History of Keanu Reeves in Timeline
Keanu Reeves is a highly acclaimed Canadian actor and musician with a career spanning four decades. Renowned for his leading roles in action films, he is equally recognized for his positive public image and charitable work. He has received numerous awards and high praise, including being ranked among the greatest actors of the 21st century by The New York Times and being named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people.
1955: Rebel Without a Cause Motif
In 1990, Paula Abdul's music video for "Rush Rush" featured a Rebel Without a Cause (1955) motif.
September 2, 1964: Keanu Reeves Born
On September 2, 1964, Keanu Charles Reeves was born. He is a Canadian actor and musician known for his action film roles and philanthropic efforts.
1966: Parents' Divorce
In 1966, Keanu Reeves's parents divorced, leading to his mother moving the family to Sydney, Australia.
1970: Mother's Marriage to Paul Aaron
In 1970, Keanu Reeves's mother married Paul Aaron, a Broadway and Hollywood director, in New York City.
1971: Move to Toronto and Divorce
In 1971, Keanu Reeves's family moved to Toronto, and his mother divorced Paul Aaron.
1976: Mother's Marriage to Robert Miller
In 1976, Keanu Reeves's mother married Robert Miller, a rock music promoter.
1980: Divorce from Robert Miller
In 1980, Keanu Reeves's mother divorced Robert Miller.
1981: Marcy Renee Conrad Murder
In 1981, the murder of Marcy Renee Conrad occurred; this event was loosely based on the film River's Edge, in which Keanu Reeves was cast as Matt in 1986.
1983: Coca-Cola Commercial Appearance
In 1983, Keanu Reeves appeared in a Coca-Cola commercial.
1984: Television Debut
In 1984, Keanu Reeves made his acting debut in the Canadian television series Hangin' In.
1984: CBC Correspondent and Acting Debut
In 1984, Keanu Reeves was a correspondent for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) youth television program Going Great and made his acting debut in Hangin' In.
1985: Stage Production of Romeo and Juliet
In 1985, Keanu Reeves played Mercutio in a stage production of Romeo and Juliet at the Leah Posluns Theatre in North York, Ontario.
1986: Television and Motion Picture Appearances
In 1986, Keanu Reeves appeared in television films such as Babes in Toyland, Act of Vengeance, and Brotherhood of Justice, as well as his first motion picture appearances in Youngblood and Flying.
1986: Feature Film Debut
In 1986, Keanu Reeves made his feature film debut in Youngblood.
1988: Starring in Teen Dramas
In 1988, Keanu Reeves starred in several dramas aimed at teen audiences, including The Night Before, The Prince of Pennsylvania, and Permanent Record, and had a supporting role in Dangerous Liaisons.
1989: Breakthrough Role
In 1989, Keanu Reeves had his breakthrough role in the science-fiction comedy Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.
1989: Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and Parenthood
In 1989, Keanu Reeves starred in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and the comedy-drama Parenthood.
1990: Acting Performances in Comedy
In 1990, Keanu Reeves portrayed an incompetent hitman in I Love You to Death and played a radio station employee in Tune in Tomorrow.
September 29, 1991: US Theatrical Release of My Own Private Idaho
On September 29, 1991, My Own Private Idaho, starring Keanu Reeves, was released theatrically in the United States after premiering at the 48th Venice International Film Festival.
1991: Formation of Dogstar and Interest in Music
In 1991, Keanu Reeves developed an interest in music and formed the alternative rock band Dogstar, playing bass guitar.
1991: Continued Success
In 1991, Keanu Reeves starred in Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, gained praise for My Own Private Idaho, and established himself as an action hero in Point Break.
1992: MTV Movie Award
In 1992, Keanu Reeves won the Most Desirable Male award at the MTV Movie Awards.
1993: Roles in Film Adaptations
In 1993, Keanu Reeves had a role in Much Ado About Nothing, starred in Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, and Little Buddha.
1994: Leading Role in Speed
In 1994, Keanu Reeves played a leading role in the action film Speed, solidifying his status as an action star.
