Keanu Reeves boasts quite an impressive acting portfolio, which means that there are a bunch of iconic behind-the-scenes moments.
Lionsgate
There’s no denying that some movies and their plots are quite gripping, but sometimes the behind-the-scenes moments add more quality to the overall content. From funny bloopers to some heartwarming scenes, behind-the-scenes moments also give the audience a better perspective of the actors. Keanu Reeves boasts quite an impressive acting portfolio, which means that there are a bunch of these iconic moments. Here are some behind-the-scenes stories that will make your heart warm:
Warner Bros. Pictures
Following the immense popularity of The Matrix, Reeves found himself being offered quite a lot of money for his role in the franchise. However, Reeves turned down the offer of having massive shares in the sequels. He did this to ensure that the special effects and costume teams got better pay. It’s really heartwarming to see Reeves playing his part to bridge the wage inequality in Hollywood. What makes this incident even more touching is that he did so without wanting to attract attention. When the incident was mentioned again, the actor stated that it was simply something that he could afford to do and would prefer if people didn’t bring it up.
9Reeves Was Dedicated for His Role in The Matrix Despite Injury
Warner Bros. Pictures
It’s really touching to see actors show dedication to their profession. Keanu Reeves is no exception. The actor did not let his injury get in the way of preparing for his role in The Matrix. It seems that due to a herniated disk, Reeves showed up to the first day of training in a neck brace. His dedication to his work is definitely admirable, although many fans hoped that the actor didn’t push himself too much during the training.
8Reeves Bought a Little Gift for the Stunt Crew of John Wick: Chapter 4
Lionsgate Films
Reeves is quite a thoughtful colleague, it seems. During John Wick: Chapter 4, Reeves worked with four stuntmen; Bruce Concepción, Jeremy Marinas, Dave Camarillo, and Li Qiang. After filming ended, Reeves gifted personalized Rolex watches to show his appreciation for the crew. One of the crew members, Marinas, posted an image of the watch online, thanking Reeves for his thoughtful gift.
7Reeves Refused to Bully Co-Actress Winona Ryder While Filming Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Columbia Pictures
Crying on command is not as easy as many people think it would be. One of the tricks used by some actors, that many people are unaware of, is to get one’s co-star to whisper insults into one’s ears. When Winona Ryder was having a hard time crying on set, director Francis Ford Coppola began yelling insults at her and tried to get the other male actors to join in. However, Reeves simply refused to participate in bullying his co-star. Ryder talked about the incident in her interview with The Sunday Times.
6Reeves Trained with Surf Expert for His Part in Point Break
20th Century Studios
Another moment that showed Keanu Reeves’ dedication to his career is when he trained with a surfing expert for his role in Point Break. Reeves went and trained with 31-year-old Dennis Jarvis, self-proclaimed “Surf Doctor of Hollywood”, for two months to ensure he looked like the real deal in the film. According to Jarvis, Reeves took to surfing quite naturally. Javis even built Reeves a custom surfboard, which honestly is really sweet.
5Reeves Practiced a Dance Scene at Stevie Nicks’ House for Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
Orion PicturesDe Laurentiis Entertainment GroupEmbassy Pictures
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure has an ensemble cast that portrays a variety of characters through different time periods. As a consequence, the filmmakers had to make tough decisions to ensure that the film was compact and wasn’t dragging. Unfortunately, one of the scenes that were cut from the film was one that involved Reeves and his fellow actor Alex Winters dancing. Both of the actors weren’t very good at dancing, so the two practiced the dance routine at Stevie Nicks’s house, who had a proper ballet studio, for weeks. Unfortunately, for the two, the scene did not make it into the final film.
4Reeves’ Funny Pitches for His Cameo in Always Be My Maybe
Netflix
One of the best things about Always Be My Maybe was the fact that it was written by Ali Wong and Randall Park, the leading actor. The plot is quite endearing, which would explain why Reeves was instantly on board to portray a satirical version of himself. Director Nahnatchka Khan stated that, despite Reeves only having a minor cameo, the actor was quite enthusiastic about his role and had quite a lot of amusing ideas and pitches for his part.
3Reeves Stood Outside for 20 Minutes to Enter After-Party For Daughter of God/Exposed
Lionsgate Premiere
It’s no secret that many Hollywood celebrities have quite the personalities. Reeves, on the other hand, is quite humble and down to earth. According to a taxi driver, Reeves stood in line outside a New York Club drenched in rain to enter his own after-party for Daughter of God/Exposed. To add to this, during the after-party, the actor stumbled across someone’s lost credit card and returned it to the rightful owner. Talk about an absolute gentleman.
2Reeves Voiced a Cat in Keanu Due to His Sister’s Request
Warner Bros. Pictures
Initially, when Keanu Reeves was approached by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele for the comedy film, Keanu, the actor’s agendas politely declined. However, when the trailer for the film was released, Reeves’s sister told him that he needs to get involved with the film. The actor personally reached out to Key and Peele to request if he could be part of the project. Even though most of the movie was filmed already, Reeves made a cameo in the film by voicing a cat.
1Reeves Practiced at Home By Taking His Prop Guns Home For John Wick: Chapter 2
Lionsgate Films
Many actors form attachments with the roles they play, often taking props home with them for keepsakes. This is where Reeves differs from most actors. The actor took home the prop guns from John Wick: Chapter 2. Only the actor’s intention was to take the guns home to practice for his role. Given that Reeves portrays an assassin, he wanted to ensure that he naturally used the weapon. So the actor spent his time practicing his reloads and draws and footwork. Reeves’ dedication to his profession is quite admirable.
