Keanu Charles Reeves (born Wednesday, September 2, 1964) is an Anglo/Canadian Hollywood film actor. Although currently working in the United States, Reeves is a Canadian citizen and an avid ice hockey player/fan who was his High School team's MVP. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, his first name literally means "cool breeze over the mountains" in Hawaiian. The deeper meaning is "one who is constantly absorbed in God consciousness." His father is Asian American of Chinese and Hawaiian descent and his mother is English. He was once arrested for the charge of drunk driving on May 5, 1993 in Los Angeles, California.
Reeves gained the notice of the critics in 1986's River's Edge , but his first major film role was in 1986, in the hockey movie Youngblood, starring Rob Lowe. Reeves's first popularly successful film was Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, in 1989. Indeed, and perhaps unfortunately for Reeves, much of his subsequent portrayal in the press has been influenced by his comically airheaded character Ted in that film.
Despite the fact that his acting has frequently been derided as among the worst in cinematic history, Reeves has become a major box-office draw, and several of his films have become extremely popular. Speed, released in 1994, was a tremendous success for Reeves, surpassed in 1999 by the sci-fi hit The Matrix. Reeves reprised his starring role from that movie for the sequels, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, both box-office hits.
In December of 1999, Reeves had a daughter with actress Jennifer Syme. Eva Archer Syme-Reeves was stillborn and in April of 2001, Jennifer Syme was killed in an automobile accident. She was buried next to their daughter in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Independent of speculation Keanu is reported to be very generous with his time and money, lending both to a variety of causes. He took a significant amount of the profits from his Matrix series and treated the hard-working special-effects crew to motorcycles, among other things. True to his Buddhist teachings, he does not have (by 'Hollywood' standards) many possessions and keeps his life uncluttered. He began playing bass with the rock band Dogstar, who have now gone "into hibernation". He currently plays bass in a band called becky with former Dogstar drummer Rob Mailhouse, guitarist Paulie Kosta and singer Rebecca Lord, although in recent interviews he's announced he has left the band and his musical career for good.
Keanu flew into Chicago on April 17, 2005 and met a Chicago woman, Rehana. Nothing has been confirmed yet about their relationship.
Filmography
- Tripoli 2007
- II Mare 2006
- A Scanner Darkly 2006
- Constantine 2005
- Something's Gotta Give 2003
- The Matrix Revolutions, 2003
- The Matrix Reloaded, 2003
- , (voice) 2003
- Mayor of Sunset Strip (documentary), 2003
- Hard Ball , 2001
- Sweet November, 2001
- The Gift, 2000
- The Watcher , 2000
- The Replacements, 2000
- The Matrix, 1999
- Me and Will , 1998
- The Devil's Advocate, 1997
- The Last Time I Committed Suicide , 1997
- Feeling Minnesota, 1996
- Chain Reaction, 1996
- A Walk in the Clouds , 1995
- Johnny Mnemonic, 1995
- Speed, 1994
- Little Buddha, 1993
- Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, 1993
- Freaked, 1993
- Much Ado About Nothing, 1993
- Bram Stoker's Dracula, 1992
- Providence , 1991
- My Own Private Idaho, 1991
- Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, 1991
- Point Break, 1991
- I Love You to Death , 1990
- Tune in Tomorrow... , 1990
- Parenthood , 1989
- Life Under Water , 1989
- Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, 1989
- The Night Before , 1988
- Permanent Record , 1988
- The Prince of Pennsylvania , 1988
- Dangerous Liaisons, 1988
- Brotherhood of Justice , 1986
- Flying, 1986
- Youngblood, 1986
- Babes in Toyland , 1986
- Under the Influence , 1986
- River's Edge , 1986
- Young Again , 1986 TV-Movie
- Act of Vengeance , 1986 TV-Movie
- Letting Go , 1985 TV-Movie
- One Step Away , 1985 TV-Movie
External links