1994: Starring in Speed and Phoenix's Death
In 1994, Keanu Reeves starred in Speed alongside Sandra Bullock and Dennis Hopper. During production, his friend River Phoenix died, causing adjustments to the filming schedule.
1995: Prince Hamlet in Manitoba Theatre Centre production
In 1995, Keanu Reeves played Prince Hamlet in a Manitoba Theatre Centre production of Hamlet in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His performance received good reviews from some critics.
1995: Leading role in Johnny Mnemonic
In 1995, Keanu Reeves played the leading role in the cyberpunk action thriller "Johnny Mnemonic", directed by Robert Longo. The movie, set in 2021, revolves around a character with a cybernetic brain implant tasked with delivering a data package.
1995: Academy Awards for Speed
In 1995, the film Speed, starring Keanu Reeves, won two Academy Awards: Best Sound Editing and Best Sound.
1996: Appearance in Chain Reaction
In 1996, Keanu Reeves starred in "Chain Reaction", a science fiction film with Morgan Freeman and Rachel Weisz. In the movie, he plays a researcher on the run after being framed for murder.
1997: Turned down Speed 2: Cruise Control and starred in The Devil's Advocate
In 1997, Keanu Reeves declined to star in "Speed 2: Cruise Control", despite being offered $12 million. He then appeared in "The Devil's Advocate" with Al Pacino and Charlize Theron, even taking a pay cut to make Pacino's casting possible.
1997: Role in The Devil's Advocate
In 1997, Keanu Reeves's performance in the horror film The Devil's Advocate was well received after several box-office disappointments.
1998: Meeting Jennifer Syme
In 1998, Keanu Reeves met Jennifer Syme, David Lynch's assistant, at a party for his band Dogstar, and they began dating.
December 24, 1999: Loss of Stillborn Child
On December 24, 1999, Jennifer Syme, Keanu Reeves's girlfriend, gave birth to their stillborn child eight months into her pregnancy.
1999: Starred in The Matrix
In 1999, Keanu Reeves achieved greater stardom with his role as Neo in The Matrix.
2000: Dogstar released Happy Ending
In 2000, Dogstar, Keanu Reeves's band, released their album "Happy Ending".
2000: Starred in The Replacements and The Watcher
In 2000, Keanu Reeves starred in the sports comedy "The Replacements" and the thriller "The Watcher", where he played a serial killer due to a forged contract.
April 2, 2001: Death of Jennifer Syme
On April 2, 2001, Jennifer Syme, Keanu Reeves's girlfriend, died in a car accident in Los Angeles. She had been under the influence and was not wearing a seatbelt.
2001: Starred in Sweet November and Hardball
In 2001, Keanu Reeves starred in the romantic drama "Sweet November", a remake of the 1968 film, and the sports comedy "Hardball", where he played a troubled young man coaching a Little League team.
2002: Dogstar disbanded
In 2002, Dogstar, the band featuring Keanu Reeves, disbanded after a decade together. They had released two albums, Our Little Visionary in 1996 and Happy Ending in 2000.
2003: Release of The Matrix Revolutions and Something's Gotta Give
In 2003, Keanu Reeves appeared in "The Matrix Revolutions", the third Matrix film. He also starred in the romantic comedy "Something's Gotta Give", with Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton.
2003: Reprising Neo
In 2003, Keanu Reeves reprised his role as Neo in The Matrix sequels Reloaded and Revolutions, becoming the highest-paid actor for a single production.
2003: Matrix sequels The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions were released
In 2003, Keanu Reeves starred in "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Matrix Revolutions", the sequels to "The Matrix". The movies were released in May and November, respectively.
2003: Gifts to The Matrix Reloaded Stunt Team
In 2003, as a wrap gift for the twelve-person stunt team of The Matrix Reloaded, Keanu Reeves purchased Harley-Davidson motorcycles for each member.
2005: Played John Constantine
In 2005, Keanu Reeves played John Constantine in the movie Constantine.
2005: Starred in Constantine and Thumbsucker
In 2005, Keanu Reeves starred in "Constantine", an occult detective film, and "Thumbsucker", a comedy that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
2005: Time Magazine Article: Hollywood's Ultimate Introvert
In a 2005 article for Time magazine, Lev Grossman called Keanu Reeves "Hollywood's ultimate introvert".
