Actors in Bands: The Good, The Bad and The Embarrassing (Videos Included) - Film Junk Actors in Bands: The Good, The Bad and The Embarrassing (Videos Included) Posted by Sean on November 30th, 2007 Filed under: Features , Movies , Music , Music Video As we all know, Hollywood actors generally lead pampered lives that are the envy of just about everyone in the world — everyone that is, except for rock stars. Not only are rock stars equally as rich as the Hollywood elite, but they live life by their own rules, party like maniacs, start new trends, rebel against the system, and just generally reek of coolness. Yes, it’s true, rock stardom is the one thing that all actors wish they could have. Many actors have tried to live out that dream by starting their own bands, and the results range from good to bad to downright embarassing. (It helps if you actually started your career as a musician.) Here’s a look at a variety of actors who have played in bands over the years, complete with videos where possible. All I can say is that sometimes all the acting talent in the world doesn’t help you look cool on stage!

Keanu Reeves – Dogstar Dogstar has long been one of the prime examples of a crappy or mediocre rock band coasting by on the celebrity status of one of its members. Reeves formed the band in the early 90’s with his friend and fellow actor Robert Mailhouse, and before long they were playing shows with some pretty huge names including Bon Jovi and David Bowie. Heck, Weezer actually played their first show opening for Dogstar! Can you believe it? But despite all their high profile gigs, they never really achieved mainstream success… probably because they suck. Reeves eventually left the band due to a tight working schedule, although I’m not sure if they’re now officially disbanded or not. Jared Leto – 30 Seconds to Mars Jared Leto is one of the success stories of actors turned musician. 30 Seconds to Mars’ last album hit #36 on the U.S. charts and spawned numerous radio singles. The band has managed to carve out an identity for themselves separate from Leto’s own stardom, which may be part of the reason for their success, although he certainly plays the role of pretty boy rock star quite well too.

Personally I’ll always think of him as the dumb-as-bricks Jordan Catalano from My So-Called Life. Eddie Murphy – Whatzupwitu feat. Michael Jackson Here’s a pretty embarassing foray into the music world that many people seem to have forgotten about. Back in 1999, Eddie Murphy recorded a song with Michael Jackson called “Whatzupwitu”. Not only is the song cheesy and nonsensical, but the surreal video is still held by many to be one of the worst music videos of all-time. Billy Bob Thornton Being the bad boy that he is, it makes sense that Billy Bob Thornton would dabble as a musician of some sort in his spare time. He is into blues and roots rock, and has released a handful of solo albums in addition to fronting a band called Tres Hombres. His first album Private Radio featured an earnest, if somewhat cheesy, ode to his then-wife Angelina Jolie. She divorced him a year later. Coincidence? Jack Black – Tenacious D Jack Black’s musical prowess and sense of humour have always gone hand in hand, and they are probably the main reason that he continues to have such a stellar career today.

Would he have landed that big role in High Fidelity if not for his satirical band Tenacious D and the short-lived HBO series that it inspired? I doubt it. School of Rock is, to me, still his ultimate performance. Kevin Bacon – The Bacon Brothers Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael have been playing music together since they were kids, but officially became a band in the mid-90’s. Since then they have released 4 albums and contributed songs to a number of Kevin’s movies, in addition to offering their own take on the Kenny Loggins song “Footloose” from the movie in which Kevin starred. I can’t claim to be intimately familiar with their music, but the brilliant lyrics “Oh my god, my god / Where’d she get that body? / What’s she got on her iPod?” clearly speak for themselves. Bill Paxton – Martini Ranch Riding on the success of his performances in such movies as Aliens and Near Dark, Bill Paxton fronted a short-lived band called Martini Ranch back in 1988.

Nowadays they’re regarded as pure 80’s cheese, but the band is noteworthy for a couple of their videos, one of which (“Reach”) was directed by James Cameron, and another of which (“How Can the Labouring Man Find Time for Self-Culture?”) featured Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo fame and closely echoed Devo’s offbeat art-school sensibility. Bruce Willis – Bruce Willis & The Accelerators / Blues Band That’s right, for the past 15 years Bruno himself has been singing and playing harmonica for a band called The Accelerators (recently renamed to The Bruce Willis Blues Band, I believe). Back in the 80’s, however, he was a solo artist and released an album called The Return of Bruno, promoted with a Spinal Tap-esque mockumentary. The hit song “Respect Yourself” was a team up with The Pointer Sisters. Not one of Bruce’s finest moments. Jason Schwartzman – Phantom Planet / Coconut Records Before Jason Schwartzman became famous as the precocious Max Fischer in Wes Anderson’s Rushmore, he was already somewhat famous as the drummer for the band Phantom Planet (who are now more popular than ever, thanks to their song “California”, becoming the theme to The O.C.).

It was his cousin, Sofia Coppola, who supposedly recommended him for the role in the film. He later left the band to concentrate on his acting, but then this year he released a new solo album under the name Coconut Records. And you know what? It’s actually pretty good! Jada Pinkett Smith – Wicked Wisdom Certainly one of the strangest actor-fronted bands in recent years would have to be the metal band Wicked Wisdom, featuring Will Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith on lead vocals! In one way, it’s like she is rebelling against Big Willie Style and his hip-hop career, trying to step out from under his shadow. If you’re into nu-metal, I’m sure the band is decent enough, and her voice really isn’t half-bad. Unfortunately, with the knowledge of who she is, it’s damn near impossible to take their evil imagery and aggressive lyrics seriously. Russell Crowe – The Ordinary Fear of God / 30 Odd Foot of Grunts You better believe that Hollywood heavyweight Russell Crowe wants to be a rock star.

