Keanu Reeves, one of Hollywood’s most renowned actors, celebrates his 60th birthday today. Born on September 2, 1964, in Beirut, Lebanon, he grew up in Toronto.
As a child, Reeves was an avid hockey enthusiast, playing both in the streets and on ice rinks. He even played for the Windsor Spitfires, but soon realized that his true calling was in the arts and decided to pursue acting.
Despite becoming a Hollywood star, Reeves stands out as an “atypical example” in the industry. The British newspaper The Independent has called him the most underrated actor of his generation and one of the kindest people in the world.
Despite his impressive career, Reeves has never been nominated for an Oscar, and he often performs his own stunts. In one interview, he revealed that while filming the latest installment of The Matrix, he jumped off a building “about 19, 20 times over two days” to get the perfect shot, and he did this at the age of 57.
Reeves is known for his humility and simple lifestyle. He regularly uses the subway, often talks with homeless people, and jokes that he is the only Hollywood star who carries his own shopping bags. He also states that money doesn’t interest him and that he has enough to live comfortably for the rest of his life.
Fans love him so much that there’s a festival dedicated solely to him in Scotland called “KeanuCon,” the world’s first film festival honoring the actor. Established in 2018, the festival includes screenings of Reeves’ movies and performances by his fictional band Wyld Stallyns from the film Bill and Ted.
Reeves is a big motorcycle enthusiast and a co-founder of the Arch Motorcycle Company, which specializes in manufacturing and selling motorcycles. He is also the bassist for the band Dogstar, which recently performed in Serbia at the Arsenal Fest.
His life has been marked by many tragedies. His close friend, young actor River Phoenix, died of a drug overdose in 1993, which deeply affected Reeves. Five years later, he lost his girlfriend, Jennifer Syme, who was eight months pregnant when they lost their child. Shortly after, she died in a car accident.
Following these tragedies, Reeves dedicated himself to caring for his sister, who was battling leukemia, and frequently donated money to cancer campaigns, wanting to help those facing the disease.
Reeves recently published his debut novel, The Book of Elsewhere, which he co-authored with British writer China Miéville.
