His name means "cool breeze over the mountains" in Hawaiian.

When trying out for the parts of Bill and Ted in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989), each actor was paired up with another. Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter were paired up, Reeves trying out for the part of Bill while Winter tried out for the part of Ted. They were cast opposite what they auditioned for.

Ranked #23 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#17). [1995]

Is very good friends with his Bill & Ted co-star, Alex Winter and has remained in contact with him. Keanu has also contributed cameo appearances and helped with a number of Winter's film projects.

His best friend was actor River Phoenix. He is also friends with River's brother Joaquin Phoenix.

His best friend is his sister.

Keanu got his abdominal scar from a motorcycle wreck in Topanga Canyon. He was on a "demon ride" (no headlights at night) when he crashed into the side of a mountain. He was hospitalized for a week with broken ribs and a ruptured spleen. When the paramedics came to get him, an emergency medical technician trainee picked up one end of the stretcher ... then dropped it by mistake! "It made me laugh, but I couldn't breathe!"

His estranged girlfriend Jennifer Syme was killed when her Jeep Cherokee careered onto the wrong side of a Los Angeles road near Highway 101 and smashed into three parked cars. The force of the crash flipped the car over and she was thrown through the windshield. She was killed instantly. [2 April 2001]

He went to high school at North Toronto, where his drama teacher was Paul Robert. Mr. Robert then moved to teach at Northern Secondary as a drama teacher, but recently left. He pops in as a substitute teacher now and again, but lives freely in the wilderness otherwise.

He has recently left the band "Becky" with former "Dogstar" band mate Robert Mailhouse, due to scheduling conflicts.

Learned over 200 martial arts moves for The Matrix Reloaded (2003).

Arrested in Los Angeles; charged with drunk driving. [May 1993]

His parents names are Patricia Taylor and Samuel Nowlin Reeves.

Replaced Val Kilmer as "Johnny Mnemonic" in Johnny Mnemonic (1995) when Kilmer left the project upon being offered the role of "Batman" in Batman Forever (1995). Ironically, Kilmer later replaced Reeves as "Chris Siherlis" in Heat (1995).

Frequently plays man either strapped or sitting in a chair while some type of procedure is performed on him. All three Matrix films, Johnny Mnemonic (1995), Feeling Minnesota (1996), Dracula (1992) and Constantine (2005).

Auditioned for the Etobicoke School of the Arts in Etobicoke, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; but was rejected.

Was MVP on his high school hockey team, where he was a goalie.

His first name, Keanu, is pronounced "keh-ah-noo.".

In Hawaiian, "ke" means "the" and "anu" means "cool or coolness"; hence "the coolness" or (very) interpretively, "the cool winds over the mountain."

Chosen by "People" magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. [1995]

Keanu resides in Toronto, Canada where he grew up.

Turned down the role of Racer X in Speed Racer (2008). The part eventually went to Matthew Fox.

Lent one of his basses (a yellow Fender) to be used in the music video 100% by Sonic Youth to bassist Kim Gordon.

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#28). [2007].

The character of Jimbo Jones on "The Simpsons" (1989) is based on his character from Bill & Ted`s Excellent Adventure (1989).

His parents married in Hawaii and divorced in 1966. His mother later remarried Paul Aaron (divorced in 1971) and Robert Miller (between 1976 and 1980).

Although left-handed, plays bass with his right.

31st January 2005: Honoured with a Star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

Read the script of Constantine (2005) while filming The Matrix Revolutions (2003).

His first theater work was with Shakespeare and Company in Lenox, Massachusetts in "The Tempest."

He learned to surf for his role in Point Break (1991)

He learned to surf for his role in Point Break

Shares a birthday with actress Salma Hayek, heavyweight boxer Lennox Lewis and NFL Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson.

Was originally cast as Chris Shiherlis in Heat (1995) but later backed out of the project, and the part went to Val Kilmer.

Was originally offered the role of Pvt. Chris Taylor in Platoon (1986). Keanu turned it down and the role went to Charlie Sheen.

Musically Keanu is currently playing (bass) in "Becky" - also featuring Robert Mailhouse (drums), Paulie Kosta (guitar) and Rebecca Lord (vocals).

Learned over 200 martial arts moves for The Matrix Reloaded

Deferred part of his salary on The Replacements (2000) so Gene Hackman could be cast.

Was set to reprise his role as Jack Traven in the sequel to Speed (1994/I)--Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997)--but dropped out.

Has appeared in three films whose title contains a US state: Feeling Minnesota (1996), My Own Private Idaho (1991) and The Prince of Pennsylvania (1988) and his character in Point Break (1991) was named John Utah.

His estranged girlfriend Jennifer Syme was killed when her Jeep Cherokee careered onto the wrong side of a Los Angeles road near Highway 101 and smashed into three parked cars.The force of the crash flipped the car over and she was thrown through the windshield. She was killed instantly.

Maintains Canadian citizenship and passport.

In November 1999, the baby girl he was expecting with girlfriend Jennifer Syme was stillborn, just a few weeks shy of the actual delivery date. They had planned to name her Ava Archer Syme-Reeves.

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#17).

When trying out for the parts of Bill and Ted in Bill & Ted`s Excellent Adventure (1989), each actor was paired up with another. Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter were paired up, Reeves trying out for the part of Bill while Winter tried out for the part of Ted. They were cast opposite what they auditioned for.

Keanu got his abdominal scar from a motorcycle wreck in Topanga Canyon. He was on a "demon ride" (no headlights at night) when he crashed into the side of a mountain. He was hospitalized for a week with broken ribs and a ruptured spleen.When the paramedics came to get him, an emergency medical technician trainee picked up one end of the stretcher ... then dropped it by mistake! "It made me laugh, but I couldn`t breathe!"

Hobbies include horseback riding and surfing (both inspired from movie roles).

Dropped out of high school when he was 17 to become an actor.

His 1974 motorcycle is among his most prized possessions.

His mother, Patricia Taylor, was a costume designer for rock stars such as Alice Cooper.

His father was a geologist who served time in prison. He was paroled after serving two years of a ten-year sentence for selling heroin at Hilo Airport in 1992.

He loves to play ice hockey (goalie position).

Was manager of a pasta shop in Toronto.

Is left-handed.

Father left the family when Keanu was very young.

His father Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. (b. 1942) is Chinese and Hawaiian. His mother Patricia Taylor is English, making him Eurasian like fellow actors Andrew Johnston, Brandon Lee, Rob Schneider, Russell Wong, Anthony Begonia, Michael Wong and actresses Jessica Anderson, Devon Aoki, Moon Bloodgood, China Chow, Kelly Hu, Traycee King, Kristin Kreuk, Jaymee Ong, Maggie Q, Nicole Scherzinger and Monica Young.

Was nicknamed "the wall" by high school hockey team De La Salle College "Oaklands".

Had job sharpening ice skates.

Stepson of film and stage director Paul Aaron.

Named after his uncle Henry Keanu Reeves. "Keanu" is a derivation of Reeves` great-great-uncle Keaweaheulu, whose name means "the soft breeze raising" in Hawaiian.

Sister, Kim (born in Australia in 1966). Through his mother he has a half-sister named Karina Miller (born 1976 in Toronto). Through his father he has a half-sister named Emma Reeves (born 1980 in Hawaii).

He owns at least two Norton Commando motorcycles whose engines were available in both 750cc and 850cc capacities, the high-compression version being the Combat Commando.

Loves ballroom dancing.

Arrested in Los Angeles; charged with drunk driving.

Ranked #23 in Empire (UK) magazine`s "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.

Chosen by "People" magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world.