2006: Starred in A Scanner Darkly and The Lake House
In 2006, Keanu Reeves appeared in the animated science fiction thriller "A Scanner Darkly", and the romantic drama "The Lake House" with Sandra Bullock. He also co-narrated the documentary "The Great Warming".
2008: Starred in Street Kings and The Day the Earth Stood Still
In 2008, Keanu Reeves starred in the crime thriller "Street Kings", and the science fiction film "The Day the Earth Stood Still".
2009: Nomination for Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel at the Razzie Awards
In 2009, "The Day the Earth Stood Still", starring Keanu Reeves, was nominated for Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel at the Razzie Awards.
2009: Meeting Alexandra Grant
In 2009, Keanu Reeves met Alexandra Grant at a dinner party, and they later collaborated on two books together.
2009: Private Cancer Foundation
In 2009, Keanu Reeves stated that he founded a private cancer foundation to aid children's hospitals and support cancer research, in response to his sister's battle with leukemia.
2009: The Private Lives of Pippa Lee Premiere
In 2009, Keanu Reeves's sole release was Rebecca Miller's "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee", which premiered at the 59th Berlin International Film Festival. The romantic comedy received an amicable review.
2010: Henry's Crime Release
In 2010, Keanu Reeves starred in the romantic comedy "Henry's Crime", about a man who is released from prison for a crime he did not commit, and then targets the same bank. However, the film was not a box office hit.
2010: "Sad Keanu" Internet Meme
In 2010, an image of Keanu Reeves became an internet meme after photographs of him were published, sitting on a park bench with a sad facial expression, leading to the "Sad Keanu" meme being spread on the internet.
2011: Ode to Happiness Release
In 2011, Keanu Reeves's only work was the adult picture book titled "Ode to Happiness", which he wrote, complemented by Alexandra Grant's illustrations.
2011: Co-founding ARCH Motorcycle Company
In 2011, Keanu Reeves, an avid motorcyclist, co-founded ARCH Motorcycle Company with Gard Hollinger, which builds and sells custom motorcycles.
2012: Side by Side Documentary
In 2012, Keanu Reeves co-produced and appeared in the documentary "Side by Side", interviewing filmmakers about digital and photochemical film creation. He also starred in the independent drama "Generation Um...", which was critically panned.
2013: Directorial Debut
In 2013, Keanu Reeves made his film directorial debut with Man of Tai Chi.
2013: Man of Tai Chi and 47 Ronin Release
In 2013, Keanu Reeves starred in his directorial debut, the martial arts film "Man of Tai Chi", which premiered at the Beijing Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival but was a commercial disappointment. Also in 2013, he played Kai in the fantasy "47 Ronin", which premiered in Japan but failed to gain traction and was a box office flop.
2014: Career Comeback
In 2014, Keanu Reeves made a career comeback by playing the titular assassin in the action film series John Wick.
2014: John Wick Release
In 2014, Keanu Reeves made a career comeback playing the title role in the action thriller "John Wick", directed by Chad Stahelski. The film was released on October 24 in the United States and proved to be a box office success.
2015: Knock Knock, Deep Web, and Mifune: The Last Samurai Releases
In 2015, Keanu Reeves starred in the horror feature "Knock Knock", a remake of the 1977 film Death Game. He also narrated the documentaries "Deep Web" and "Mifune: The Last Samurai".
2015: Coppola Interview on Dracula
In a retrospective interview in 2015, director Francis Ford Coppola commented on Keanu Reeves's efforts in Bram Stoker's Dracula, noting his hard work but ultimately stilted performance.
2016: Multiple Film Releases in 2016
In 2016, Keanu Reeves appeared in five film releases including "Exposed", "Keanu" (voice role), "The Neon Demon", "The Bad Batch", and "The Whole Truth". He also appeared in the web television series "Swedish Dicks".
