Actor Keanu Reeves, 59, has developed a reputation as one of Hollywood’s nicest guys. The actor has shown rare features of kindness to those around him on numerous occasions, so much so that he has come to be known for such acts. Of course, it has also led to fans acknowledging that his acts of charity are not staged, and they can believe whatever good things they see about him in the media.
On top of his good deeds, Reeves is a talented actor who is known for incredible projects like “The Matrix,” “John Wick,” and “Knock Knock.” He discovered acting early and started working at nine. Reeves has often been described as endearing and hard-working by those who have worked with him, and these qualities are reflected in his work, making him a highly sought-after professional.
However, Reeves’ life hasn’t always been rosy, and his life has been marked by tragedy on more than one occasion. Despite all that, the actor has become stronger and more compassionate. Reeves was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1964 to a native Hawaiian and Chinese dad, Samuel Reeves, and a British mother, Patricia Taylor. His father left his family when he was three, although he kept in touch until Reeves was 13. The “Matrix” star wouldn’t hear from his dad again until after 10 years.
Reeves’ mom remarried three times, and the actor had to move around a lot in his childhood. He lived in Hawaii, Australia, New York and Canada. He also had dyslexia, which made him drop out of school at 17. His dyslexia proved to be a challenge when it came to enjoying school, although he still managed to keep up with learning and did well academically.
Meanwhile, Reeves was a Hockey player and aimed to play professionally. According to Sportscasting, Reeves was on track for a career in hockey and even earned tryouts with a professional team. However, he suffered an injury that shattered his dreams. Fortunately, a short while after the injury, Reeves took a trip to New York City, ultimately leading to a jumpstart in his acting career.
However, tragedy struck when he began finding work and making a name for himself. He co-starred alongside his good friend River Phoenix in “My Own Private Idaho.” Phoenix and Reeves met while shooting “I Love You to Death” and were quickly drawn to each other. They soon became best friends.
According to Showbiz CheatSheet, Reeves was determined to ensure his friend received the part that he rode more than 1,000 miles on his motorcycle to deliver the film’s treatment to Phoenix by hand. Unfortunately, Phoenix later developed substance abuse issues and died of a drug overdose in 1993 at 23.
About five years after his best friend died, Reeves met Jennifer Syme. The pair fell in love and conceived a child in 1999. However, their daughter, Ava, was stillborn, and Reeves and Syme struggled to deal with their grief while holding onto their relationship. Eventually, they decided to break up. Sadly, Syme died in a car accident in April 2001.
Per Showbiz CheatSheet, Reeves opened up about his continuing grief in a 2006 interview:
“Grief changes shape, but it never ends,” he said. “People have a misconception that you can deal with it and say, ‘It’s gone, and I’m better.’ They’re wrong. When the people you love are gone, you’re alone.”
For many years after Reeves’ tragic losses, he avoided having serious relationships and children. However, he opened himself up to finding love again after meeting Alexandra Grant, a visual artist, and his current girlfriend.
Reeves and Grant have known each other for years and were good friends before deciding to pursue a relationship. They also collaborated on several projects before their romance started. They made news of their relationship public in 2019, although they have had a largely private affair since then, only stepping out together occasionally.
Like Reeves, Grant has lived in several countries throughout her life, including Mexico, France, and Spain, although she is based in Los Angeles. She is a successful artist who has won several awards and exhibited her works in several countries. However, Grant has credited Reeves with giving her fresh inspiration for her work.
She told People how dating her beau has influenced her positively.
“What I love about Keanu and our exchange is that we’re pushing each other to build new roads,” Grant told the outlet.
She added that she was glad she started a relationship when her career had bloomed and further shared that since her and Reeves’ work are closely related, it inspires her. The visual artist revealed that her work has taken a new tone since her romance with the star began and recalled a time when someone whose opinion she valued visited her studio and told her that her work looked “happier.”
Reeves himself is of great help to her.
“He’s such an inspiration to me,” she disclosed. “He’s so creative, he’s so kind. He works so hard.”
Grant is not the only one who sees Reeves’ kindness and impact. Besides being a movie star, in recent years, Reeves also developed a reputation as “the internet’s boyfriend” due to how much social media users love him. There are many reasons that fans love Reeves — from the fact that he’s a bonafide action star whose filmography includes “The Matrix” and “John Wick” franchises, among other notable movies, to becoming the star of many popular memes. Reeves is simply one of Hollywood’s most beloved actors and an internet icon.
But there are plenty of other examples out there that show just why Reeves is considered such a stand-up guy. There’s the time he gave up his seat on the subway for a stranger and the various moments he’s shared with homeless people on the streets, donating to them or listening to their stories. There are also the many donations he’s given to charities or when he shared his wealth with the film crew of “The Matrix.”
It has come to light that he’d even surprised each member of his stunt team from “John Wick 4” with a brand new Rolex watch as a thank-you gift. After filming wrapped in Paris, the actor gifted the four members of his stunt team a Rolex 2020 Submariner watch each, with a personalized message engraved on the back. He also got one for himself that matched the others, making the item more than just a gift but a shared relic from their time spent together on the film set.
In honor of Reeves’ kind and selfless attitude, let’s take a look at the many reasons why he’s perhaps the most humble celebrity in Hollywood.
