40 years ago, Keanu Reeves refused to follow this idiotic advice that could have ruined his career, and he was absolutely right

What if Keanu Reeves had never been called Keanu Reeves? Surprisingly, John Wick’s iconic interpreter almost changed his name when he was 20 years old! Asked about the New Heights podcast, delivered DiversityThe actor made this amazing discovery.

Keanu or not Keanu

I was a professional actor around 16, 17 years old. I was in Toronto, Canada and then I had an agent who lived in Los Angeles. When I was 20, I got in my car and drove to LA. I got out of the car and my agent said: We want to change your name.– Keanu Reeves promised.

“It was ‘Welcome to Hollywood.’ I remember walking on the beach saying my name? What if I change my name? what?”asked the actor. A request from his agent plunged Keanu Reeves into existential questioning. Then he started thinking about what names he could go by if he wanted a career in Hollywood.

My middle name is Charles, so I said to myself: Chuck? And I grew up on a street named Spadina, so… Chuck Spadina.

“My middle name is Charles, so I was like, Chuck? And I grew up on a street called Spadina, so…Chuck Spadina. And then I thought about Templeton. Then I became KC Reeves. I’m going to be KC Reeves. But it didn’t work. In auditions, they called me KC Reeves, and I didn’t like it anymore. It’s typical Hollywood thing. “explained the Canadian actor.

They called KC Reeves at the auditions and I didn’t even answer. After six months, I said to myself: I’m not doing this anymore.

Keanu Reeves or nothing!

Indeed, early in his career, Keanu Reeves appeared as KC Reeves in a 1986 made-for-TV movie for Disney’s Magical World. Invited by Jimmy Fallon in 2017, the actress revealed that another pseudonym was even considered for her: Templeton Paige Taylor.

Fortunately, when Reeves gained attention in more prestigious productions such as Dangerous Liaisons or Bill and Ted (1989), he eventually chose to use his real name, Keanu Reeves.

The legendary Neo from The Matrix isn’t the only one who’s been advised to change his name to pursue a career in Hollywood. So were Arnold Schwarzenegger and Leonardo DiCaprio. The latter recently revealed this in a podcast New heights.

“I finally managed to find an agency and they said your name is too ethnic. I asked what they meant by that. They said no, it’s too ethnic. They’re never going to hire you. Your new name will be Lenny Williams. We took your middle name and changed your last name to Lenny. My dad hadn’t seen the new portrait, he said:– the actor confided.