he is. The first thing he ever said to me was "I don't have a sense of humour." Progressively, I think we discovered it. He was courteous and kind and void of any ego. He's like a cat." - Sandra Bullock
"He's just about the sweetest guy you'll ever meet in Hollywood. He's the most polite person I've ever met in my entire life. Everything is 'please' and 'thank you' to everyone on the set, and I thought that was pretty impressive." - Charlize Theron
"Keanu Reeves - what a doll. Here's this guy, who's like a god to so many people, who's such a well-raised, respectful gentleman." - Diane Keaton
"He's a strange cat, but he's a cool guy. He's in his head a lot. He comes on and he goes off,and you just try to get in front of him and be a target and then try to duck out of the way. He is a very sweet guy with a heart of gold!" - Cameron Diaz
"I can't explain how nice and mellow he is. It's just as weird for him, and he's famous, so it's probably weirder. It's really an out-of-body experience." - Lauren Graham
Interests
Bass guitar
Philosophers & Thinkers
Buddha
Writers
Fyodor Dostoevsky, Jim Thompson, Philip K. Dick
Sport & Clubs
Hockey, horseback riding and surfing
Music & Bands
Sham 69, Joy Division, The Clash , The Ramones, The Velvet Underground
Connections
Despite his age, the actor is still unmarried; the personal life of Keanu Reeves is full of dramatic events and losses. The strongest love of the actor was Jennifer Syme - an American actress, with whom Reeves had long relations. They met through her sister in 1988, and then the young people fell in love at first sight. In January 2000 Jennifer Syme gave birth eight months into her pregnancy to Ava Archer Syme-Reeves, who was stillborn. The girl's heart stopped beating, she died because the blood clot broke away from the umbilical cord. The strain put on their relationship by their grief resulted in Reeves and Syme's breakup several weeks later.
On April 2, 2001, Syme was driving alone on Los Angeles' Cahuenga Boulevard when she sideswiped three parked cars, rolled over several times and was thrown from the car. Authorities believed she died instantly. She reportedly was being treated for depression and taking two prescription drugs, which police found in her car. Reeves, who was scheduled to begin shooting back-to-back Matrix sequels during the subsequent spring, sought "peace and time to deal with this".
Years later, only in 2007, Reeves had an affair with Hallie Meyers-Shyer, the daughter of famous screenwriters. Journalists began to talk about the wedding, but soon it became clear that Keanu began relations with a new girl Parker Posey. And later there was another girlfriend Trinny Woodall.
In 2010, Keanu Reeves began to appear in public with the famous Charlize Theron, with whom he once starred in the films "Sweet November" and "The Devil's Advocate." Actors are friends since these shootings, and have repeatedly talked about their communication and that they are ready to help each other. But at that time the press spoke only of the friendly relations of the stars and there was no reason to suppose otherwise. Charlize Theron supported her friend after the death of his daughter, and then his wife.
In 2010, Keanu and Charlize were seen in an expensive restaurant, and their embraces were not like the gestures of old friends. The press spread rumors that the actors were planning to live together in the UK.
In 2013, the world's media started talking about the relations of the star with the Russian model Anna Skidanova. Their photos appeared after the weekend on the yacht. The girl tells that they have only friendly relationship. But despite her statements, journalists insist that they have romantic relations.
Father:
Samuel Nowlin Reeves
Mother:
Patricia Taylor
ex-girlfriend:
Jennifer Syme
Sister:
Kim Reeves
half-sister:
Karina Miller
ex-girlfriend:
Hallie Meyers-Shyer
Friend:
River Phoenix
Reeves and Phoenix made My Own Private Idaho together, and joked about filming Romeo and Juliet with Reeves as Romeo and Phoenix as Juliet. Reeves was filming Speed when Phoenix died.
Ryder and Reeves made four movies together. It brought them to a very close friendship.
References
Keanu Reeves: Journey to Success
Through interviews with Keanu Reeves and his costars, movie premieres, and film clips, experience firsthand the secret life of one of the most mysterious actors in the world: Keanu Reeves.
