Keanu Reeves: From Tragedy to Superiority
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Keanu Reeves has appeared in numerous films, including 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure,' 'Speed,' 'The Matrix,' and 'John Wick.'
Who Is He?
Keanu Reeves was born in Beirut, Lebanon, on September 2, 1964, and educated in Toronto, Canada. He rose to prominence after his success in River's Edge. He starved in the comedies Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and its sequel, Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey. Reeves' filmography includes the action film Pace, the sci-fi blockbuster The Matrix and its sequels, and more art-house fare such as My Own Private Idaho and The Private Lives of Pippa Lee.
Reeves made his directorial debut with Man of Tai Chi in 2013.
Early Career and Background
Keanu Charles Reeves was born in Beirut, Lebanon, on September 2, 1964. Reeves' first name translates from Hawaiian to English as "cool wind over the mountains," owing to his geologist father's Chinese-Hawaiian ancestry. Reeves' mother worked in the film industry as a dancer and then as a costume designer. Following his parents' divorce, the youngster relocated to New York, then to Toronto, with his mother and sister. Reeves grew up loving hockey, but he gradually turned to act, landing TV roles and making his big-screen debut in the 1985 Canadian film One Step Forward.
Other Interests of Keanu Reeves
Reeves' musical ambitions were not limited to film; in the early 1990s, he co-founded the band Dogstar. During Reeves' decade-long tenure as Dogstar's bassist, the band released two albums. He then played bass for a year in a band named Becky.
Reeves has also been a motorcycle lover for a long time. After commissioning designer Gard Hollinger to build a custom-built bike for him, the two went into business together in 2011, establishing Arch Motorcycle Company LLC.
Reeves is said to be one of Hollywood's most charitable stars, having helped care for his sister through her long fight with leukemia and supporting charities such as Stand Up To Cancer and PETA.
When promoting Destination Wedding with Ryder in August 2018, Reeves seemed stunned to hear that he could be legally married to his co-star. Ryder explained that it was the product of shooting their wedding scene for Dracula. A true Romanian priest performed a complete wedding ceremony.
Tragic Life of Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves seems to have it all. Many young actors can only dream of achieving Reeves' level of success and riches, the fruits of a three-decade acting career. While his agent advised him to change his name when he first began performing, Reeves has had much success with the name his mother gave him.
The Canadian actor has 97 credits on IMDB, including one alleged movie and seven that are yet to be announced. Reeves's promising career has also paid well, making him one of Hollywood's wealthiest stars. However, appearances can be deceiving. Reeves's true-life story is heartbreakingly tragic.
Keanu Reeves' father abandoned his family
Patricia Taylor, a showgirl and fashion designer, and geologist Samuel Reeves gave birth to Reeves in Beirut, Lebanon. Samuel abandoned the family when Reeves was just three years old. Patricia, a single mother, moved the family often during Reeves' youth, raising him in Hawaii, Australia, New York, and Canada. Reeves had attended four high schools by the time he dropped out at the age of 17. He attributes his difficulties with dyslexia to making his education more difficult than it is for other people.
Keanu Reeves' best friend was River Phoenix
A performer River Phoenix was regarded as one of the most gifted actors of his generation. Critics unanimously lauded his performance in films such as Stand by Me and River's Edge. Phoenix and Reeves met in the movie I Love You to Death and became great pals. When Reeves read the script for My Own Private Idaho, he knew Phoenix was the right person for the part. Reeves rode more than 1,000 miles on his motorcycle in December 1989 to hand-deliver the film's treatment to Phoenix and convince him to take part. Phoenix developed an opioid problem that would eventually take his life when filming My Own Private Idaho.
Phoenix died of a drug overdose outside the infamous celebrity hangout Viper Room when he was 23 years old in 1993. According to reports, the actor ingested a deadly cocktail of cocaine, opium, and Valium. At the moment, Reeves was also 23 years old.
Keanu Reeves' daughter and girlfriend died
In 1998, Reeves met David Lynch's secretary, Jennifer Syme, just five years after his best friend's death. According to Reeves, the couple "fell immediately in love" and had a boy a year later. Ava Archer Symes-Reeves was stillborn on December 24, 1999, when Reeves was filming The Matrix. A child's loss naturally strained their relationship, and the pair split up a few weeks later. Sadly, the sad tale does not end there. Syme was killed in a traffic crash a year and a half later, on her way back from a party at Marilyn Manson's house. She was just 28 years old when she died on April 2, 2001.
In a 2006 interview, Reeves discussed his never-ending sadness. "Grief has different forms, but it never goes away," Reeves told Parade. "People believe that you should live with it and think, 'It's gone, and I'm better.' They are incorrect. You're lonely because the ones you care for are gone." Reeves has claimed that his avoidance of romantic relationships and having children were due to Ava and Symes's deaths.
How could Keanu understand John Wick as a character?
Reeves' life story is tragic, but it is also inspirational. All of the above experiences will be enough to make almost everyone angry. Still, Reeves seems to have developed more understanding and empathy along the way. Despite all of his misfortune and misery, Reeves has become as well known for his spontaneous acts of compassion as he is for his films.
While Reeves avoids discussing his painful experience, he often portrays characters who have faced common life challenges. Reeves' character in John Wick is an assassin who is inspired by his wife and dog's death. Wick's grief, according to Reeves, helped him to interact with the character.
"It was John's sadness that made it personal for me," Reeves says. "It was powerful enough to compel him to investigate his history. I saw it as reclaiming rather than vengeance."
Some fascinating facts about Keanu Reeves
Keanu's name is a Hawaiian term that means "cool breeze over the mountain." His name not only distinguishes him in a cast list, but it also appears to describe him exactly, as though he met his parents from the future and told them what name he should be assigned. Reeves' Hawaiian origins can be traced back to his father, who was of Hawaiian and Chinese descent. Keaweaheulu, the name of a prominent Hawaiian high chief from the 18th century, inspired the name "Keanu." In comparison, Reeves' uncle's middle name was Keanu.
When he first started out, Reeves had some bit parts, as most actors do. One of his first appearances was as a racing bicycle in an early 1980s Coke advert. Reeves is pitted against a villainous Russian cyclist in the advert, which is easily accessible on YouTube. All America did in the 1980s was aimed at making Russians look poor.
Reeves happens to be ambidextrous and is an Easter egg for keen-eyed Keanu followers. If you look closely at his films, you'll find that he writes with his left hand and does more complex acts with his right.