'', 2006
'''Keanu Charles Reeves''' (born September 2, 1964 in Beirut, Lebanon) is a Canadian actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as Neo in the action film trilogy ''
The Matrix'' and also for roles in ''
Speed'' and comedies such as ''
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure''. He was also a member of a grunge band, ''Dogstar'', during the 1990s, as a bassist.
Biography
Early life
Reeves was born in Beirut, Lebanon, to Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr., an American geologist, and Patricia Taylor, an English showgirl and costume designer who was working in Beirut when she met Reeves' father at a local nightclub.
His paternal grandfather, Samuel Nowlin Reeves, was born in Hawaii to Charles Armistead Reeves, a Tennessee-born Irish American, and Rose Lokalia Miguel, who was of Chinese and Hawaiian descent. Reeves was named after his uncle Henry Keanu Reeves. The name originated with Reeves' great-great-uncle Keaweaheulu, whose name means "cool breeze over the mountains" in Hawaiian. When Reeves first arrived in Hollywood, his agent thought his first name was too exotic, so during the early days of his film career he is sometimes credited as K.C. Reeves, Norman Kreeves or Chuck Spadina (an avenue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada).
left|thumb|Kim Reeves & Keanu Reeves
Reeves has a sister, Kim (born 1966 in Beirut, Lebanon), a half-sister named Karina Miller (born 1976 in Toronto), and another half-sister named Emma Rose Reeves (born 1980 in Hawaii). Kim has battled for years with leukemia, and continues to struggle with the disease. Keanu visits her often at the home he purchased for her on the island of Capri.
Keanu's parents divorced in 1966, and his mother moved to New York City with Reeves and his sister in 1969, where she met, and subsequently married, Paul Aaron, a Broadway and Hollywood director. The couple, who divorced in 1971, then moved to Toronto, where Reeves grew up.
Reeves' mother was later married to Robert Miller (between 1976 and 1980), and he has a half-sister, Karina Miller. Reeves grew up in Toronto and worked at a pasta shop, sharpened skates at an ice rink, and was voted MVP on his high school ice hockey team (De La Salle College). Within a span of five years, Reeves attended four different high schools, including a performing arts school from which he was expelled. Reeves began his acting career at the age of 15, appearing in a stage production of Romeo and Juliet at Leah Posluns Theatre. After leaving the Catholic boys' high school where he played hockey, he attended a free school, which allowed him to obtain an education while
