Since Keanu Reeves first hit Hollywood like a cool breeze in the '80s, he's saved humanity
Since Keanu Reeves first hit Hollywood like a cool breeze in the '80s, he's saved humanity

from robot slavery, kept a doomed bus from exploding, and even made out with Paula Abdul.
from robot slavery, kept a doomed bus from exploding, and even made out with Paula Abdul.

"Whoa"
"Whoa"

But even though Reeves is a pretty prolific actor, he remains far more enigmatic than
But even though Reeves is a pretty prolific actor, he remains far more enigmatic than

many other celebrities… until now!
many other celebrities… until now!

Here are some things you may not know about Keanu Reeves.
Here are some things you may not know about Keanu Reeves.

Bard brain
Bard brain

Thanks to his roles as dumb guy Ted in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and dumb guy
Thanks to his roles as dumb guy Ted in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and dumb guy

Tod in Parenthood, Reeves was in danger of being typecast in the early '90s.
Tod in Parenthood, Reeves was in danger of being typecast in the early '90s.

"Now what?"
"Now what?"

That's why it was something of a surprise when Kenneth Branagh cast Reeves as Don John
That's why it was something of a surprise when Kenneth Branagh cast Reeves as Don John

in his 1993 screen adaptation of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.
in his 1993 screen adaptation of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.

But Reeves had actually been performing Shakespeare for years, dating back to a 1985 production
But Reeves had actually been performing Shakespeare for years, dating back to a 1985 production

of Romeo and Juliet at a Toronto theater school.
of Romeo and Juliet at a Toronto theater school.

And My Own Private Idaho was based on Shakespeare’s works.
And My Own Private Idaho was based on Shakespeare’s works.

How much does he love Shakespeare?
How much does he love Shakespeare?

He turned down a $12 million offer to star in Speed 2 so that he could play Hamlet in
He turned down a $12 million offer to star in Speed 2 so that he could play Hamlet in

a stage production in Manitoba, Canada.
a stage production in Manitoba, Canada.

Now that's love...
Now that's love...

"I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace!"
"I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace!"

Haunted by...a jacket?
Haunted by...a jacket?

While living in the New York area, young Reeves encountered what can only be described as
While living in the New York area, young Reeves encountered what can only be described as

a ghost.
a ghost.

A ghost jacket, anyway.
A ghost jacket, anyway.

There's really no explanation — so let's just have Keanu tell the tale himself:
There's really no explanation — so let's just have Keanu tell the tale himself:

"There's a doorway.
"There's a doorway.

All of the sudden we're looking over there and this like jacket comes waving through
All of the sudden we're looking over there and this like jacket comes waving through

the doorway, like just an empty, there's no head, there's no body, there's no legs, it's
the doorway, like just an empty, there's no head, there's no body, there's no legs, it's

just there.
just there.

And then it disappears.
And then it disappears.

And I was a little kid and I thought 'Ok well that's interesting.'
And I was a little kid and I thought 'Ok well that's interesting.'

And then I looked over at the nanny, and she's like this."
And then I looked over at the nanny, and she's like this."

Whoa.
Whoa.

He can’t quit smoking
He can’t quit smoking

While smoking is often a youthful indiscretion, Reeves was well into adulthood before he picked
While smoking is often a youthful indiscretion, Reeves was well into adulthood before he picked

up the habit.
up the habit.

He says he started doing it on the set of the 1996 comedy Feeling Minnesota because
He says he started doing it on the set of the 1996 comedy Feeling Minnesota because

his character was a smoker, and then he just got hooked.
his character was a smoker, and then he just got hooked.

He's called smoking "a prison" that he'd love to quit, but can't.
He's called smoking "a prison" that he'd love to quit, but can't.

Personal tragedies
Personal tragedies

Reeves endured multiple heartbreaking tragedies in rapid succession.
Reeves endured multiple heartbreaking tragedies in rapid succession.

He met actress and production assistant Jennifer Syme in 1998, and the two fell in love.
He met actress and production assistant Jennifer Syme in 1998, and the two fell in love.

In 1999, Syme and Reeves were expecting a child together, but when Syme was almost full
In 1999, Syme and Reeves were expecting a child together, but when Syme was almost full

term, doctors discovered the baby had passed away.
term, doctors discovered the baby had passed away.

The stress of the loss of the child contributed to the demise of their relationship.
The stress of the loss of the child contributed to the demise of their relationship.

Less than two years later, while driving home from a party at Marilyn Manson's house in
Less than two years later, while driving home from a party at Marilyn Manson's house in

Los Angeles, Syme was killed in a single-car accident.
Los Angeles, Syme was killed in a single-car accident.

She was only 28 years old.
She was only 28 years old.

Charity work
Charity work

Reeves is very close with his sister, Kim Reeves, who was diagnosed with leukemia in
Reeves is very close with his sister, Kim Reeves, who was diagnosed with leukemia in

the '90s.
the '90s.

