Keanu Reeves, an American actor, director and musician, was born on September 2, 1964 in the capital of Lebanon, Beirut. Parents divorced, as soon as the child was two years old, he no longer saw his father. Mother Keanu, Patricia, a professional artist, was burdened with loneliness, and the boy had to be an involuntary witness to her endless acquaintances, which were in the nature of light flirting and did not last long.
Moving
In 1968, little Keanu Reeves, whose biography began with his mother moving to Australia, was an obedient and loving son. From Australia they went to New York. There, Patricia met Paul Aaron, a Broadway director, and married him. The couple soon moved to Toronto, along with them in Canada was a six-year-old Keanu. However, family life did not work out, and Paul filed for divorce. Patricia supported his decision, because she believed that it was better to be happy alone than unhappy together. However, loneliness also quickly bored her, and soon Patricia again married, this time to Robert Miller, a man without specific occupations, making a living from random projects related to rock music. The new hobby of her mother Keanu did not make her happy, although Miller tried to do everything for Patricia herself and her child. For a while everything went well, but after four years this marriage also broke up.
Actor's youth
The next marriage of mother Keanu Reeves with hairdresser Jack Bond was in 1984. Family life this time lasted longer than usual, a divorce followed only ten years later, in 1994. Keanu Reeves himself, whose biography already contained some events, lived with his mother until he was eight years old, then his maternal grandfather and grandmother took up his education. Every year, Keanu changed school, studied unevenly and without much enthusiasm. He was more interested in hockey, a teenager dreamed of how he would grow up and play in a team under the emblem of a maple leaf, a symbol of Canadian hockey. He even organized a team of classmates, played, as expected, in fives, with two goalkeepers and a judge. But once Keanu fell and severely injured his leg. The injury was serious and could not be completely cured. I had to forget about professional hockey.
Maturity
At a mature age, Keanu revealed artistic talent, his abilities were noticed and invited to participate in the theatrical performance "Damned Yankees". It was a musical comedy, during which it was discovered that Reeves has a good voice and can sing. Textured Keanu Reeves, whose height is 185 cm, could also play serious dramatic roles. Theatrical experiments lasted for several years, Keanu enjoyed playing and singing on stage, and the little money that the impresario paid him was an object of his pride. Keanu bought them gifts for grandfather, grandmother and mother. Soon he was entrusted with the role of Mercutio in the play "Romeo and Juliet." Once a television agent came into the theater, he was looking for young actors to participate in a comedy series on the SHS channel. Keanu Reeves, whose biography was ready for such a turn, received an invitation and, thus, made his debut on television. It would seem that the road to the heights of real cinema is open before Keanu, you only need to show your abilities to the fullest - and then you can become a great actor. However, small roles in low-budget television series did not give any development prospects, the series went one after another and did not allow Kean to realize his talent. Moreover, it was impossible to make money on television.
Carier start
The beginning of the 1980s was a time for the young actor to actively participate in the creation of short advertising films. This work was paid better than the roles in the television series, and it seemed to Kean that he had found a worthy occupation for himself. He did not forget the theater, periodically visited this temple of art and played roles in various performances. In 1984, the actor Keanu Reeves decided to try his hand at journalism and began working as a correspondent in one of the youth programs on the CBC channel. However, the specifics of obtaining material for writing articles seemed to him doubtful and, disappointed in newspaper activities, Keanu finally decided to become a professional actor. The experience gained in the theater, external data, a good voice and absolute musical ear gave him hope for success. Keanu Reeves has long led an independent life and tried not to depend on anyone, hoping only for himself and making his own bread. But it was his own financial situation that suited him less and less. Earnings were, in fact, random, and barely enough for life. This circumstance prompted Reeves to take radical decisions. He set out to try his luck in Hollywood.
