Top 20 Moments That Made Us Love Keanu Reeves
#20: When He Reported on Canadian TV at a Teddy Bear Convention
Long before he was tearing up our screens in big action blockbusters, Keanu Reeves was just like every other young working actor trying to make a living. He starred in quite a few commercials as a youngster, but one of his earliest and sweetest breaks came from the news, more specifically the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation or CBC. Having spent much of his childhood and teenagehood in Toronto, Reeves also worked on a kids’ news program called “Going Great”, where he reported on a Canadian teddy bear convention in 1984. He brings his effortless, daffy charm to the segment, proving that Reeves had star power and charisma from the very beginning.
#19: When He Didn’t Press Charges
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We all know how much Keanu Reeves loves his motorcycles. So much so, in fact, that he literally founded a motorcycle company. Knowing this, we wouldn’t be surprised if he got a little upset when someone else hit one of his prized possessions with their car. But per usual, Reeves kept his cool. In 2011, someone accidentally backed into Reeves’s parked motorcycle while he was away running errands. TMZ posted the footage that someone captured of the authorities on the scene, which merely showed just how chill Reeves was about the whole thing. He never lost his cool, he didn’t press charges, and he handled everything with grace.
#18: When He Took a Road Trip With Stranded Fans
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If a flight you’re on has to make an emergency landing, chances are your trip is going to be worse off because of it. That wasn’t necessarily the case for passengers when their L.A.-bound plane was forced to land in Bakersfield, California. That’s because Keanu Reeves was stranded with them! The actor posed for pictures and gave autographs to fans before arranging for transportation for all the travelers. On the minibus journey, Keanu shared facts about Bakersfield and played country music from his phone. In making sure everyone made it to their destination, he showed how caring he is for others — even everyday folks.
#17: When He Showed How Respectful He Is
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His being respectful of individual space and boundaries is yet another reason the masses love Keanu. Fans of the actor on Twitter have realized that, in many photographs, he hovers his hand instead of touching the people he’s posing with. Whether he’s pictured with country superstar Dolly Parton or just with normal fans, he maintains a casual, friendly stance but refrains from actually touching the person. It’s a very thoughtful move on the star’s part. When word spread over social media, many additional photos of Keanu practicing the same strategy over the years quickly surfaced. Turns out he’s been a considerate guy for a while.
#16: When He Admitted He Had a Crush on Sandra Bullock
Over the years, fans have grown fond of Keanu Reeves’s relationship with “Speed” co-star Sandra Bullock. It seems like some new cute story about the two is always coming out, such as the time Reeves showed up at Bullock’s door with champagne and truffles after learning the actress had never tried them. While that sounds incredibly romantic, the two maintain that they were only ever just friends. Which is what makes this next moment such an instance of swinging doors. On a 2019 episode of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” Reeves said that he actually did have a crush on Bullock during filming. Oh, what could have been!
#15: When He Showed His Love of Books
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We love a hot guy who reads. And Keanu Reeves definitely falls into that category. Reeves is a man who contains multitudes. In addition to his motorcycle company, Reeves has put his weight behind other endeavors as well, including a book-related one. Reeves founded X Artists’ Books with his partner, Alexandra Grant, and the publishing company produces amazing books. Reeves and Grant put an emphasis on publishing books that have something to say about the world and platforming interesting authors that might not otherwise get a shot. It’s a lovely endeavor borne from a love of reading.
#14: When He Jumped Out of a Car to Autograph a Sign For a Fan
Keanu Reeves has participated in many a car chase over his storied Hollywood career. From “Point Break” to the “John Wick” franchise, you can’t keep this guy from doing something dangerous in an automobile. That yen to keep the engines revving extends to his real life as well, but with much sweeter consequences. According to “Bill & Ted Face the Music” cowriter Ed Solomon, in 2019, Reeves’s car passed a sign that referenced one of his most famous quotes, “You’re Breathtaking,” stood up in someone’s yard. Did he ask the driver to pull over? Reportedly, not. He just jumped out of the car and went to go autograph the sign, leaving one fan with a very fun surprise.