Filming on The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions was reportedly delayed so Keanu
Filming on The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions was reportedly delayed so Keanu

could spend more time with his sister and help nurse her back to health.
could spend more time with his sister and help nurse her back to health.

In Kim's honor, Keanu has donated huge amounts of his time and money to cancer charities,
In Kim's honor, Keanu has donated huge amounts of his time and money to cancer charities,

hospitals, and research facilities.
hospitals, and research facilities.

"I have a foundation that does some, it's mostly directed towards healthcare."
"I have a foundation that does some, it's mostly directed towards healthcare."

And he also works with organizations like the SickKids Foundation and Stand Up to Cancer.
And he also works with organizations like the SickKids Foundation and Stand Up to Cancer.

Film crew favorite
Film crew favorite

While negotiating his contract for the two Matrix sequels, Reeves scored a bunch of "back
While negotiating his contract for the two Matrix sequels, Reeves scored a bunch of "back

end" points, meaning he'd make a portion of the movie's box office take in addition to
end" points, meaning he'd make a portion of the movie's box office take in addition to

a salary.
a salary.

Instead of taking all the cash for himself, Reeves diverted the money to the Matrix trilogy's
Instead of taking all the cash for himself, Reeves diverted the money to the Matrix trilogy's

costume and special effects teams, essentially donating millions so the movies could be completed
costume and special effects teams, essentially donating millions so the movies could be completed

after the production nearly ran out of cash.
after the production nearly ran out of cash.

He also bought each of the trilogy's 12 stuntmen a Harley Davidson—his way of saying "thanks."
He also bought each of the trilogy's 12 stuntmen a Harley Davidson—his way of saying "thanks."

Pay cuts
Pay cuts

If Reeves really wants to work with an actor he admires, he isn't above foregoing a portion
If Reeves really wants to work with an actor he admires, he isn't above foregoing a portion

of his usual salary to help make it happen.
of his usual salary to help make it happen.

He reportedly did exactly that so that he could star in The Devil's Advocate with Al
He reportedly did exactly that so that he could star in The Devil's Advocate with Al

Pacino and in The Replacements with Gene Hackman.
Pacino and in The Replacements with Gene Hackman.

"What's it gonna be Shane?"
"What's it gonna be Shane?"

"I want the ball."
"I want the ball."

"Winners always do."
"Winners always do."

Motorcycle man
Motorcycle man

Reeves loves motorcycles so much that he started his own business, the Arch Motorcycle Company,
Reeves loves motorcycles so much that he started his own business, the Arch Motorcycle Company,

whose signature product is the Arch Motorcycle KRGT-1.
whose signature product is the Arch Motorcycle KRGT-1.

Designed and built with his friend and Arch co-founder, bike architect Gard Hollinger,
Designed and built with his friend and Arch co-founder, bike architect Gard Hollinger,

the custom built "superbikes" have two V-twin engines and cost $78,000 each.
the custom built "superbikes" have two V-twin engines and cost $78,000 each.

Rad Keanu
Rad Keanu

Reeves has often been an inspiration for memes, viral pictures, and the overall delight of
Reeves has often been an inspiration for memes, viral pictures, and the overall delight of

the internet.
the internet.

Among the most famous: a viral video of Keanu giving up his subway seat to someone who needed
Among the most famous: a viral video of Keanu giving up his subway seat to someone who needed

it more.
it more.

Then there's this uncanny 16th century painting from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy,
Then there's this uncanny 16th century painting from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy,

which seems to suggest that Keanu is actually a time traveler himself.
which seems to suggest that Keanu is actually a time traveler himself.

And of course, there's the infamous Sad Keanu meme.
And of course, there's the infamous Sad Keanu meme.

Which actually made Keanu kind of… sad But not that sad.
Which actually made Keanu kind of… sad But not that sad.

"I mean, do I wish that I didn't get my picture taken while I was eating a sandwich on the
"I mean, do I wish that I didn't get my picture taken while I was eating a sandwich on the

streets of New York?
streets of New York?

Ya."
Ya."

Not quite the Wyld Stallyns
Not quite the Wyld Stallyns

Shortly after the release of the Bill and Ted movies, Reeves formed a garage band called
Shortly after the release of the Bill and Ted movies, Reeves formed a garage band called

Dogstar...in his actual garage.
Dogstar...in his actual garage.

"I played in a band called Dogstar and we made a couple of albums.
"I played in a band called Dogstar and we made a couple of albums.

I played electric bass."
I played electric bass."

At their first gig, an up-and-coming band called Weezer was their opening act, and Dogstar
At their first gig, an up-and-coming band called Weezer was their opening act, and Dogstar

even played The Tonight Show.
even played The Tonight Show.

(Keanu Reeves slapping bass in his band Dogstar)
(Keanu Reeves slapping bass in his band Dogstar)

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Thanks for watching!

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