One of the most inscrutable actors to ever hit it big, Keanu Reeves has been by turns adored, reviled, and grudgingly respected by the movie-going public. As the controversy over his talent rages on, his career choices and paychecks show him inching toward A-list status. Reeves, whose first name means "cool breeze over the mountains" in Hawaiian, was born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1964. His mother, Patricia, was a showgirl; his father, Samuel Nowlin Reeves, a geologist. After their marriage dissolved, Keanu moved with his mother and younger sister Kim to New York City, then Toronto. Stepfather #1 was Paul Aaron, a stage and film director - he and Patricia divorced within a year, after which she went on to marry (and divorce) rock promoter Robert Miller and hair salon owner Jack Bond. Reeves never reconnected with his biological father, who is now in prison on charges of cocaine possession. In high school, Reeves was lukewarm toward academics but took a keen interest in ice hockey (as team goalie, he earned the nickname "The Wall") and drama. He eventually dropped out of school to pursue an acting career.

After a few stage gigs and a handful of made-for-TV movies, he scored a supporting role in the Rob Lowe hockey flick Youngblood, which was filmed in Canada. Shortly after the production wrapped, Reeves packed his bags and headed for Hollywood. Reeves popped up on critics' radar with his performance in the dark adolescent drama River's Edge, but his first popular success was the role of totally rad dude Ted Logan in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. The wacky time-travel movie became something of a cultural phenomenon, and audiences would forever confuse Reeves's real-life persona with that of his doofy on-screen counterpart. Over the next few years, Reeves tried to shake the Ted stigma with a series of highbrow projects. He played a slumming rich boy opposite River Phoenix's narcoleptic male hustler in My Own Private Idaho, an unlucky lawyer who stumbles into the vampire's lair in Dracula, and Shakespearean party-pooper Don Jon in Much Ado About Nothing.

In 1994, the understated actor became a big-budget action star with the release of Speed. Its success heralded an era of five years in which Reeves would alternate between largely unwatched small films, like Feeling Minnesota and The Last Time I Committed Suicide, and unwatched big films like Johnny Mnemonic and Chain Reaction. After all this Reeves did the unthinkable and passed on the Speed sequel, but he struck box-office gold again a few years later with the Wachowski brothers' cyberadventure The Matrix. Despite his deadpan delivery style and reputation as an oaf, Reeves continues to reel in choice roles and fat paychecks. Whatever he knows, he's not telling the public--his self-deprecating interview tactics and mysterious private life provide little insight into his artistry. As far as Reeves is concerned, it seems, he's just a regular guy who rides a motorcycle, plays in a band (Dogstar), and shows up every now and then for a movie shoot.


The Matrix Revolutions (2003): $15,000,000 + 15% of the gross
The Matrix Reloaded (2003): $15,000,000 + 15% of the gross
The Replacements (2000): $12,500,000
The Matrix (1999): $10,000,000 + 10% of the gross
The Devil's Advocate (1997): $8,000,000
Johnny Mnemonic (1995): $2,000,000
Youngblood (1986): $3,000

Chosen by "People" magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. [1995] Arrested in Los Angeles; charged with drunk driving. [May 1993] He owns at least two Norton Commando motorcycles whose engines were available in both 750cc and 850cc capacities, the high-compression version being the Combat Commando. Named after his uncle Henry Keanu Reeves. "Keanu" is a derivation of Reeves' great-great-uncle Keaweaheulu, whose name means "the soft breeze raising" in Hawaiian. Had job sharpening ice skates. Father left the family when Keanu was very young. His father was a geologist who served time in prison. He was paroled after serving two years of a ten-year sentence for selling heroin at Hilo Airport in 1992. His name means "cool breeze over the mountains" in Hawaiian. Hobbies include horseback riding and surfing (both inspired from movie roles). Keanu got his abdominal scar from a motorcycle wreck in Topanga Canyon. He was on a "demon ride" (no headlights at night) when he crashed into the side of a mountain. He was hospitalized for a week with broken ribs and a ruptured spleen. When the paramedics came to get him, an emergency medical technician trainee picked up one end of the stretcher ... then dropped it by mistake! "It made me laugh, but I couldn't breathe!" His first name, Keanu, is pronounced "keh-ah-noo.". In November 1999, the baby girl he was expecting with girlfriend Jennifer Syme was stillborn, just a few weeks shy of the actual delivery date. They had planned to name her Ava Archer Syme-Reeves. Maintains Canadian citizenship and passport. Was set to reprise his role as Jack Traven in the sequel to Speed (1994/I)--Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997)--but dropped out. Resides in the Hollywood Hills area, Los Angeles, California, and is said to maintain an apartment in Manhattan as well. Played (bass) in "Becky" which also featured Robert Mailhouse (drums), Paulie Kosta (guitar) and Rebecca Lord (vocals). Was originally cast as Chris Shiherlis in Heat (1995) but later backed out of the project, and the part went to Val Kilmer. Shares a birthday with actress Salma Hayek, heavyweight boxer Lennox Lewis and NFL Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson. Although left-handed, plays bass with his right. Read the script of Constantine (2005) while filming The Matrix Revolutions (2003). He learned to surf for his role in Point Break (1991) His best friend is his sister. Auditioned for the Etobicoke School of the Arts in Etobicoke, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; but was rejected. His best friend was actor River Phoenix. He is also friends with River's brother Joaquin Phoenix. The character of Jimbo Jones on "The Simpsons" (1989) is based on his character from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989). Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#28). [2007]. Turned down the role of Racer X in Speed Racer (2008). The part eventually went to Matthew Fox. An avid fan of Formula 1 and IndyCar racing. Lives in Los Angeles, California.