2017: John Wick: Chapter 2 and To the Bone Release
In 2017, Keanu Reeves reprised his role in "John Wick: Chapter 2", a critical and commercial success. He also starred in the drama "To the Bone", which premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and was distributed on Netflix in July. Reeves made cameo appearances in the films "A Happening of Monumental Proportions" and "SPF-18".
2017: Founding X Artists' Books
In 2017, Keanu Reeves, Jessica Fleischmann, and Alexandra Grant founded book publisher X Artists' Books (XAB).
2018: Destination Wedding, Siberia, and Replicas Release
In 2018, Keanu Reeves reunited with Winona Ryder in the comedy "Destination Wedding". He also co-produced and starred in the thrillers "Siberia" and "Replicas".
March 2019: United Airlines Flight Incident
In March 2019, Keanu Reeves's United Airlines flight was grounded in Bakersfield, California. Reeves took the initiative to arrange alternate travel plans, boarded a travel van with the other passengers, and entertained them by reading fun facts about Bakersfield and sharing local country music.
July 2019: Signing "You're Breathtaking" Banner
In July 2019, while filming Bill & Ted Face the Music, Keanu Reeves signed a "You're Breathtaking" banner for a family, referencing a meme from his appearance at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2019.
November 2019: Public Announcement of Relationship with Alexandra Grant
In November 2019, Keanu Reeves and Alexandra Grant publicly announced their relationship.
2019: John Wick: Chapter 3, Toy Story 4, KeanuCon, and Always Be My Maybe
In 2019, Keanu Reeves starred in "John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum", voiced Duke Caboom in "Toy Story 4", was honored with a film festival called KeanuCon, and played himself in "Always Be My Maybe". He also travelled to São Paulo to produce a Netflix series, "Conquest".
2019: Dubbed the 'Internet's boyfriend'
In 2019, Reeves's casual persona and ability to establish rapport led him to be dubbed the "Internet's boyfriend".
June 2020: Volunteering for Camp Rainbow Gold
In June 2020, Keanu Reeves volunteered for Camp Rainbow Gold, an Idaho children's cancer charity.
2020: Portrayed Johnny Silverhand
In 2020, Keanu Reeves portrayed Johnny Silverhand in the video game Cyberpunk 2077, and reprised his role as Ted in Bill & Ted Face the Music.
2020: Bill & Ted Face the Music and The SpongeBob Movie Release
In 2020, Keanu Reeves starred in "Bill & Ted Face the Music" and appeared in "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run" as a tumbleweed named Sage.
2020: Ranked Among Greatest Actors
In 2020, Keanu Reeves was ranked as the fourth-greatest actor of the 21st century by The New York Times.
March 2021: BRZRKR Comic Book Series Launch
In March 2021, Keanu Reeves co-wrote the comic book series "BRZRKR", and the first issue was published. Issue #1 sold over 615,000 copies, making it the top-selling single issue since Star Wars #1 in 2015.
December 2021: The Matrix Resurrections Release
In December 2021, Keanu Reeves returned to the screen for "The Matrix Resurrections", the fourth film in The Matrix franchise. Carrie-Anne Moss also reprised her role as Trinity.
2021: BRZRKR Franchise
In 2021, Keanu Reeves co-wrote and created the BRZRKR franchise, starting with the original comic book.
2021: Neo in The Matrix: Resurrections
In 2021, Keanu Reeves reprised his role as Neo in The Matrix: Resurrections.
August 2022: Attending Fan's Wedding
In August 2022, Keanu Reeves attended a fan's wedding in Northamptonshire, United Kingdom, after chatting with the couple at a bar and congratulating them on their marriage. He participated in a photoshoot with the family.
2022: Named One of the Most Influential People
In 2022, Time magazine named Keanu Reeves one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
2022: Films Banned in China
In 2022, after Keanu Reeves recited "Pull My Daisy" for a virtual benefit concert for Tibet House US, his films were banned from streaming platforms in China due to negative reactions on Chinese social media.
March 2023: Auction for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
In March 2023, after filming John Wick: Chapter 4, Keanu Reeves, Chad Stahelski, and Dave Camarillo signed a training uniform that was auctioned off to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
October 2023: Playing Catch with a Young Fan
In October 2023, Keanu Reeves played catch with a young fan named Elijah before a Dogstar concert in Houston. The boy called it the "top moment" of his life.
