Keanu Reeves	Keanu Reeves

 

Read by George William Dole

About Keanu Reeves (краткие биографические сведения)

Keanu Charles Reeves is a Canadian actor, director, producer, and musician.

Reeves was born in the capital of Lebanon, Beirut on September 2nd, 1964, into the family of a costume designer, Patricia Bond, and geologist, Samuel Noulin Reeves Jr. His mother is an Englishwoman. His father is an American from Hawaii who has Chinese, English, Irish, Native Hawaiian, and Portuguese background.

Reeves's mother was working in Beirut when she met Keanu’s father. His father earned his GED while he was imprisoned in Hawaii for selling heroin at the airport. He abandoned his family when Reeves was three years old.

As a child, Reeves’ family often changed where they lived. After Beirut his family moved to Australia, then to New York. Then they settled down in Toronto, Canada.

Keanu’s childhood and youth were mostly spent in Toronto. His mother’s parents and nannies mainly cared for Reeves’ upbringing. During five years he changed four schools.

Reeves was more successful in hockey than in academic disciplines, because the process of education for him was complicated by dyslexia. Reeves dreamed of becoming a hockey player and standing for Canada's honor at the Olympics, but an injury forced him to forget about his dreams. Reeves dropped out of school, and did not receive a certificate of secondary education.

Reeves began his acting career at the age of nine, appearing in the theatrical production of the musical "Devil's Yankees".

Reeves’ TV debut took place on the Canadian television channel CBC in one of its comedy series.

He got a more noticeable role in the drama "On the River Bank”, 1986.

In 1994, Keanu Reeves’ fame increased thanks to his role in the action movie "Speed". Reeves’ participation in this film aroused controversy among critics, since, with the exception of "On the Crest of the Wave," he was known primarily as an actor of comedies and dramas. Unexpected international success of the film made Reeves and his partner Sandra Bullock Hollywood stars.

His main role in the romantic drama "Walk in the Clouds", 1995, became a big hit.

Reeves' career began to recover from a few failures after his participation in the mystical drama “Devil's Advocate” (1997), where he acted with Al Pacino and Charlize Theron.

The science fiction thriller "The Matrix", 1999, in which Reeves played the main role, brought huge financial success. This film was a big hit among different followers of Eastern spiritual teachings.

"Love by the Rules and Without" (2003) and the mystical thriller "Constantine" (2005) proved to be commercially successful and returned Reeves to the public's attention.

As a director Keanu Reeves had his debut on July 5, 2013 in China, with the film "Master Tai Chi".

In 2011, Keanu Reeves, along with the mechanic, Gard Hollinger founded the motorcycle company Arch Motorcycle.

Reeves has never been married and has no children.

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Read by George William Dole

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