He lives his life like a rock star, and indeed he has been in a pub rock band called 30 Odd Foot of Grunts since the mid-90’s. They never really achieved much success (probably because they suck) but Crowe later changed the band name to The Ordinary Fear of God (maintaining the same initials so as not to lose money on monogrammed merchandise, apparently). He has since launched a solo career that included a collaboration with Alan Doyle of the Canadian band Great Big Sea. Steven Seagal – Steven Seagal Band / Thunderbox Ever the spiritually-centered and cultured soul, martial arts master and action star Steven Seagal has been known to play the guitar from time to time as well. His 2005 movie Into The Sun featured a number of songs from his album Songs from the Crystal Cave, including the single, “Girl It’s Alright”. He continues to write a blend of country, blues and world music, and occasionally tours with his band Thunderbox. Needless to say, most regard his music as little more than a joke, but apparently he has found enough fans out there to keep on doing it.

Juliette Lewis – Juliette and the Licks If I was to guess what kind of band Juliette Lewis might be in, punk rock would probably be the first thing that came to mind. Indeed, she almost reminds me of Courtney Love and doesn’t seem out of place performing on stage, although to be fair, I definitely don’t think Juliette and the Licks would have received nearly as much attention without the help of her celebrity status. Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters filled in on guitar for the band at one point, and also invited them to play an outdoor show with them at Hyde Park in England, which gave them huge exposure. Sylvester and Frank Stallone No discussion of actors in bands is complete without mentioning Sylvester Stallone, and his brother Frank. Although Frank has had small parts in a number of films over the years, his acting career has never come close to matching Sly’s. However, he has had some success with his music career, writing the song “Far From Over” from the movie Staying Alive, and a number of other noteworthy tracks. On the other hand, we can’t forget Sly’s god awful movie Rhinestone, in which he performed a number of country tunes with Dolly Parton!

Don Johnson That’s right, Mr. Miami Vice also had a burgeoning music career throughout the ridiculous 1980’s. His song “Heartbeat” was a top 5 hit at one point, but years later had the distinction of being voted MTV’s #1 most lame video of all time. Poor guy. Jamie Foxx Who would have thought that portraying a well-known musical icon on screen would lead to a successful music career? After his performance in Ray, Jamie Foxx collaborated with Kanye West on the hugely popular song “Gold Digger”. Later in the year, he released his solo album Unpredictable, which went straight to the top of the Billboard charts. (It became just slightly more successful than his 1994 album Peep This, released around the time he was on In Living Color.) Dennis Quaid – Dennis Quaid and the Sharks Dennis Quaid and his band have been performing at L.A. clubs for years (I’m assuming their name is a tribute to his performance in Jaws 3). They describe their music as “rock ‘n’ roll and country-soul”. Quaid sings and plays rhythm guitar, and they do both originals and covers.

I don’t think there’s anything particularly special about them outside of his involvement, but the good news is, you can book them for your next private corporate event! Maybe they do bar-mitzvahs as well. Some other actors that are known for their musical side projects: Adrien Grenier plays drums for a band called The Honey Brothers. Gary Busey used to be a drummer for a band called Carp. Scarlett Johansson recorded an album of Tom Waits covers to be released sometime next year. Jeff Goldblum plays piano in a jazz band. Are there others that we missed? Let us know, and maybe we’ll do a second installment at some point in the near future. Around the Web: → Christi I’m guessing all the drugs in Hollywood can make an already busy actor SUPER SUPER BUSIER with bands. I’m sure everyone in Gossip Girl are in bands. Camille Belle, Emmy Rossum, Emily Procter from CSI: Miami, uhm Joaquin Phoenix?? LMAO! Mark and as mentioned above, William Shatner Nothing of this sort is complete without reference to the William Shatner recordings. Camie Arw all of you insane? How can anyone forgot Crispin Glover’s cd?!

And vincent Gallo’s. Talk about bizzare Disney17 “Not only are rock stars equally as rich as the Hollywood elite” LMAO! Musicians are broke bitches compared to actors! Actors make waaaaaaaay more money than “rock stars”! Some_Dude Cool list but you did miss kind of a big one in Donnie Wahlberg of the awesome New Kids! Besides that you missed another couple of the best ones – Zooey Deschanel of She & Him (they’re amazing) and Ryan Gosling of Dead Man’s Bones watchup Also, Mark Wahlberg as Marcky mark in Marky mark and the funky bunch romoboy You forgot Ricky Gervais (Seona Dancing), Rupert Everett, and River Phoenix (Aleka’s Attic). Russell Crowe’s 80’s band was Roman Antix. elemcee68 Keanu Reeves | Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos | AllMovie twitter Biography by Jason Buchanan From lamebrained teenage time traveler to metaphysical sci-fi Superman, Keanu Reeves has portrayed just about every character type imaginable in his sometimes wildly fluctuating career.

Frequently lambasted by critics and often polarizing audiences suspicious of his talent's true extent, Reeves has nevertheless managed to maintain his lucrative career by balancing his lesser efforts with intermittent direct hits at the box office. Born Keanu Charles Reeves in Beirut, Lebanon, on September 2, 1964, and named for the Hawaiian word that means "cool breeze over the mountains," the future actor was a world traveler by the age of two, thanks to his father's career as a geologist. His mother, Patricia Taylor , worked as a showgirl and later a costume designer of film and stage, and after his parents divorced, Reeves followed his mother and sister to live in New York; the trio would later relocate to Toronto -- where Reeves ' interest in ice hockey and acting took a substantial precedence over academics. His formidable presence in front of the goal eventually earned Reeves the nickname "The Wall," and it wasn't long before all interest in school waned and the talented goalie decided to pursue acting.