#13: When He Bought Motorcycles For Crew Members
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There have been a number of stories over the years detailing how kind Keanu Reeves is to his cast and crew members, such as the time he was said to have paid for “The Matrix Resurrections” crew to go to the premiere. There have also been a number of stories about how much the man loves his motorcycles. Well, here’s a story that combines the two. To thank the stunt team on “The Matrix Reloaded,” Reeves bought them all Harley Davidsons. This isn’t the only reported instance of Reeves being exceedingly generous to his cast and crew. He has also bought Rolexes for the “John Wick” stunt team, and has been known to donate parts of his salary to the crew.
#12: When He Became a Meme
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Who knew Neo could be so relatable? In the 2010s, pictures of Reeves doing pretty mundane things started to make the rounds on social media. The paparazzi photos are not the most flattering, but they do show Keanu in a very relatable light. From a snap of him digging into a plate of pizza to one of him looking dejected on a public bench, the pictures of the famous actor endeared audiences to his sympathetic attitude. After all, who hasn’t taken a break from drinking a juice to contemplate life?
#11: When He Took a Pay Cut to Make His Movies Happen
Keanu generally ranks among the highest paid Hollywood actors, thanks to his roles in culture-defining franchises like “The Matrix” and “John Wick.” However, he has been known to sacrifice his paycheck in order to improve a film. In the ‘90s, Keanu wanted to work with Al Pacino on “The Devil’s Advocate,” so he accepted less money so the studio could court Pacino. Then, during the filming of the “Matrix” sequels, Keanu gave up part of his claim on the movies’ profits so that more money could be spent on costumes and special effects.
#10: When He Played Himself in “Always Be My Maybe”
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Keanu can definitely take a joke. In the 2019 rom-com “Always Be My Maybe,” the actor has a role as a very exaggerated version of himself. Although he’s only in a small portion of the film, these scenes stick out as particularly delightful. His role makes it seem like the actor knows about his peculiar and magnetic persona, and does not take himself too seriously. His interplay with the two stars of the film, Ali Wong and Randall Park, make for some of the best bits in the movie. Plus, not every Hollywood superstar would be comfortable having a song all about knocking them out.
#9: When He Made His Red Carpet Debut With His Girlfriend
Keanu Reeves has reportedly gone through a lot of heart break and tends to keep his personal life - especially his romances - on the downlow. But in 2019, he and his partner Alexandra Grant went public, giving the internet something to celebrate. The Los Angeles-based artist joined Reeves on the red carpet for that year’s LACMA Art + Film Gala. They both looked absolutely beautiful, held hands and made goo-goo eyes at each other all night long. When the photos surfaced, Reeves trended on Twitter, alongside other competing topics such as “Election Day.” Team Reeves and Grant!
#8: When He Had No Idea He Was the Internet’s Boyfriend
In 2019, Keanu was making headlines left and right for his selfless and charming attitude, in addition to his roles in “Toy Story 4,” “Always Be My Maybe,” and “John Wick: Chapter 3.” However, when interviewers asked him at the Pixar movie premiere how he felt about being “the Internet’s boyfriend,” Reeves responded in a bashful way. He joked that the title was “wacky” and said “the positivity’s great.” The public was impressed by his down-to-earth response, especially given his movie star status. Although he didn’t embrace the title, his demeanor may have further cemented his place as the Internet’s boyfriend.
#7: When He Gave Up His Seat On the Subway
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Chivalry isn’t dead. At least not if Keanu Reeves has anything to say about it. In 2011, the actor was filmed offering his seat on a crowded express train in New York City to a fellow passenger who was holding a large bag. In the video, Keanu sees the woman, gestures to her, and they trade positions on the train. The moment quickly went viral, with fans praising Keanu for his quiet manners. Despite it being a somewhat everyday act, his politeness was a pleasant reminder for fans that he remains a grounded and thoughtful person despite his immense celebrity status.
