KEANU REEVES in action after a villain in one of his blockbusters. Courtesy photos.
Toronto-raised celebrity Keanu Reeves is among 10 prominent Canadians being inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame next month.
Reeves, a top star who is said to be one of the most genuine actors in Hollywood, grew up in Toronto’s Yorkville area. He struggled in school and attended four different high schools in the city, including a private Catholic school and Etobicoke School of the Arts, on Royal York Road, from which he was expelled.
The actor, whose name means cool breeze in Hawaiian, said later that he was expelled because he was “just a little too rambunctious and shot my mouth off once too often.”
A young Keanu Reeves in one of his earlier movie or TV days.
He is among fellow actor Graham Greene, retired Lt.-Gen. Romeo Dallaire, musician Bruce Cockburn, singer Jully Black, the late blues artist Salome Bey, Bret (The Hitman) Hart and Olympic decathlon champ Damien Warner to be memorialized in Canada’s Walk of Fame, on Simcoe Street, on December 4.
Reeves is a proud Canadian citizen, who was born in Beirut, where his mother, Patricia Taylor, a British costume designer and performer, met his father, Samuel Reeves. He and his sister were raised by a single mom. They lived in Sydney and New York City before settling in Toronto when Reeves was about seven years old.
He was a good hockey player and for a while wanted to become a professional player. The actor, who was a goalie for De La Salle Catholic College; was once voted the most valuable player and was dubbed “The Wall.”
REEVES was a good goalie while attending college in Toronto. He wanted to be a pro hockey player at one time.
One of Reeves’ first professional gigs was working as a correspondent on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) TV youth program Going Great. The show focused on child prodigies who were able to accomplish amazing things at a young age.
His acting roles picked up after moving to Hollywood in 1986, including the teen crime drama “River’s Edge” in 1986 and “Permanent Record,” where he played the best friend of a teen who commits suicide.
His big break came in 1989, with “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.” Fresh off a role in period drama “Dangerous Liaisons,” Reeves’ turn as stoner genius Ted earned him instant acclaim.
His credits included surf-driven crime thriller “Point Break” in 1991 to Gus Van Sant’s 1991 critically acclaimed Indie drama “My Own Private Idaho,” which garnered Reeves huge fame.
“The Matrix,” a 1999 sci-fi action film is arguably one of his most iconic movies. Directed by the Wachowskis, the film tells the story of a computer hacker enlisted to take down dystopian overlords.
While subsequent spin-off films weren’t as successful, “The Matrix” franchise made Reeves a household name and a very rich man. There are many stories of him and his generosity with money.
He received a star on the Hollywood walk of fame in 2005.
Reeves hasn’t forgotten his pre-famous days of pounding the sidewalks on Royal York Road in the snow. He doesn’t brag or revel in his celebrity status, which is why so many people love him worldwide.