Hollywood
The future actor contacted his former stepfather Paul Aaron, who at that time was already working in Hollywood, and announced his intention to come. I got in the car and went to Los Angeles. While Keanu Reeves (his biography was waiting for a new page) was traveling across America, Paul talked with producer Erwin Stoff, and he agreed to become Reeves' agent. Erwin is the manager of the actor to this day, he is engaged in producing and supporting all his film projects. Upon arrival in Hollywood, the young actor enlisted the support of his former stepfather, as well as his new friend Stoff. It took some time to settle down, and then Reeves set to work. At first he had to be content with supporting roles, and in 1986 he got a pretty significant role in the crime film "On the River Bank" directed by Tim Hunter, where he played schoolboy Matt. The plot of the film was scary, a young man killed his friend, and then told all his friends and classmates about it. Although dozens of young people already knew about the incident, only four decided to go to the police. Among them was Matt.
Main roles
The film gathered a huge amount of positive criticism and marked the beginning of Reeves' many years of participation in youth films, such as The Eternal Song, filmed in 1988, in which Keanu has already played a major role; then the 1989 science-fiction film "The Incredible Adventures of Bill and Ted" and its sequel "The Horrible Journey of Bill and Ted", filmed in 1991. Keanu Reeves, whose leading roles were controversial, tried to play in the spirit of the times. Critics of these two films about the adventures of Ted performed by Keanu Reeves compared the image of the movie hero with the image of the actor, drew an analogy and even associated Reeves with the reckless, frivolous Ted. However, the best films with Keanu Reeves were yet to come.
Top movies
The action film "Speed", directed by Jan de Bont, with Keanu in the title role, added popularity to the actor, and also made famous the beginning actress Sandra Bullock, who played the main female role in the film. The film received two Oscars. No less significant in the career of Keanu Reeves was the film "Devil's Advocate" (1997) directed by Taylor Hackford, where Reeves played the successful, but not quite decent lawyer Kevin Lomax. The picture is deeply psychological and this seems confusing, but it is nevertheless difficult to imagine any other actor in the role of Lomax. Reeves organically fit into the image of a lawyer. When the film "Devil's Advocate" was preparing for the shoot, and the director was finishing selecting actors, Keanu suggested giving the main role of John Milton Al Pacino, whom he considered ideal for this image. Indeed, Pacino's slightly Mephistophelian appearance was the best fit for the role of Milton the Devil. However, his proposal was followed by certain objections, which, however, were dropped after Reeves agreed to lower his fee.
"Matrix"
The Matrix trilogy is an amazing fantastic action movie of the Wachowski brothers with Keanu Reeves in the title role, which was released in 1999. Keanu Reeves in "The Matrix" was able to create an atmosphere of genuine fiction, turning into reality. In 2012, the film was solemnly included in the US National Film Registry. According to old memory, Keanu Reeves occasionally takes part in theatrical performances. His Hamlet was praised by the British The Sunday Times, which featured an article by critic Roger Lewis, who called Reeves' game "fundamental." He also called Keanu the third main Hamlet in history, without specifying who was the first and second. Keanu Reeves himself, whose biography, personal life and creative aspirations correspond to fairly high standards, did not agree with the critic, although he believes that Hamlet, played by him, is close to perfection.
Failures
However, luck did not always accompany Keanu Reeves. The fantastic film "Johnny Mnemonic" with a fantastic budget just failed at the box office, as is often the case in the film industry. This failure happened in 1995. The thriller Chain Reaction, filmed in 1996, suffered the same fate: the film received negative reviews and low box office. A 1996 painting titled "Feeling Minnesota," directed by Stephen Bagelman in a romantic comedy style, was also unsuccessful. And this despite the participation of Keanu Reeves and Cameron Diaz, who played the main roles in this film. Again bad reviews and financial failure.
New projects
At the end of 2009, Keanu Reeves's creative life continued on a project in the style of surrealism called "Henry Chip." Then, the actorโs plans included shooting the science fiction film "Passengers", but the project was suspended for several reasons. Among Reeves' recent works is a modern interpretation of the classic "The Strange Story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," dubbed "Jekyll." Also in the list of recent works by Keanu is the film "47 Ronin", another fantastic action movie, released in late 2013. In July of that year, Chinese viewers saw the premiere of the film "Tai Chi Master" - Reeves' directorial debut.