- Excellent actor, celebrated for his roles in "Speed" and "The Matrix," as well as his musical talents and literary pursuits, marks his 60th birthday.
Keanu Reeves, renowned for the blockbuster hits "John Wick" and "Matrix", is considered one of Hollywood's prominent action stars. However, he shares little in common with muscle-bound actors like Sylvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarzenegger. Known for his reflective and serious demeanor, Reeves turns 60 today.
In his role as assassin John Wick, Reeves delivers an array of blows, gunfire, and Eastern martial arts on screen, yet his stoic expression reveals his distaste for violence. Reeves is adept at conveying profound insights about a character's psyche with just a few facial expressions.
Reeves releases a book
Just prior to his 60th birthday, Reeves introduces himself to his fans as an author. The actor, who has likewise gained recognition as the creator of the comic book series "BRZRKR" about an eternal warrior since 2021, published his debut novel "The Book of Elsewhere" at the beginning of August.
The novel, co-authored with British science fiction author China Miéville, is set in the "BRZRKR" universe, where an 80,000-year-old warrior tired of immortality.
In a recent interview with the "New York Times", Reeves shared that he gains self-understanding through creative endeavors. "Perhaps I harbor daddy issues and mommy issues. And perhaps I ponder death," he mused in the interview about the book's publication. He enjoys contemplating human origins and explores themes related to technology or the power of love.
Rock and Broadway stage
Reeves defies categorization. As a member of the US rock band Dogstar - on bass - the actor and musician was well-received at the Festival Rock im Park in Nuremberg in June. In the fall of 2025, the star plans to make his Broadway debut with a leading role in the classic "Waiting for Godot" in New York.
The play by Irish dramatist Samuel Beckett is considered the epitome of absurdist theater. The two tramps, Vladimir and Estragon, impatiently wait for an unnamed character while engaging in conversations about life. Reeves is set to play Estragon, while his colleague Alex Winter will portray Vladimir.
Tumultuous upbringing
The eclectic nature of the star may also stem from his tumultuous childhood. Born in Beirut to an English fashion designer mother and a geologist father of Chinese-Hawaiian descent, Reeves' first name means "cool breeze" in Hawaiian. The family relocated to Australia, then to New York. He spent his teenage years in Toronto, Canada. He was three years old when his parents separated, and he lost contact with his father.
In 2019, Reeves told "The Guardian" that this experience must have been traumatic. As a teenager, he already knew he wanted to be an actor and looked back on his youth. He left school before graduating from high school, performed in theater, and moved to Los Angeles.
Even in his early on-screen appearances in the 80s, Reeves demonstrated his versatility. After the independent film "River's Edge", he appeared in the period film "Dangerous Liaisons" and the comedies "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" and "Parenthood".
Hollywood recognition
Hollywood took notice of the burgeoning talent. In the critically acclaimed film "My Private Idaho" (1991), he played a male prostitute under the direction of Gus van Sant alongside River Phoenix. Director Kathryn Bigelow cast him in his first action role in "Point Break - Dangerous Waves" as an undercover agent infiltrating the surfing scene. In 1993, Kenneth Branagh cast him as Don Juan in the Shakespeare adaptation "Much Ado About Nothing".
Three decades ago, the breakthrough to action stardom: In Jan de Bont's exhilarating film "Speed", Reeves played a police officer on a city bus that had to maintain a constant high speed due to a bomb on board, with Sandra Bullock behind the wheel.
In 2006, he was also seen with Bullock in the romantic comedy "The Lake House". The Academy Award-winning actress spoke about Reeves in an "Esquire" portrait in 2021. She held him in high regard as a person, but his reserved nature initially made her uneasy. "He's a listener," she told the magazine, laughing, "and it drives people crazy."
About a year after the release of "Speed", Bullock casually mentioned at a meeting that she had never tried champagne and truffles. A few days later, Reeves unexpectedly rode up to her house on his motorcycle, delivering those very delicacies along with flowers.
Reserved Action Hero
Reeves seldom discusses his personal life and has never been married. In 1999, his pregnant girlfriend, actress Jennifer Syme, gave birth to their stillborn daughter. Two years later, she died in a car accident. Since 2019, Reeves has been seen with American artist Alexandra Grant.
No role brought him as much fame as Neo from the four-part "Matrix" series (1999-2021). In this science fiction thriller, he portrays the thoughtful hacker and martial arts expert who must use his superhuman abilities to liberate humanity from mechanical subjugation.
For "Matrix 4", he leaped from a skyscraper 19 times during filming, of course with safety equipment. "It was fantastic!" the actor said in 2021 on Stephen Colbert's "Late Show". The stunt where he leaped hand in hand with co-star Carrie-Anne Moss from the 46th floor was undoubtedly the wildest experience on the set of "The Matrix Resurrections".
During a sit-down with the German Press Agency back in 2019, Reeves reflected on his attraction to action flicks. "As a kid, I'd indulge in Kung-Fu movies, viewing them like comic book heroes. 'Wow, they've got spontaneous flight, they've got crazy jumping skills, they're super strong, they can perform feats.' What's the allure of watching combat? I'm baffled. Maybe it's a deeply rooted impulse."
In the heartfelt interview with the "New York Times", Reeves expressed his deep emotions, stating, "I gain self-understanding through creative endeavors. Perhaps I harbor daddy issues and mommy issues. And perhaps I ponder death." Later, he shared his loving sentiment, saying, "I enjoyed contemplating human origins and exploring themes related to technology or the power of love."
