Did you think Keanu Reeves was a lucky man? ... A movie could be made of his real life
We tend to get preconceptions and misconceptions of what it means to be a world-famous star. Imagine for a moment the social burden that doing such everyday things as walking the dog or going shopping can imply. If you are a free spirit, fame is never well paid enough, as freedom and anonymity are priceless.
Everything that happens in the world of cinema seems great and rosy, but the sad stories behind the scenes are more than evident in some profiles. Cases as tragic as that of Marilyn Monroe or Greta Garbo, are just a few examples to illustrate our following story.
Keanu Charles Reeves, although today he is one of the highest paid actors on the big screen, he is not known for great ostentation, quite the opposite. He does not own a large mansion in Beverly Hills, nor does he have a Lamborghini parked outside his door. Unlike many actors and colleagues of his profession, Reeves lives in a surprisingly austere way, perhaps because of all the events that have marked his life since he was a child.
In the image above we can see Keanu's father, Samuel Nowlin Reeves, a geologist by profession who divorced his mother when he was still a child. Keanu would visit him from time to time at his 25-acre farm on Kauai. Reeves once said: “The story between my father and me is very heavy. It is full of pain and affliction.
In 1994, after years of corruption, Samuel was arrested at the Hilo International Airport for heroin trafficking. In 1996, he was released on parole and has not seen his son again, since he put the earth in the middle of all the accumulated pain.
However, the acclaimed actor maintains a wonderful relationship with his mother, Patricia Bondo, for all that she fought for him and his siblings when they were children. She suffered numerous mistreatments from Keanu's father, which led to her imminent divorce and her having to bring her children out in front of her alone. To do this, she went to work as a stripper in nightclubs around the globe. Unfortunately Keanu had different stepfathers who sometimes looked down on him.
Without a doubt a very hard blow for Keanu was when he lost his best friend in 1993, River Phoenix (Joaquin Phoenix's brother), who died of an overdose at the young age of 23. Furthermore, it was only a year later that his father was arrested. They starred together in the acclaimed independent film, My Private Idaho. Keanu, in an interview, stated that he continually remembers his friend and regrets because he believes that he could have done something else to prevent River from continuing to use drugs.
Another bad news, and another serious blow, took place in 1999. They told him that his girlfriend at the time, Jennifer Syme, had lost the baby they were expecting, Ava Archer Syme-Reeves. They would never get over this hard blow that would take the end of their relationship.
Just two years later, in 2001, Jennifer was driving home from a party at singer Marilyn Manson's house when she lost control of her Jeep, crashing into three parked cars. She was not wearing a seat belt, so she was thrown from the vehicle and died on the spot. Syme was only 28 years old and was buried next to little Ava.
The actor's sister, Kim Reeves, spent many years battling leukemia. Fortunately, she managed to overcome the disease and today she is cured. Reeves donated 70% of what she earned with the Matrix tape to different hospitals that treat this disease.
According to people, it is very common to see him on the street eating alone and with a style that borders on neglect. This has caused many to claim that he is going through a severe depression, although it may just be hearsay. On one occasion the actor made these statements: "Many need happiness to live, I don't." Harsh words for a man who has suffered so much.
As we told you at the beginning, although his fortune is estimated at about 350 million dollars, Reeves lives in a modest way, so much so that it is very common to see him on the subway reading the newspaper and chatting with people.
On one occasion, the actor wanted to celebrate his birthday alone, so he went into a bakery and ordered a coffee and a chocolate muffin to which he put a candle, as a celebration. People who have come across him affirm that he is a close and accessible person and that he always gives a smile.
A very interesting story with a lot of background. Despite being one of the most acclaimed stars on the big screen, Keanu Reeves, is a symbol of austerity and humility, due in a way to the hard episodes that marked his life.
