There’s probably the most beautiful rumor about him: Keanu Reeves is said to be the nicest Hollywood star.
Since the Matrix films, the actor has been a world-famous megastar. On screen, he often embodies the icy killer, yet in real life, despite his hardships, he remains a perfect example of warmth and kindness.
Today, on September 2, 2024, Keanu Reeves is celebrating his 60th birthday. Read here a look back at his remarkable career and how much truth there is to the rumor.
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Keanu Reeves Celebrates 60th Birthday
Keanu Charles Reeves was born on September 2, 1964, in Beirut. However, life didn’t always treat him kindly, as he experienced from an early age. His father left the family when Reeves was three years old and subsequently went to prison for drug trafficking.
He was raised alone by his mother and frequently changed residences—from Beirut to Sydney, from New York to Toronto—during which time she married three times.
But that didn’t stop him from pursuing his dreams. Reeves knew early on that he wanted to be an actor. At the age of 17, he dropped out of school and landed his first supporting role in Rob Lowe’s “Youngblood” in 1986.
Keanu Reeves
With his role in “Point Break,” where he fought against the predatory Patrick Swayze in a surfing costume, he caught people’s attention. His breakthrough in Hollywood came in 1994 with the blockbuster “Speed.”
Films like “The Devil’s Advocate,” “Cradle 2 the Grave,” and the “Matrix” series followed. For the latter, Reeves learned 200 martial arts techniques and often performed his own stunts. But then came the next personal tragedies: in 1998, a year before the film celebrated its great success, Reeves’ close friend River Phoenix passed away.
Shortly thereafter, his first great love and girlfriend gave birth to a stillborn daughter. It got even worse when his girlfriend died in a car accident in 2001. To add to that, his younger sister Kin was diagnosed with leukemia and fought against blood cancer for ten years.
Keanu Reeves with co-star Carrie-Anne Moss in “Matrix Reloaded”
The plight of his sister affected him so deeply that he donated about 70 percent of his earnings from the “Matrix” films to cancer research and children’s hospitals. For this purpose, he established his own foundation.
Keanu Reeves remains extremely productive and films up to five movies a year. The “John Wick” series has been particularly successful, reflecting parallels to Reeves’ own life. In the films, he plays a former killer who embarks on a bloody vengeance after the death of his wife at the hands of the Russian mafia.
The four films in the series have grossed over one billion US dollars worldwide. In addition to the “John Wick” series, a fourth “Matrix” installment was released in 2021, in which he appeared again as Neo.
Keanu Reeves giving money to a homeless woman
But beyond that, Reeves has long been regarded as the “nicest person in Hollywood,” a title given to him by the “New York Times.” This was due to him attending the wedding of a fan who had randomly invited him at a hotel bar.
Additionally, Reeves stands out for his consistently positive behavior: in 2011, he gave up his seat on the New York subway to a woman with a heavy bag, which sparked a viral video. In 2019, after an emergency landing in Bakersfield, Reeves organized the transportation of the passengers and entertained them as a humorous tour guide.
Keanu Reeves as the hitman John Wick
To this day, the actor has participated in over 70 film projects and has received numerous awards, including four MTV Awards, the Blockbuster Entertainment Award, the Teen Choice Award, and a Bambi.
And today, the star’s life is characterized by a lot of positivity: he is often seen happy with his longtime girlfriend Alexandra Grant, whether kissing during lunch breaks or enthusiastically attending the Germany Grand Prix at Sachsenring.
The two met in 2011 while working on the adult picture book “Ode To Happiness,” for which he wrote the text and she contributed the illustrations. They publicly shared their love in 2019.
Keanu Reeves with his longtime girlfriend Alexandra Grant 2024
And today the actor Keanu Reeves has a birthday. BILD wishes him many more years full of success, exciting projects, and above all—happiness!
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