Later working as a manager in a Toronto pasta shop, Reeves soon began turning up in small roles on various Canadian television programs, making his feature debut in the 1985 Canadian film One Step Away before American audiences got their first good look at him in the 1986 Rob Lowe drama Youngblood . Subsequently going back to television and garnering favorable notice for his role in 1986's Young Again , it was the release of Tim Hunter 's The River's Edge later that year that would provide Reeves with his breakthrough role. A harrowing tale of teen apathy in small town America, The River's Edge provided Reeves with a perfect opportunity to display his dramatic range, and the film would eventually become a minor classic in teen angst cinema. Appearing in a series of sometimes quirky but ultimately forgettable efforts in the following few years, 1988 found Reeves drawing favorable nods for his role in director Stephen Frears ' Dangerous Liaisons . It was the following year's Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure , however, that would transform the actor into something of an '80s icon.

Reeves ' performance of a moronic, air guitar wielding wannabe rocker traveling through time in order to complete his history report and graduate from high school proved so endearingly silly that it spawned both a sequel (1991's Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey ) and a Saturday morning cartoon. In an odd twist of fate, Reeves and co-star Alex Winter had initially auditioned for the opposite roles from those in which they were ultimately cast. Though he would later offer variations of the character type in such efforts as Parenthood (1989) and I Love You to Death (1990), it wasn't long before Reeves was looking to break away from the trend and take his career to the next level. After drawing favorable reviews for his turn as a rich kid turned street hustler opposite River Phoenix in Gus Van Sant 's 1991 drama My Own Private Idaho , Reeves battled the undead in Francis Ford Coppola 's lavish production of Dracula (1992).

Showing his loyalty toward fellow Bill and Ted cohort Winter with a hilarious extended cameo in Freaked the following year, Reeves once again teamed with Van Sant for the critically eviscerated Even Cowgirls Get the Blues before surprising audiences with an unexpectedly complex performance as Siddhartha in Bernardo Bertolucci 's Little Buddha (1993). Just as audiences were beginning to ask themselves if they may have underestimated Reeves talent as an actor, the mid-'90s found his career taking an unexpected turn toward action films with the release of Jan de Bont 's 1994 mega-hit Speed ( Reeves would ultimately decline to appear in the film's disastrous sequel). Balancing out such big-budgeted adrenaline rushes as Johnny Mnemonic (1995) and Chain Reaction (1996) with romantic efforts as A Walk in the Clouds (1995) and Feeling Minnesota (1996), Reeves spooked audiences as a moral attorney suffering from a major case of soul corrosion in the 1997 horror thriller The Devil's Advocate .

The late '90s also found Reeves suffering a devastating personal loss when his expected baby girl with longtime girlfriend Jennifer Syme was stillborn, marking the beginning of the end for the couple's relationship. Tragedy stacked upon tragedy when Syme died two short years later in a tragic freeway accident. His career in fluctuation due to the lukewarm response to the majority of his mid-'90s efforts, it was the following year that would find Reeves entering into one of the most successful stages of his career thus far. As Neo, the computer hacker who discovers that he may be humankind's last hope in the forthcoming war against an oppressive mainframe of computers, Reeves ' popularity once again reached feverish heights thanks to The Wachowski Brothers' wildly imaginative and strikingly visual sci-fi breakthrough, The Matrix . Followed by such moderately successful films as The Replacements (for which he deferred his salary so that Gene Hackman could also appear) and The Watcher (both 2000), Reeves took an unexpectedly convincing turn as an abusive husband in Sam Raimi 's The Gift before returning to familiar territory with Sweet November and Hardball (both 2001).

With the cultural phenomenon of The Matrix only growing as a comprehensive DVD release offered obsessive fans a closer look into the mythology of the film, it wasn't long before The Wachowski Brothers announced that the film had originally been conceived as the beginning of a trilogy and that two sequels were in the works. Filmed back to back, and with both scheduled to hit screens in 2003, excitement over The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions began to reach feverish heights in the months before release, virtually ensuring that the films would become two of the year's biggest box-office draws; they delivered on this promise despite mixed critical receptions. Reeves ensured his liberation from typecasting with a drastic turn away from The Matrix as the curtain fell on 2003, by appearing as heartthrob Dr. Julian Mercer in Nancy Meyers' romantic comedy Something's Gotta Give. Although he played second fiddle to vets Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton, Reeves scored a bullseye, especially with female viewers. In 2005, he joined the cast of the collegiate arthouse hit Thumbsucker as Perry Lyman and fought the denizens of hell in the occultic thriller Constantine.

Reeves 's 2006 roles included the animated Robert Arctor in Richard Linklater's A Scanner Darkly and Alex Burnham in Alejandro Aresti's romantic fantasy The Lake House (co-starring Sandra Bullock). In 2009, the actor was praised for his role as a bitter divorcee in the critically acclaimed comedy drama The Private Lives of Pippa Lee. Reeves soon pulled back from acting to focus more on behind-the-camera work, as a producer and director. He produced and starred in the limited release Henry's Crime (2010) and released his directorial debut, Man of Tai Chi, in 2013 (he also starred in the film). In 2014, Reeves executive produced and starred in John Wick, playing a retired hitman. He also produced a series of documentaries, Side by Side, about filmmaking in the digital and film world. Famously playing bass for the band Dogstar in his cinematic down time, Reeves ' other personal interests include motorcycles, horseback riding, and surfing. When he's not filming, Reeves maintains an everpresent residence in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Movie Highlights Factsheet First name translates to "cool breeze over the mountains" in Hawaiian. Was invited to try out for the Ontario Hockey League's Windsor Spitfires before he moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. Adapted the stage name K.C. Reeves for 1986’s Young Again but abandoned it soon afterward. Followed up his success in the 1994 blockbuster Speed by appearing in a Canadian stage production of Hamlet (in lieu of reprising his role in the ill-fated sequel Speed 2: Cruise Control). Deferred his salary for The Replacements (2000) so that Gene Hackman would appear in the film. Presented members of The Matrix Reloaded (2003) stunt crew with Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Plays bass and was a founding member of the grunge rock band Dogstar. In 2010, the Internet circulation of a photo of a sad-looking Reeves led to the inception of June 15 as "Cheer Up Keanu" day. Surfs and rides motorcycles and horses in his spare time.