#6: When He Embodied His “Toy Story 4” Character Before Being Cast
If there’s one thing we know about Keanu Reeves, it’s that he can commit to a bit. The actor never goes half-way on his performances, content to go big instead of going home. Apparently, he lends that outlook to auditions as well. In 2019’s “Toy Story 4,” Reeves voiced the character of Duke Caboom, a riff on daredevils like Evel Knievel. The character has a tendency to strike a pose wherever he goes, something that Reeves reportedly came up with on his own. Reeves actually conceived of the posing idea during a meeting with the filmmakers prior to his getting the role. He proceeded to climb on top of a table to show off some examples of what those poses might look like and impressed the director and producers so much that they knew they had found their Duke. How we wish we could have been in the room.
#5: When He Stopped Two Characters From Being Killed Off
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John Wick knows how to take a hit. As an actor, Keanu does too. The movie star does a lot of his own stunts, and that involves a lot of collaboration with talented stunt artists. In 2019, film critic Hanna Flint shared that Keanu campaigned for the plot of “John Wick: Chapter 3” to be changed so that two characters would not be killed off. Martial arts stars Cecep Arif Rahman and Yayan Ruhian reportedly knocked him down so many times during rehearsals that Keanu claimed the assassin could not kill their movie counterparts. His respect for the skill of fight choreography and his fellow artists has only made him more admirable to fans.
#4: When People Discovered His Charitable Ways
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It seems like everyone who has ever met Keanu Reeves has nothing but good things to say about him. He’s a lovely man, but people only really found out just how charitable he could be recently. As already mentioned, Reeves hasn’t only often been reported of giving some of his salary away to his movie crews, but he’s also been said to donate money to numerous charities. While his reps debunked the story that Reeves donated up to 70% of his “Matrix” salary to cancer research, it does seem to be the case that he founded a private non-profit organization for the same - without attaching his name to it. Because he’s so private, it can sometimes be difficult to confirm many of the stories surrounding him. However, the actor has also been linked to other causes throughout the years, and he even participated in a Stand Up To Cancer Telecast in 2018. He’s always been a giving guy, and appears to show no signs of stopping.
#3: When He Did a Puppy Interview
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If you’re a fan of the “John Wick” franchise, then you probably connect Keanu Reeves to dogs. Well, you’ll be glad to know that the actor loves puppies just as much as his character. We just hope that love doesn’t get him into quite as much trouble. While on a promotional tour for “Chapter 3” in 2019, Reeves stopped by the Buzzfeed offices to take part in one of the company’s famous puppy interviews. The actor snuggled and cooed at a number of adorable puppies while answering questions about his “Toy Story” character, his favorite foods, and so much more.
#2: When He Was Poignant About Death
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If you know anything about Keanu Reeves’ personal life, you know he hasn’t always had it easy. He has suffered a tremendous amount of loss. But in 2019, he shared his exceedingly positive outlook on life and death. In response to a question from TV host Stephen Colbert, Reeves takes a beat to consider what happens to us when we leave this world. He gives a short, yet elegant reply, telling Colbert that those we leave behind will miss us. The simplicity of the response gives Colbert pause, rendering him speechless. We understand. Sometimes, the short answer is best. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. When He Waited To Get Into His Own Wrap Party Waiting in the Rain to Make Sure Everyone Else Continued to Have Fun When His Friendship with Winona Ryder Was Cute “Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” “Destination Wedding” & A Possible Real-Life Marriage?! When He Bought An Ice Cream Cone Just To Give a Fan an Autograph The Frozen Dessert Went to Waste, but the Teen’s Day Was Certainly Made When He Was Inducted Into Canada’s Walk of Fame A Reward Well-Deserved When He Entertained a Fan’s Questions At the Airport Keanu Reeves Is Even Gracious While Traveling
#1: When He Called An Audience at E3 “Breathtaking”
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The moment that became a meme started with the cry of an excited fan. When Keanu went onstage at the E3 convention in 2019, he described the game “Cyberpunk 2077” as “breathtaking,” to which someone in the crowd replied: “You’re breathtaking!” Keanu then returned the compliment to the delight of the crowd, and the phrase became a recognizable reference for fans. One month later, when he was on the way to film “Bill & Ted Face the Music,” Keanu actually saw a handmade sign that was left for him by a fan with the phrase. Keanu reportedly stopped, wrote his own “You’re breathtaking” beneath it, and left a personal inscription for the fan. Going above and beyond to make someone else’s day better? That’s just classic Keanu.
