Patricia Taylor and Keanu Reeves at the 92nd Annual Academy Awards on February 09, 2020 in Hollywood, California.Photo:Kevin Mazur/Getty
Kevin Mazur/Getty
Keanu Reeveshas had the support of his mother, Patricia Taylor, throughout his longstanding career in Hollywood.
Patricia and Keanu’s father, the late Samuel Nowlin Reeves Jr., who died in 2018, welcomed the future actor in 1964. Keanu has remained close with his mother and has been estranged from his father since he was a child, due in part to his parent’s breakup around the time he was 3 years old.
Growing up, Keanu lived all around the world, being born in Lebanon, and then moving to Australia when he was still a toddler. After Samuel and Patricia split up, she took Keanu and his little sister Kim to New York City and then Toronto, where the actor would spend his teen years.
Keanu tends to keep his personal life out of the spotlight and doesn’t often open up about his parents or his childhood. But throughout the years, he has given some insight into what his globetrotting early days looked like — from his estranged relationship with his father to the love and support he received from his mother.
Here’s everything to know about Keanu Reeves' parents, Patricia Taylor and Samuel Nowlin Reeves Jr.
Keanu’s mom is English and his dad was Chinese and Hawaiian
Keanu Reeves and his mother Patricia Taylor at the Los Angeles premiere of ‘Sweet November’.Paul Smith / Featureflash / Alamy
Paul Smith / Featureflash / Alamy
Keanu’s mother Patricia hails from England, while his father Samuel was Chinese and Hawaiian. Because of his father,Keanu has Asian heritage, which he opened up about withNBC Newsin 2021.
“My relationship to my Asian identity, it’s always been good and healthy. And I love it,” theJohn Wickstar said. “We’ve been growing up together.”
In theMatrixmovies, Keanu does quite a bit of martial arts, something he said he views as a way to honor his heritage.
“With the martial arts, [we’re] presenting those art forms in an artful way, in a respectful way,” the actor said. “Not in a way where it’s experienced as a caricature, but from a place of reverence.”
Patricia and Samuel met in Beirut in their early 20s
Patricia also worked in the entertainment industry
Keanu Reeves and his mother, Patricia Taylor, at the premiere of “The Lake House” on June 13, 2006 in Los Angeles, California.Kevin Winter/Getty
Kevin Winter/Getty
Keanu’s mom has lived a star-studded life of her own. Before working in Hollywood, Patricia was a showgirl in Paris. On theConversations with Charliepodcast, Keanu said that his mother also took odd jobs “picking up pins” in the city’s fashion houses, where she learned to love making and designing clothes.
When speaking toJada Pinkett SmithonRed Table Talkin 2021, Keanu revealed that his mother made Parton’s iconic bunny suit for herfamous 1978Playboycover. ThePoint Breakactor also said that his mom kept the outfit for years after the photo shoot and that he wore it once for Halloween.
“I put on the ears and the bustier,” Keanu said. “I wore sneakers with fishnet stockings and the bow tie. I had some pretty long hair, and I was Dolly Parton’sPlayboyBunny.”
Keanu did not have a relationship with his father
On theConversations with Charliepodcast, Herzfeld asked Keanu about how his parents met. The actor responded, “My father was there, he had gotten … I actually don’t really know his story. I think it’s like he was in college and then left and was in Beirut on the beach.”
On theSmartLesspodcastin 2023, hostsJason Bateman,Sean HayesandWill Arnettasked the actor about his history, and Keanu responded, “The story of my past is obviously the story of my mother.” He briefly brought up his dad before moving on, saying, “My father had a stepfather who was Canadian and then there’s a bunch of stuff that happened, but long story short, me and my sister and my mom ended up moving into a house in Canada.”
Samuel left the family when Keanu was 3 and the actor has said the last time he spoke with his father was at age 13. He toldRolling Stonein 2000, “The story with me and my dad’s pretty heavy.”
During an interview withThe Guardianin 2019, Keanu echoed this sentiment when he was asked if it was hard to not have a relationship with his father. “For sure,” he responded, “I think it’s definitely traumatizing. But it’s hard to know how [it affected me] because I don’t know what the other life would have been, you know what I mean?”
Samuel died in 2018 at the age of 76.
One of Patricia’s husbands helped Keanu break into Hollywood
Keanu Reeves and mother Patricia at the Mann Village Westwood.Lee Celano/WireImage
Lee Celano/WireImage
But it was her second husband, Aaron, who helped Keanu break into the entertainment industry. On theConversations with Charliepodcast, Keanu said, “He was around for a few years and then I stayed in contact. He was one of my introductions into show business. I was a PA on one of his movie of the weeks when I was like 15.”
After some encouragement from his mom, Keanu started acting, and years later the budding film star and Aaron met up again. Patricia’s ex served as a producer for 1991’sBill and Ted’s Bogus Journey, the sequel to one of Keanu’s earliest hit movies,Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.
Patricia remains an important part of Keanu’s life
Keanu Reeves and mother Patricia Taylor as Keanu Reeves is honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
Keanu had a big night at the 2020 Oscars — not only was the actor presenting an award that evening, but his filmToy Story 4also won the award for Best Animated Feature. To celebrate the night,Keanu brought his mom as his dateand the two walked the red carpet together.
On the red carpet,Ryan Seacrestspoke to the mother-son duo and asked Patricia if she knew anything about Keanu’s upcoming filmThe Matrix Resurrections, the fourth film in the series that was released the following year. Patricia responded coyly with “Nothing,” adding she “only [knew] aboutMatrix 1,2,and3."
source: people.com