Keanu Reeves Facts: 33 Things You (Probably) Don't Know About the 'John Wick' Star | Moviefone Keanu Reeves Facts: 33 Things You (Probably) Don't Know About the 'John Wick' Star by Jonny Black Keanu Reeves just turned 50, and he's still kicking butt on the big screen. Reeves broke out in the late '80s as the now iconic Ted Theodore Logan in "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" (1989) before " Point Break " (1991) and " Speed " (1994) made the actor a bonafide action star -- and that was all before he became Neo in " The Matrix " trilogy. In the past few years, Reeves has also found success behind the camera, directing the martial arts film " Man of Tai Chi " (2013), while still holding onto his indie roots. This fall, Reeves is back playing a legendary hitman out for revenge in the blood action film "John Wick." From hanging out with the Red Hot Chili Peppers to his days as K.C.

Reeves, here are 33 things you probably don't know about Keanu Reeves. 1. Keanu Reeves was born September 2, 1964 in Beirut, Lebanon to Patricia Taylor and Samuel Nowlin Reeves Jr. 2. His mother is an English-born costume designer, while his father is a Hawaiian-born American with predominately Native Hawaiian and Chinese ancestry. Reeves's mother was working in Beirut when she met his father. 3. Reeves's parents divorced when he was only three years old and he moved to Sydney, Australia with his mother before arriving in New York. 4. In New York, his mother married Paul Aaron, a theater and film director, and the couple moved to Toronto before divorcing in 1971. 5. Reeves was finally able to settle down in Toronto, though, and he identifies as Canadian to this day. 6. Although he was settled in Toronto, the actor was still had a knack for bouncing around. Reeves attended four high schools in a span of five years and even got expelled once. On the expulsion, Reeves said : "I was just a little too rambunctious and shot my mouth off once too often.

I was not generally the most well-oiled machine in the school. I was just getting in their way, I guess." 7. While he may have been suffering in the classroom, Reeves found success on the ice as a hockey goalie. He even earned the nickname "The Wall." 8. Eventually, when he was about 17 or 18, Reeves decided he wanted to pursue acting professionally. The teenager dropped out of high school, never earning a high school diploma, and pursued his dream. 9. Shortly after, Reeves landed the lead role in a Coca-Cola commercial as a cyclist . 10. Reeves was also a correspondent for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation youth program "Going Great" while he was cutting his teeth as an actor. 11. Reeves's first role ever came at the age of 9 in a theater production of " Damn Yankees ." 12. But, in 1984, he made his TV debut in an episode of the TV series "Hangin' In." 13. Two years later, Reeves landed his first major studio role in the hockey movie "Youngblood" (1986) as a Canadian goalie, no less. 14.

The actor was sometimes credited as K.C. Reeves because his representation thought Keanu sounded too exotic. 15. After the movie's release, the future star drove his 1969 Volvo out to Los Angeles where he was linked up with a manager and agent, Erwin Stoff, arranged by his ex-stepfather Paul Aaron. Stoff has remained Reeves's manager throughout his career. 16. The actor found steady work immediately, most notably in 1986's "River's Edge," but his big break came as the now iconic Ted 'Theodore' Logan in "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" (1989). 17. 1991 was the year of Keanu. He reprised his role as Ted in " Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey ," starred in the big-budget, bank robbery movie "Point Break," and found indie success in Gus Van Sant's " My Own Private Idaho ," opposite the late River Phoenix. 18.

Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis could be seen as a gun-toting rebel surfer in "Point Break." Strangely enough, Reeves co-starred with the RHCP's bassist, Flea , in "My Own Private Idaho," released only a few months later. 19. Flea and Reeves even lived in director Gus Van Sant's house together (with River Phoenix) and would jam out at night. 20. In 1991, Reeves began playing bass guitar for the grunge band Dogstar. The band is no longer together, however, music has remained a huge part of his life. 21. Reeves also performed in the band Becky for a year in the early 2000s. 22. In 1994, the actor was controversially cast in the blockbuster hit "Speed." Up to that time, Reeves was known for comedies and indie dramas -- "Point Break" being the exception. The international success of "Speed," however, made Reeves (and his co-star, Sandra Bullock ) A-list stars. 23.

Still, Reeves often preferred his eclectic roles and turned down a huge paycheck for " Speed 2: Cruise Control " in favor of touring with his band and starring in a production of "Hamlet." 24. The Sunday Times theater critic, Roger Lewis, lauded the young actor's performance and wrote: "He is one of the top three Hamlets I have seen, for a simple reason: he is Hamlet." 25. And then... "The Matrix" happened. The 1999 science fiction-action film was an international success that spawned two sequels and cemented Reeves as an A-list actor and action star. 26. He reportedly gave $80 million of his $114 million earnings for his work on "The Matrix" sequels to the special effects and makeup staff. 27. Between the first and second "Matrix" films, Reeves starred in " The Replacements " (2000) alongside Gene Hackman . Reeves reportedly took a 90% pay cut so Hackman could be cast. 28. The film also marked the second time he had played an Ohio State University quarterback. "Point Break" is the other. 29. He's also a credited director.

