Keanu Reeves, born September 2, 1964, is a Canadian actor and musician known for his roles in action movies, friendly public image, and philanthropic efforts.
Early life
Reeves was born in Beirut, Lebanon, but moved around a lot when he was young. After his parents divorced, he spent the majority of his time in Toronto with his mother.
As a child, Reeves found joy in acting and sports. He always dreamed of becoming a professional hockey player, but after suffering an injury his career came to an end. At 15, he decided to take up acting. When he was just 17 years old, Reeves dropped out of high school to focus on acting, and by the mid-1980s, he started appearing in television shows and small movie roles.
Keanu's big break
Reeves' big break into the entertainment industry came in 1989 when he starred in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, where he played the title character. His career continued to take off in the 1990s as he landed roles in Point Break (1991) and Speed (1994).
One of Reeves' most iconic roles came in 1999 when he starred as Neo in The Matrix. The science fiction movie became a global phenomenon and solidified Reeves as a Hollywood legend.
Philanthropic efforts
Keanu Reeves is also known for his extreme generosity. In response to his sister's battle with leukemia, he founded a private cancer foundation. He has also volunteered his time at children's cancer charities and donated millions of dollars to cancer research, children's hospitals, and various other charities.
On movie sets, not only does Reeves treat every single crew member with the utmost respect, but it's said that he has given away large portions of his salary to members of the crew. It's also rumored that he gave a crew member who was experiencing "family trouble" $20,000 to help with their finances.
Today, Reeves is admired not only for his acting, but also for his kindness. He remains a beloved figure in Hollywood and continues to inspire fans around the world.