October 2023: BRZRKR Comic Book Series Conclusion
In October 2023, the comic book series "BRZRKR", co-written by Keanu Reeves, concluded with the publication of its third volume.
2023: Dogstar Album Release, BRZRKR: Bloodlines Release, and Ride with Norman Reedus Appearance
In 2023, Keanu Reeves' band Dogstar released the album "Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees" and began a 25-date tour. In July, Boom! Studios published the first issue of "BRZRKR: Bloodlines", titled Poetry of Madness. Reeves appeared as the featured guest for the season 6 premiere episode of "Ride with Norman Reedus". In November of that year, he appeared as the host for and executive produced the 4-part documentary series Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story for Hulu and Disney+.
2023: Album Release
In 2023, Keanu Reeves, as a member of the band Dogstar, released albums including Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees.
2023: Laurence Fishburne Remarks on Keanu Reeves
In 2023, Laurence Fishburne remarked on Keanu Reeves, stating, "He's kinder, yeah. He's much kinder than people say he is. He's a very gentle, highly intelligent man. Really thoughtful and gifted and incredibly patient. Yeah, he has a lot of grace, Keanu."
2023: Naming of Keanumycin
In 2023, the lipopeptide keanumycin, a substance deadly to fungi, was named in honor of Keanu Reeves.
May 2024: Netflix Wins Litigation Over Conquest Series
In May 2024, Netflix won a litigation concerning the rights to the "Conquest" series, which was produced by Reeves. Netflix gained ownership of the footage and was reimbursed $8.78 million due to misused production funds by creator Carl Erik Rinsch.
August 21, 2024: Release of The Lost Book of B
On August 21, 2024, another BRZRKR Bloodlines spin-off, titled "The Lost Book of B" was released.
October 2024: Motorsport Debut in Toyota GR Cup North America
In October 2024, Keanu Reeves made his motorsport debut in the Toyota GR Cup North America, finishing 25th in Race 1 and 24th in Race 2 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
December 20, 2024: Release of Sonic the Hedgehog 3
On December 20, 2024, "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" was released, featuring Keanu Reeves as the voice of Shadow the Hedgehog.
2024: Voicing Shadow the Hedgehog
In 2024, Keanu Reeves is set to voice Shadow the Hedgehog in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
2024: Reeves's thoughts about mortality
In 2024, Keanu Reeves shared his thoughts about mortality, reflecting on how thinking about death can lead to a greater appreciation for life and relationships.
2024: Contract with Windsor Spitfires
In 2024, Keanu Reeves signed a one-day contract with the Windsor Spitfires, and signed items which were auctioned off in benefit of the Canadian Mental Health Association of Windsor-Essex.
2024: Expansion of BRZRKR Franchise
In 2024, the BRZRKR franchise expanded to include numerous spin-offs, including The Book of Elsewhere.
2024: Hiroyuki Sanada Describes Reeves as Humble and Hardworking
In a 2024 interview with People magazine, Hiroyuki Sanada said, "He [is] so humble, very kind to others but very hard on himself".
January 2025: Uncredited Role in Severance
In January 2025, Keanu Reeves had an uncredited voice role as a stop-motion Lumon building in the second season of the television series "Severance".
June 2025: Reprising Role as John Wick in Ballerina
In June 2025, Keanu Reeves reprised his role as John Wick in the series spin-off film "Ballerina", starring Ana de Armas.
September 2025: Broadway Debut in Waiting for Godot
In September 2025, Keanu Reeves made his Broadway debut in a production of "Waiting for Godot" directed by Jamie Lloyd, alongside Alex Winter.
2025: Documentary film about Benny Urquidez release
In 2025, Keanu Reeves will co-produce a documentary film about the life of Benny Urquidez.
2077: Portrayed Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk
In 2077, if it were real, Keanu Reeves would be known for having portrayed Johnny Silverhand in the video game Cyberpunk 2077 and its expansion
2077: Appearance at Electronic Entertainment Expo 2077
Keanu Reeves made appearance at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2077.
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