In 2013, his directorial debut "Man of Tai Chi" premiered at the Beijing Film Festival. Reeves began work on the project in 2008, inspired by his friend and stuntman Tiger Chen, who also starred in the film. 30. In 2011, he also became an author after writing the text for the grown-up picture "Ode to Happiness." 31. In September 2014, Reeves had two female intruders in his Hollywood Hills home -- in a span of just four days. Reeves found the first intruder hanging out in his library, while the second took a shower in his bathroom and then was found skinny-dipping in his pool by a cleaning crew. You can't make this stuff up. Bonus Facts 32. Reeves is a motorcycle enthusiast and has recently started manufacturing his own bikes, Arch Motorcycle Company. 33. He loves ballroom dancing.

Keanu Reeves - Biography - IMDb Keanu Reeves Biography Showing all 120 items Jump to: Overview (4) | Mini Bio (1) | Trade Mark (2) | Trivia (81) | Personal Quotes (24) | Salary (8) Overview (4) 6' 1" (1.86 m) Mini Bio (1) Keanu Reeves, whose first name means "cool breeze over the mountains" in Hawaiian, was born in Beirut, Lebanon on September 2, 1964. He is the son of English-born Patricia Taylor , a showgirl, and American-born Samuel Nowlin Reeves, a geologist. Keanu's father was born in Hawaii, of British, Portuguese, Native Hawaiian, and Chinese ancestry. After their marriage dissolved, Keanu moved with his mother and younger sister, Kim Reeves , to New York City, then Toronto. Stepfather #1 was Paul Aaron , a stage and film director - he and Patricia divorced within a year, after which she went on to marry (and divorce) rock promoter Robert Miller and hair salon owner Jack Bond. Reeves never reconnected with his biological father.

In high school, Reeves was lukewarm toward academics but took a keen interest in ice hockey (as team goalie, he earned the nickname "The Wall") and drama. He eventually dropped out of school to pursue an acting career. After a few stage gigs and a handful of made-for-TV movies, he scored a supporting role in the Rob Lowe hockey flick Youngblood (1986), which was filmed in Canada. Shortly after the production wrapped, Reeves packed his bags and headed for Hollywood. Reeves popped up on critics' radar with his performance in the dark adolescent drama, River's Edge (1986), and landed a supporting role in the Oscar-nominated Dangerous Liaisons (1988) with director Stephen Frears . His first popular success was the role of totally rad dude "Ted Logan" in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989). The wacky time-travel movie became something of a cultural phenomenon, and audiences would forever confuse Reeves's real-life persona with that of his doofy on-screen counterpart. He then joined the casts of Ron Howard 's comedy, Parenthood (1989), and Lawrence Kasdan 's I Love You to Death (1990).

Over the next few years, Reeves tried to shake the Ted stigma with a series of highbrow projects. He played a slumming rich boy opposite River Phoenix 's narcoleptic male hustler in My Own Private Idaho (1991), an unlucky lawyer who stumbles into the vampire's lair in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), and Shakespearean party-pooper Don John in Much Ado About Nothing (1993). In 1994, the understated actor became a big-budget action star with the release of Speed (1994). Its success heralded an era of five years in which Reeves would alternate between small films, like Feeling Minnesota (1996) and The Last Time I Committed Suicide (1997), and big films like A Walk in the Clouds (1995) and The Devil's Advocate (1997).

(There were a couple misfires, too: Johnny Mnemonic (1995) and Chain Reaction (1996).) After all this, Reeves did the unthinkable and passed on the Speed sequel, but he struck box-office gold again a few years later with the Wachowski siblings' cyberadventure, The Matrix (1999). Now a bonafide box-office star, Keanu would appear in a string of smaller films -- among them The Replacements (2000), The Watcher (2000), The Gift (2000), Sweet November (2001), and Hardball (2001) - before The Matrix Reloaded (2003) and The Matrix Revolutions (2003) were both released in 2003. Since the end of The Matrix trilogy, Keanu has divided his time between mainstream and indie fare, landing hits with Something's Gotta Give (2003), The Lake House (2006), and Street Kings (2008).

He's kept Matrix fans satiated with films such as Constantine (2005), A Scanner Darkly (2006), and The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008). And he's waded back into art-house territory with Ellie Parker (2005), Thumbsucker (2005), The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (2009), and Henry's Crime (2010). Most recently, as post-production on the samurai epic 47 Ronin (2013) waged on, Keanu appeared in front of the camera in Side by Side (2012), a documentary on celluloid and digital filmmaking, which he also produced. He's also directing another Asian-influenced project, Man of Tai Chi (2013). - IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous Trade Mark (2) Deep husky voice Trivia (81) Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World (1995). Ranked #23 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.

[October 1997] Arrested in Los Angeles, California; charged with drunk driving. [May 1993] Loves ballroom dancing. He owns at least two Norton Commando motorcycles whose engines were available in both 750cc and 850cc capacities, the high-compression version being the Combat Commando. Younger sister, Kim Reeves (born in Australia in 1966). Through his mother, he has a half-sister named Karina Miller (born 1976 in Toronto). Through his father, he has a half-sister named Emma Reeves (born 1980 in Hawaii). Named after his uncle Henry Keanu Reeves. "Keanu" is a derivation of Reeves' great-great-uncle Keaweaheulu, whose name means "the soft breeze raising" in Hawaiian. Ex-stepson of film and stage director Paul Aaron . Had job sharpening ice skates. Was nicknamed "the wall" by high school hockey team De La Salle College "Oaklands". Father left the family when Keanu was very young. Was manager of a pasta shop in Toronto, Ontario. His father was a geologist who served time in prison.

