Keanu Reeves endured a lot during his childhood, which might have helped shape him into the humble human he is now.
With a childhood characterized by constant moving, the John Wick star lived in different countries.
Reeves’ parents separated after a few years of marriage, and he mostly lived with his grandparents.
Due to this, he was very close with his grandparents. Keanu frequently visited them in Hawaii, even after his Hollywood debut.
His paternal grandfather, Samuel Nowlin Reeves, was born to an Irish-American father, Charles Armistead, and Rose Lokalia Miguel, of Portuguese and Hawaiian descent.
Similarly, his grandmother, Sarah Monilani Victor, was a part Chinese.
Although he was raised with much love from his grandparents, Reeves lacked the same affection from his father.
Key Takeaways
- Keanu spent most of his childhood with his grandparents.
- His father abandoned their family.
- Keanu’s stepfather helped him break into the entertainment industry.
Keanu’s Father Left The Family When He Was A Child
Keanu mostly lived with his grandparents because his father, Samuel Nowlin Jr., left the family when the actor was only three.
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Samuel Jr. was a geologist, and the father-son duo last saw each other when Keanu was 13.
“On our last day, we sat on the veranda and stared at the dark sky. He hardly said anything that evening,” the Matrix star recalled his memory with his father.
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“The next day he brought us to the airport. Then we didn’t hear anything from him for 10 years. No calls, no letters, nothing.”
Nonetheless, Keanu has made peace with the fact that his father chose a different path and left the family. However, they have not been in contact.
Samuel, who lost 20 years of his life to substance abuse – contributing to his estrangement from his kids, tried to contact Keanu.
“I pretty much know what he’s doing, but he’s made it clear that he wants nothing to do with me,” said Samuel.
Keanu’s Step Father Helped Him Get Into Hollywood
In contrast to his relationship with his father, Keanu’s mother, Patricia, remains an important part of his life.
Reeves’ mother played a huge role in his successful Hollywood career.
After divorcing Samuel in 1966, Patricia did three other marriages.
In the early ’70s, she met producer and director Paul Aaron and tied the knot for a brief period.
Later, she was married to music promoter Robert Miller from 1976 to 1980, followed by her nuptial with Jack Bond, which lasted till 1994.
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Out of the later three marriages, Patricia’s second husband, Aaron, helped Keanu break into the show business.
The Canadian actor worked as a PA on one of Aaron’s movies, and later, after some encouragement from his mother, Keanu started acting.
FAQs
Is Keanu Reeves Married?
Keanu is not married but is in a relationship with Alexandra Grant.
Does Keanu Have Any Siblings?
Keanu Reeves has three younger sisters, Kim Reeves, Karin Miller, and Emma Reeves.
