Keanu Reeves Through The Years: Photos Of The ‘John Wick’ Actor Then & Now

By:

September 2, 2023 9:00AM EDT

Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock

Keanu Reeves is one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars. From ‘Bill & Ted’ to ‘John Wick,’ take a look at his impressive career.

1 of 14

Keanu Reeves: Through The Years

Keanu Reeves: Through The Years — Keanu Reeves is one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars. The Canadian actor, born September 2, 1964, made his feature film debut in the 1986 film Youngblood. Things only took off for Keanu from there, when his big break came in 1989 with the release of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. He went on to star in movies like Point Break, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, My Own Private Idaho, Speed, and more in the early 1990s.

In 1999, he starred as Neo in The Matrix and returned for two more sequels. He reprised the role of Neo in The Matrix: Resurrections, which was released in 2021. The actor’s other recent films include the John Wick movies, Toy Story 4, The Neon Demon, and Bill & Ted Face the Music. Check out more photos of Keanu Reeves through the years here.

2 of 14

‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure’ (1989)

‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure’ (1989) — Keanu Reeves got his breakout role as Ted Logan in ‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure’, which he starred in alongside Alex Winter (right). The movie was released in 1989 and has spawned two sequels.

Keanu talked about his connection with Alex in a 2020 The New York Times interview, saying, “We enjoy each other’s company and our thoughts and takes on the world. When we come together, it’s like, ‘What are you thinking?’, ‘I don’t know, but this is kind of funny.’ ‘Yeah, that’s kind of weird, too.'”

3 of 14

‘Point Break’ (1991)

‘Point Break’ (1991) — Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze were co-stars in the 1991 extreme sports/crime flick ‘Point Break.’ Over the years, the movie has reached cult status.

Keanu reflected on the impact of ‘Point Break’ in 2017 during a conversation for the Toronto International Film Festival. He said, “All the time I run into people and they say ‘I started jumping out of planes because of ‘Point Break’. I started surfing because of ‘Point Break’.’ It really changed people’s lives, just like it did mine.”

4 of 14

‘My Own Private Idaho’ (1991)

‘My Own Private Idaho’ (1991) — Keanu Reeves starred as Scott Favor in the 1991 film ‘My Own Private Idaho’.

He earned critical acclaim for his performance opposite River Phoenix in the Gus Van Sant film, which is loosely based on Shakespeare’s ‘Henry IV’ plays and follows two friends as they embark on a journey of personal growth while making their way from Portland, Oregon to Idaho.

Keanu called working on the film an “intense experience” in archival footage from Entertainment Tonight. “I’m an actor,” he explained. “That wasn’t a problem. But shooting was a very intense experience. I had just finished ‘Point Break’ and was still into my character – I felt a bit of anxiety about ‘Idaho’. I was overwhelmed at what I had to do—it was like, Oh, no! Can I do this? I was afraid. But Gus and River made me fit in. Said, ‘Let’s do one b***in’ movie.'”

5 of 14

‘Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey’ (1991)

‘Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey’ (1991) — Keanu Reeves returned to the role of Ted Logan in the 1991 sequel ‘Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey.’ Alex Winter also reprised his role as well.

Though the guys are the epitome of laid-back, California cool, Keanu insisted Bill & Ted weren’t “stoners” in a 2020 interview with AP Entertainment. “I’d like to get one thing straight. Bill and Ted are not stoners,” Reeves said. “You know, they have a nice outlook. They like people, their friendship.”

6 of 14

‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’ (1992)

‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’ (1992) — Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder starred in ‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’ in 1992. They have since teamed up for three more movies.

Keanu and Winona went the extra mile to make sure their on-screen romance was as real as can be in the Francis Ford Coppola movie. The production even decided to use a real priest for a marriage scene, prompting Keanu to joke the duo are married “under the eyes of God”.

“We did a whole take of a marriage ceremony with real priests,” Reeves told Esquire in Nov. 2021. “Winona says we are. Coppola says we are. So I guess we’re married under the eyes of God.”

7 of 14

‘Speed’ (1994)

‘Speed’ (1994) — Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock were co-stars in the hit 1994 action flick ‘Speed’. They reunited in 2006 romantic drama ‘The Lake House’.