He was paroled after serving two years of a ten-year sentence for selling heroin at Hilo Airport in 1992. His mother, Patricia Taylor , was a costume designer for rock stars such as Alice Cooper . His name means "cool breeze over the mountains" in Hawaiian. Dropped out of high school when he was 17 to become an actor. Hobbies include horseback riding and surfing (both inspired from movie roles). Was MVP on his high school hockey team, where he was a goalie. Keanu got his abdominal scar from a motorcycle wreck in Topanga Canyon. He was on a "demon ride" (no headlights at night) when he crashed into the side of a mountain. He was hospitalized for a week with broken ribs and a ruptured spleen. When the paramedics came to get him, an emergency medical technician trainee picked up one end of the stretcher... then dropped it by mistake! "It made me laugh, but I couldn't breathe!". When trying out for the roles of Bill and Ted in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989), each actor was paired up with another.

Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter were paired up, Reeves trying out for the part of Bill while Winter tried out for the part of Ted. They were cast opposite what they auditioned for. His first name, Keanu, is pronounced "keh-ah-noo". Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#17). [August 1995] In November 1999, the baby girl he was expecting with girlfriend Jennifer Syme was stillborn, just a few weeks shy of the actual delivery date. They had planned to name her Ava Archer Syme-Reeves. (April 2, 2001) His estranged girlfriend Jennifer Syme was killed when her Jeep Cherokee careered onto the wrong side of a Los Angeles road near Highway 101 and smashed into three parked cars. The force of the crash flipped the car over and she was thrown through the windshield. She was killed instantly. Maintains Canadian citizenship and passport.

Has appeared in three films whose title contains a US state: Feeling Minnesota (1996), My Own Private Idaho (1991) and The Prince of Pennsylvania (1988) and his character in Point Break (1991) was named John Utah. Was set to reprise his role as Jack Traven in the sequel to Speed (1994) - Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997) - but dropped out. Took a 90% pay cut on his salary on The Replacements (2000) so Gene Hackman could be cast. Previously, he had deferred $2 million of his salary so that Al Pacino could be cast on The Devil's Advocate (1997). Resides in the Hollywood Hills area, Los Angeles, California, and is said to maintain an apartment in Manhattan as well. Learned over 200 martial arts moves for The Matrix Reloaded (2003). Played (bass) in "Becky" which also featured Robert Mailhouse (drums), Paulie Kosta (guitar) and Rebecca Lord (vocals).

Was originally offered the role of Private Chris Taylor in Platoon (1986), which he turned down. The role went to Charlie Sheen . Was originally cast as Chris Shiherlis in Heat (1995) but later backed out of the project. The role went to Val Kilmer . He attended high school at North Toronto, where his drama teacher was Paul Robert. Frequently plays men either strapped or sitting in a chair while some type of procedure is performed on him. All three Matrix films, Johnny Mnemonic (1995), Feeling Minnesota (1996), Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), Constantine (2005), A Scanner Darkly (2006), The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008), John Wick (2014). He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on January 31, 2005. Read the script of Constantine (2005) while filming The Matrix Revolutions (2003). His first theater work was with Shakespeare and Company in Lenox, Massachusetts in "The Tempest".

He learned to surf for his role in Point Break (1991) Very good friends with his Bill & Ted co-star, Alex Winter and has remained in contact with him. Keanu has also contributed cameo appearances and helped with a number of Winter's film projects. His best friend is his younger sister Kim Reeves . Has recently left the band Becky with former Dogstar bandmate Robert Mailhouse , due to scheduling conflicts. Auditioned for the Etobicoke School of the Arts in Etobicoke, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; but was rejected. Replaced Val Kilmer as the title role in Johnny Mnemonic (1995) when Kilmer left the project upon being offered the role of Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever (1995). Ironically, Kilmer later replaced Reeves as Chris Siherlis in Heat (1995). His best friend was actor River Phoenix . He is also friends with River's brother Joaquin Phoenix . His parents married in Hawaii and divorced in 1966. His mother later remarried Paul Aaron (divorced in 1971) and Robert Miller (between 1976 and 1980).

The character of Jimbo Jones on The Simpsons (1989) is based on his character from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989). Lent one of his basses (a yellow Fender) to be used in the music video, "100%", by Sonic Youth , to bassist Kim Gordon . Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#28) (2007). Has played a former quarterback from the Ohio State University in two films: Point Break (1991) and The Replacements (2000). Turned down the role of Racer X in Speed Racer (2008), which eventually went to Matthew Fox . Joel Schumacher considered him for the role of The Scarecrow (Jonathan Crane) in the fifth Batman movie had Schumacher gone on to direct Batman 5. The failure of Batman & Robin (1997) prevented that from happening. Is an avid fan of Formula 1 and IndyCar racing. Was good friends with the late Anthony Quinn . They starred together in A Walk in the Clouds (1995). Lives in Los Angeles, California.

Close friends with Speed (1994) co-star Sandra Bullock . He also was among the guests at her wedding to Jesse James in 2005. Keanu's father, who is an American from Hawaii, has English, Native Hawaiian, Portuguese, Scottish, and Chinese, ancestry, with distant Dutch roots. Keanu's mother is English. Has named Peter O'Toole as the actor who has influenced him the most. Is dyslexic. (August 4, 2001) Played baseball in the Dodgers Stadium, for the 43rd Hollywood Stars Celebrity Baseball Game. His team won 5 to 4. This was the first time Keanu played baseball. Played ice hockey for the California Senior Hockey League (1995). When Reeves first arrived in Hollywood, his agent thought his first name was too exotic, so during the early days of his film career he is sometimes credited as K.C. Reeves, Norman Kreeves or Chuck Spadina. Was raised in Beirut (since birth until six months), Sydney (until age 3), Upper West Side (Manhattan, New York, until age 6) and in Toronto (until age 21).

