From playing Ted Logan in ‘Bill & Ted‘ to revolutionizing hitman roles through ‘John Wick,’ Keanu Reeves sure has proven to be a Hollywood powerhouse. But his achievements aren’t limited to acting. He is also a philanthropist and one of the kindest celebrities. Yet, nothing is above family, and everyone saw it during the making of ‘The Matrix.’
Back in the late 90s and early 2000s, Reeves put the projects on hold for his sister. Her leukemia battle prompted the actor to become a quiet supporter and philanthropist, and here’s why!
Keanu Reeves Delayed The Matrix For His sister
It is common knowledge that ‘The Matrix‘ happens to be one of the most iconic movies starring Keanu Reeves. He is widely regarded and praised for his role as Neo in The Wachowskis’ movie.
The actor was then signed for the sequels, but he got the movies delayed all for his sister, who battled leukemia for a decade straight. His sister, Kim Reeves, recovered and went cancer-free in 2001, as many media reports and speculations suggest.
Reeves’ prioritizing his family first and foremost was appreciated by many fans. He even stated that no matter what happened, he would never skip Kim’s birthday.
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What’s even more fascinating is that during the whole decade, Reeves took care of his sister. He moved to the vicinity and even prepared meals for her and tended to her.
This also stirred the rumor that he walked away from a multi-million-dollar Marvel movie, though none of it was confirmed, and it was eventually passed off as a rumor.
In recent years, however, the actor took his role as a quiet yet active philanthropist quite seriously.
A Quiet Yet Profound Philanthropist
Empathy breeds compassion and kindness, and such is the case with Keanu Reeves. The fact that he witnessed cancer and its debilitating effects made him much closer to his family.
It also made him understand the nitty-gritty of grief, loss, and trauma surrounding the illness. He started his philanthropic journey after donating the earnings from ‘The Matrix‘ to cancer societies for cancer research.
In 2008, he worked in tandem with a televised fundraiser called Stand Up to Cancer, where he took calls publicly.
Not only that, he auctioned a Zoom date back in 2020 to raise funds for Camp Rainbow Gold. It is an Idaho-based charity for children with cancer. The organization offers getaways for these kids and aims to empower both the children and the families.
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Of late, he has also spoken up about the stuntmen and stuntwomen who lose their lives due to professional hazards. By partnering with Windsor Spitfires and the Canadian Mental Health Association, he brought the cause to the public and gained traction.
These are simply a fraction of the many instances where Reeves actively participated and propelled charity and philanthropy. In reality, he reached out to his crew members and helped them during their adverse times.
This goes on to show that despite a net worth of $380 million, one can have a heart of gold and set an example for future generations.
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