I don’t think there is a singular person in Hollywood right now that is more likable than Keanu Reeves.
The 54-year-old American actor has been doing films for decades — The Matrix, Speed, and Sweet November are some personal favs — but he’s jolted back into mainstream’s consciousness ever since his highly successful John Wick franchise.
It’s almost as if people have forgotten that decent humans exist, obssessing over finding something to ‘cancel’ him for. This public fixation is because Keanu’s stardom is shining bright again. That’s also why the media has been fawning over him.
All of a sudden Reeves is a ‘hair God’ and a faithful husband that doesn’t touch women in photos and doesn’t only ride the subway but will offer you a seat when he does.
Keanu doesn’t just have a cool first name, he is a world-renowned, humble and compassionate dude. The guy’s the real deal and according to public opinion, one of the nicest guys in Hollywood.
So, it’s actually no surprise that Keanu has been secretly donating millions to children hospitals for the last 15 years. According to Snopes, in 2009 he told the Ladies’ Home Journal:
“I have a private foundation that’s been running for five or six years, and it helps aid a couple of children’s hospitals and cancer research. I don’t like to attach my name to it; I just let the foundation do what it does.”
Apparently, it was after Reeves’ younger sister, Kim’s leukemia diagnosis in 1991 when the actor became involved in children’s hospitals, being that he had to be her primary caretaker. Reeves reportedly spent more than $5 million on treatments during her almost ten-year battle with the disease.
“Keanu helped me so much through my illness,” Kim told Woman’s Day in 1999.
“When the pain got really bad, he would sit with me and hold my hand, and keep the ‘bad man’ from making me dance. He was supporting me and comforting me all the time, even when he was away,” she said.
Although in remission since 1999, Keanu has been vigilant toward to cause since. He donated 70% of his Matrix gains to cancer research and has since opened a foundation in his sister’s name. Having had over three decades of movies behind his belt with zero scandals is not only rare but is out-of-worldly.
Whether it’s because he’s lived a tragic life off-screen — having lost his parents, best friend, and wife — or just because he’s a fellow human, Keanu has done nothing but be a stand-up guy. This newest revelation is just another testament of that.