Could have been a professional ice hockey player for the Canadian League, could have tried out for the Windsor Spitfires Ontario Hockey League, but set his heart on acting, leaving hockey as a hobby. Decided to become an actor at age 15 when he was doing Romeo and Juliet in 10th grade. Was trained for four months in martial arts (kung-fu) for The Matrix (1999) (1998). Speaks French fluently. Attended the premiere of The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) in Tokyo, Japan. [December 2008] Attended the 2008 Bambi Awards in Offenburg, Germany. [November 2008] Attending the IndyCar Long Beach Grand Prix as a guest of honor. [April 2009] Attended a press conference for The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) in Mexico City, Mexico. [December 2008] Attended the 59th Berlin International Film Festival in Germany. [February 2009] Los Angeles, California: Announced that he is teaming up with friend Gard Hollinger of L.A.

County Choprods to launch the Arch Motorcycle Company. [October 2012] Attended press conferences for The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) in Paris, France and Madrid, Spain. [November 2008] Stanley Kubrick , David Lean , Frank Capra and Martin Scorsese are some of his favorite filmmakers. Is jokingly considered to be immortal due to striking resemblances to Vlad the Impaler and Paul Manet. He was the visual inspiration for the original illustrations of superhero Green Lantern/Kyle Rayner (created in 1994). Reeves was 30 years old at the point. Had a bathtub scene in two films with Rachel Weisz , where she sits in the tub with clothes on and he is outside the tub: Constantine (2005) and Chain Reaction (1996). Writes left-handed, but shoots a gun or performs other actions with his right hand. In The Matrix (1999), he signs for the package with his left hand, but opens the package and holds the phone with his right hand. Personal Quotes (24) What would happen if you melted?

You know, you never really hear this talked about much, but spontaneous combustion? It exists!...[people] burn from within...sometimes they'll be in a wooden chair and the chair won't burn, but there'll be nothing left of the person. Except sometimes his teeth. Or the heart. No one speaks about this, but its for real. My name can't be THAT tough to pronounce! When I don't feel free and can't do what I want I just react. I go against it. [when told he'd have to "bite the bullet"] Yes, but I don't have to eat the whole rifle. I'm a meathead, man. You've got smart people, and you've got dumb people. I just happen to be dumb. I'm sorry my existence is not very noble or sublime. [on being a star] It can still be very surreal. It's easy to become very self-critical when you're an actor. Then you get critiqued be the critics. Whether you agree with them or not, people are passing judgment on you. [on drugs] I've had wonderful experiences. I mean really wonderful. In teaching. Personal epiphanies. About life.

About a different perspective -- help with different perspectives that you have. You know what I mean? Relationships to nature. Relationships with the self. With other people. With events. [when asked if he had any fears] I used to have nightmares that they would put "He played Ted" on my tombstone. I'm Mickey Mouse. They don't know who's inside the suit. Here comes 40. I'm feeling my age and I've ordered the Ferrari. I'm going to get the whole mid-life crisis package. It's always wonderful to get to know women, with the mystery and the joy and the depth. If you can make a woman laugh, you're seeing the most beautiful thing on God's Earth. [on River Phoenix ] You can't blame Hollywood for what happened to River. Kids are doing drugs everywhere in the world. He had his own very personal problems I will never discuss with the press. They're just way too personal. River had a self-destructive side to his personality. He was angry and hurt that he couldn't have a private life once he became famous. He just couldn't deal with having his private life on the front page all the time.

[on River Phoenix ] River was a remarkable artist and a rare human being. I miss him every day. [on River Phoenix and My Own Private Idaho (1991)] We were doing I Love You to Death (1990), and we got the Idaho script. We were driving in a car on Santa Monica Boulevard, probably on the way to a club, and were talking really fast about the whole idea. We were excited. It could have been like a bad dream, a dream that never follows through because no one commits, but we just forced ourselves into it. We said, "Okay, I'll do it if you do it. I won't do it if you don't." We shook hands. That was it. [on Patrick Swayze ] He was a beautiful person, an artist! Patrick, he just wanted to experience life and, for his work, he wanted to take the opportunity of the film and it gave him that sense. There was some sky diving sequences in this film we did together and as filming was going on it came to be that Patrick was jumping out of airplanes all the time.

I think he had over 30 jumps during the course of filming and so the production served him with a cease and desist which he listened to until they got to Hawaii. He jumps out of planes and did the flips and falling to the ground and he did it with an open heart. I'll always remember his buddy for lighting up a room with his presence. I can say what I know that he lived life to the fullest. [1995, on his idea of happiness] Lying in bed with my lover, riding my bike, sports, happy times with my friends, conversation, learning, the earth, dirt, a beautiful repast with friends, family with wine and glorious food and happy tidings and energy and zest and lust for life. I like being in the desert, in nature, being in extraordinary spaces in nature, high in a tree or in the dirt, hanging out with my family, my sisters. [1995] L.A. has been my place of abode for seven years and I have a little place in New York City. I don't even have a house house, but I have been living in the same place in Los Angeles for a couple of years and it's just now becoming a home.

