Hollywood almost made Keanu Reeves give up his name — and possibly a piece of himself.
In a candid chat on the New Heights podcast on October 15, the John Wick star opened up about one of his earliest “welcome to Hollywood” moments: being told to ditch his real name.
“I got paid when I was like 16, so I was a professional actor around 16 or 17,” Reeves shared. “I was in Toronto, Canada, and then I got a manager who lived in Los Angeles. At 20 years old, I drove in my car to Los Angeles. Got out of my car and my manager said, ‘We want to change your name.’”
That suggestion threw him off. “I remember walking on the beach thinking, ‘My name? What if I change my name? What?’”
The Strange List of Stage Names
Reeves didn’t reject the idea right away. He even came up with a few options.
His first pick was Chuck Spadina — inspired by his middle name, Charles, and Spadina Avenue, the Toronto street where he grew up. The name sounded quirky, even memorable, but it didn’t stick.
“Then I was something Templeton,” Reeves recalled with a laugh. “And finally, I became KC Reeves. I was credited as KC Reeves.”
But he couldn’t bring himself to respond to it. “I’d be in auditions and they’d call ‘KC Reeves,’ and I wouldn’t even answer. Six months later, I was like, ‘I’m not doing this.’”
That moment became his quiet act of rebellion — and a turning point that defined his identity in Hollywood.
The Rise of a Reluctant Star
After keeping his real name, Reeves landed a few small TV movies in 1986 and 1987 before earning a role in the 1988 film Dangerous Liaisons. The following year, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure catapulted him into pop culture history.
From there, he became a household name with blockbuster hits like Point Break (1991), Speed (1994), and The Matrix trilogy (1999–2003). Each role strengthened his reputation as one of Hollywood’s most grounded and enigmatic stars.
Now, at 61, Reeves continues to reinvent himself — this time playing a guardian angel in the comedy Good Fortune.
Love, Rumors, and Real-Life Moments
Reeves appeared at the Good Fortune premiere on October 13 with his longtime girlfriend, artist Alexandra Grant. The couple’s rare red-carpet appearance reignited marriage rumors after fans noticed Grant wearing a ring earlier this year.
But the artist shut down the speculation in her own witty way. Sharing a photo of the couple kissing during a trip to Arizona’s Roden Crater, she wrote:
“This is a real photo. Not an engagement photo or an AI wedding announcement... simply a kiss! We didn’t get married. Good news is much needed these days, but it’s still fake news — so be careful out there!”
Grant and Reeves have been together publicly since 2019, when they first appeared hand-in-hand at the LACMA Art + Film Gala in Los Angeles. A source close to the couple told People at the time that Reeves “is extremely happy and grateful to have Alex in his life.”
Staying True to His Name
Looking back, Reeves’ story isn’t just about names — it’s about identity. Hollywood tried to mold him into something more “marketable,” but he quietly chose authenticity instead.
And decades later, the name Keanu Reeves doesn’t just stand out — it defines one of the most respected, humble, and enduring careers in modern cinema.
Because sometimes, the best stage name is your real one.
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