Though the actors certainly had chemistry, they never dated. Sandra reflected on their friendship in a story profiling Keanu in Esquire. “Keanu’s a guy who, I feel like, is friends with every woman he’s ever dated,” she saind. “I don’t think there’s anyone who has something horrible to say about him.”

“So maybe we could have survived. I don’t know. But we didn’t have to survive anything. We just get to grow up together on parallel roads and tip our hats and meet for a dinner and try to work together. And the longer time goes on, the more in awe I am of the human being. Would I have been able to say that if he had dumped me and made me angry? Probably not.”

8 of 14

‘The Matrix: Reloaded’ (2003)

‘The Matrix: Reloaded’ (2003) — Keanu Reeves returned as Neo for ‘The Matrix Reloaded’ in 2003. He began playing the role in the first ‘Matrix’ movie, which was released in 1999. He is returning for the fourth ‘Matrix’ movie on Dec. 22 2021.

Keanu said he wasn’t aware director Lilly Wachowski, who is transgender, saw the film as an allegory for her gender. Talking to Yahoo about the story in Aug 2020, Keanu said. “never spoke to Lilly about that, she never conveyed that to me.”

“I think The Matrix films are profound, and I think that allegorically, a lot of people in different versions of the film can speak to that. And for Lilly to come out and share that with us, I think is cool.”

9 of 14

‘John Wick’ (2014)

‘John Wick’ (2014) — Keanu Reeves started playing John Wick in 2014. The ‘John Wick’ movies have become massive box office hits. He’s set to return for a fourth and fifth ‘John Wick’ movie. ‘John Wick 4’ is expected to hit theaters in May 2022.

John was asked how far he’d like to take the assassin’s story in an Aug. 2020 interview with GQ, saying, “As far as my legs can take me. As far as the audience wants to go.”

Unpacking the character a bit more, Keanu said, “He’s got this beautiful, tragic conundrum — these two selves. The John who was married, and John Wick, the assassin. John wants to be free. But the only way he knows how is through John Wick. And John Wick keeps f****** killing people and breaking rules. We’re really watching a person fight for their life and their soul.”

10 of 14

‘Bill & Ted Face The Music’ (2020)

‘Bill & Ted Face The Music’ (2020) — Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter returned to their iconic roles for ‘Bill & Ted Face The Music’ in 2020. The latest sequel came over 20 years after the original was released.

Keanu talked about the film’s plot ahead of its 2020 release, telling Entertainment Weekly, “Bill and Ted are still trying to write the song that will unite the world — and failing. Then, in typical Bill & Ted fashion, at their lowest point, the future comes back and says, ‘Okay, now you have to unite the world but also save time and reality as we know it, with a song!’ So, the pressure gets even more. Bill and Ted, in order to find the song, end up going into the future.”

11 of 14

Keanu Reeves & His Mother At The 2020 Oscars

Keanu Reeves & His Mother At The 2020 Oscars — Keanu Reeves had his mom, Patricia Taylor, on his arm at the 2020 Oscars. He was one of the presenters.

Keanu says he made sure to get his mom’s blessing before embarking on his acting career. He remembered in a 2005 interview promoting his film ‘Constantine’, saying, “When I was 15, I went up to my mother and said, ‘Is it okay if I’m an actor?'”

“She was like, ‘Whatever you want, dear.’ In three weeks I was enrolled in an acting class doing Uta Hagen’s Respect For Acting.” He went on, “I was a good boy, it wouldn’t have mattered what she said by the way, but you know.”

12 of 14

Keanu Reeves At The Premiere Of ‘DC League of Super Pets’

Keanu Reeves At The Premiere Of ‘DC League of Super Pets’ — Keanu Reeves attends the LA premiere of ‘DC League of Super-Pets’ on Jul 13, 2022. He wore a glossy jacket and dark teal shirt with black jeans.

13 of 14

Keanu At The Premiere Of ‘The Matrix Resurrections’

Keanu At The Premiere Of ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ — Keanu Reeves looks like a star during the premiere of ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ in San Francisco on Dec. 18, 2021. He teamed up a comfortable suit with a striped tie and well-worn suede shoes. Keanu went for his usually rugged grooming look, rocking a salt and pepper beard.

14 of 14

keanu-reeves-gallery-social-

keanu-reeves-gallery-social-

Click to Subscribe to Get Our Free HollywoodLife Daily Newsletter to get the hottest celeb news.