I like to be free and unfettered. I like the option of being able to do anything and go anywhere, anytime. I like to have my house open. A lot of my friends have keys to my houses and I like to have everything, you know, 'What's mine is yours,' and to drink wine, talk and hang out. [1995, on My Own Private Idaho (1991)' You know what's great? Right after I finished Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), I went to Paris to visit a couple of friends, shipped over one of my Norton's, my '72 750 with California plates, and just hung out for two-and-a-half weeks. My Own Private Idaho (1991) had just opened at a theater right near my friend's house where I was staying. I got stopped by a couple of American students who'd seen it and they bought me a beer. Which is what you should do in Paris: sit in cafés, talk, hang out. I had miraculous weather, so it didn't rain on my parade.

Then, I went to New York to visit friends, sat down, hung out, and the same sort of thing happened there. So, do I want more movies that lead to experiences like that? Yes, please. [on auditioning for Oliver Stone 's The Doors (1991)] I auditioned a few times, but I don't think I was ever seriously in the running. I was terrified. I just read some of Jim Morrison 's poetry and listened to some of his music and did what I could. [1992] It's only very recently that I've been approached with, 'Would you like to do this?' Mostly, I'm still auditioning, which there's something to be said for. Up to now, my only real choices have been: 'Hmmmm, an audition, go or not go? Go!' I auditioned seven times for _Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1900)_ and all the 'finalists' had to read with everyone else-me, Pauly Shore , Josh Richman , Alex Winter and others. I met with Francis Ford Coppola three times before he asked me if I wanted to play the part in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992).

[on his beliefs] Sure I believe in God and the Devil but they don't have to have pitchforks and a long white beard. [on directing himself as a villain in Man of Tai Chi (2013) The first day was not fun, because one is so objective and one is so subjective. As an actor, you only have your responsibility to your role within the whole, and the director has a responsibility to the whole and you in it. So it's a different mindset. And you're literally, physically, in two different spaces. [on the possibility of Bill and Ted 3] It's a long story. There's lots of subterfuge and conspiracy theories. There's a whole thing... I might have to do one of those independent press, conspiracy, other-name kind of [statements] explaining why it hasn't happened yet, because it's pretty dark out there... There is [a script]. There's all sorts of stuff and it just can't - it's just - there's darkness out there that's keeping it from happening... It's that part of the story where it's looking grim. It's the dark period of the idea! Salary (8) Did You Know?

10 Celebs Who Play Musical Instruments Did You Know? 10 Celebs Who Play Musical Instruments October 14, 2013 – 4:53 PM – 0 Comments Cheers Premiered 33 Years Ago! See the Cast Then and Now Getty Images Did you know that Clint Eastwood is an accomplished pianist? Before he made it big as an actor, he reportedly intended to pursue a career in music. He’s also a skilled composer, and he composed the film scores of several of the movies he directed, including Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River, Changeling, and Hereafter. A recent piece in the New York Times suggests that learning music as a child often correlates with professional success later in life. There are many possible explanations for the relationship between music and professional success, but in any case, music appears to have paid off for these celebrities! Click through to find out which other stars have hidden musical talents! 1 of 10 Getty Images Condoleezza Rice Rice began taking piano lessons as a teenager and reportedly dreamed of becoming a concert pianist.

While her career took a different turn, she still plays piano often, and she had the chance to accompany renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma for the 2002 National Medal of Arts Awards. Here, she performs with the Philadelphia Orchestra on July 27, 2010. 2 of 10 Getty Images Woody Allen The actor and director is a skilled clarinetist and performs weekly at a small jazz venue in Manhattan. Here, he plays with his New Orleans jazz band in Berlin, Germany in 2004. 3 of 10 Richard Gere The actor excelled at the trumpet in high school, and he reportedly played his own cornet solos in the 1984 film The Cotton Club. He also sang and played piano in the movie. 4 of 10 Getty Images Keanu Reeves Keanu Reeves was a member of the alternative rock group Dogstar from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s. The actor played bass guitar and also sang backing vocals. Here, he performs with Dogstar at Irving Plaza in New York City on July 7, 2000.

5 of 10 Getty Images Johnny Depp Depp is an accomplished guitarist and played slide guitar on Oasis’s 1997 song “Fade In-Out.” He played acoustic guitar in Chocolat and on the soundtrack to Once Upon a Time In Mexico, and he’s appeared a handful of music videos, making a cameo as the Mad Hatter in Avril Lavigne’s 2010 “Alice.” Above, he performs with Marilyn Manson during the 2012 Revolver Golden Godes Awards Show. 6 of 10 Getty Images Jennifer Garner The actress was a band geek in high school! She played saxophone and “was proud of it,” she told People . But, she says, “I picked it up again a couple of years ago, and I sound God-awful now!” 7 of 10 Getty Images Steve Martin Martin reportedly picked up the banjo as a teenager, and went on to become an accomplished player. His banjo rendition of Earl Scruggs’s remake of “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” won a Grammy in 2002 for Best Country Instrumental Performance.

He also plays regularly at jazz festivals, and has even played Carnegie Hall with the bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers. Here, he performs at Club Nokia in 2009. 8 of 10 Getty Images Hugh Laurie The House actor apparently began piano lessons at age 6, and he also sings and plays the guitar, drums, harmonica and saxophone. He has also released two blues and jazz albums since 2010. Here, he performs at the 'Evening with Ray Kennedy and Friends' hosted by the Guitar Center Music Foundation at the Avalon on March 14, 2006. 9 of 10 Getty Images Ryan Gosling Gosling formed the indie rock band Dead Man’s Bones with his friend Zach Shields, and he apparently sings and plays piano, guitar, bass guitar, and cello. Here, he performs with Dead Man’s Bones at the FYF Fest 2010 in Los Angeles, Calif. 10 of 10

Question: Which American actor also performs with the band Dogstar?
Answer: Keanu Reeves