One aspect of Reeves’ appeal has remained the same since he landed in Hollywood — his clothing. Rather than spending thousands of dollars on designer duds, Reeves has become known for keeping a rather utilitarian uniform that usually consists of blue jeans, a simple jacket, and large beat-up boots. It might seem like an insignificant detail, but Reeves’ outfit choices could be seen as a physical manifestation of how he sees himself — just like every other normal person. He doesn’t need flashy clothes, cars, or luxury mansions because he knows material possessions aren’t the key to a happy life.
But on the topic of material items, he knows how to spend his money to make others happy. A generous gift-giver, Reeves has a history of gifting the people he works on films with. As mentioned earlier, in 2021, it was revealed that he gifted four Rolex watches to his stunt team from “John Wick: Chapter 4.” Jeremy Marinas, one of the stunt crew, posted a photo to social media that showed the personalized message that his watch has engraved on the back. As reported by TMZ, it read:
“The John Wick Five
Jeremy Thank You
Keanu
JW4 2021.”
What an incredibly thoughtful and classy present. But that wasn’t the first time Reeves treated his film crew members with special gifts. After one of “The Matrix” movies finished filming, he treated his 12-person strong stunt team to a Harley-Davidson bike each, according to an interview with “John Wick” director Chad Stahelski. What’s more, when one of the franchise’s sequels wrapped, every member of the film crew, which totaled around 800 people, walked away with a bottle of champagne courtesy of the actor.
Reeves understands that money isn’t everything in life, demonstrating his willingness to share his wealth. According to a Wall Street Journal article, as reported by ABC News, Reeves gave away many of his profits from “The Matrix” movies.
However, Page Six later reported that Reeves’ publicist denied these rumors. Still, Reeves showed he was very generous toward those he worked with. Page Six reported that he has been known for giving gifts to his co-workers and food service workers, as well as his family and charities he supports.
A Hollywood producer said, “Keanu’s infamous for his generosity.” The producer spoke about the story that Reeves had given a $20,000 bonus to one of the set builders on “The Matrix” after learning that he was having financial difficulties.
But it’s not just people he knows that Reeves treats kindly. The actor has been photographed numerous times donating to homeless people on the street. In one memorable incident in 1997, Reeves even hung out with a homeless man, sitting down next to him, sharing drinks and snacks, and lying on his back while the guy told him stories. It might seem like a PR stunt, but a couple of paparazzi accidentally came across him.
What’s more, Reeves is well known for donating lots to charitable causes, especially those that support children with cancer. He revealed in a Ladies Home Journal interview from 2009 that he even has a private foundation that “helps aid a couple of children’s hospitals and cancer research.” He added: “I don’t like to attach my name to it, I just let the foundation do what it does.”
The actor has a personal connection to the cause after his younger sister was diagnosed with leukemia in 1991. After battling cancer for nearly a decade, she went into remission in 1999.
While it’s wonderful to see Reeves using his money for good, the actor has shared that he isn’t the biggest fan of having so much money. He has an estimated net worth of $380 million. His family friend said, “He’s somewhat embarrassed about that.”
The friend added:
“Keanu’s given away a lot of money and done a lot more for people than most will ever know. He knows how lucky he is. Unlike many Hollywood mega stars, he never takes any of this for granted.”
Perhaps this explains why Reeves dislikes spending his money on designer clothes. A Reddit user explained how they met Reeves once when they were 14 and again three years later; Reeves was wearing the same T-shirt both times. Reeves has also been seen wearing worn-out shoes from time to time.
A fan also once shared a heartwarming story about the actor on a Reddit forum that made Reeves more endearing to his followers. The person shared:
“My grandmother had a crush on Keanu Reeves because he reminded her of my grandfather when he was young.”
The Redditor explained how his grandmother had seen every single movie Reeves has starred in and found comfort in watching his films, especially after she had a stroke and was housebound and isolated.
The Redditor’s uncle met Reeves shortly around that time. After the uncle walked up to the star to tell him about his mother, Reeves called her and talked to her for a while. The gesture filled the woman with joy and the family was grateful for Reeves’ empathy.
In August 2023, the laid-back actor thrilled fans again when he was spotted taking a break before heading to the stage for a performance with his band, Dogstar, in Los Angeles. In the photos, Reeves was seen wearing dark brown trousers, a faded khaki jacket, boots and a trucker hat as he sat on the pavement with a bottle of orange Gatorade by his side. Despite being a superstar, multi-millionaire A-list actor, Reeves cut a low-key figure who could even be mistaken for a homeless person.
Fans expressed their love for his modest ways.
“One odd guy I’ve got so much love for,” one user wrote.
Another said, “He’s the best. Wish all Hollywood was like him!”
Others called him “humble,” “down to earth,” a “special person” and a “rare celebrity.”
Another user remarked:
“A heart of GOLD… Thats what he’s got… God bless…” while a different commenter wrote, “He looks like a really nice person, don’t have many left like him.”
One person gushed:
“Highly Respected Human Being! One of THE BEST!”
Another fan reflected on Reeves’ qualities and wrote:
“I might be wrong but I think maybe he’s just a guy who just sees himself as just another human being. I don’t know him personally but he seems to have a lot of noble qualities and it’s sad that we worship him because what that says to me is, what he does and how he is, isn’t what we are used to seeing. He is a person to look to for inspiration and hope I would think.”
Someone else shared:
“This man is an awesome human being!! So kind and filled with compassion and empathy for others! 🙏🙏.”
Are you a fan of Keanu Reeves? What are your feelings about the way he carries himself? If you count yourself as a fan, then pass this on to those you know so they can read about his inspiring acts too.
