Ever wondered if your favorite Hollywood stars were almost someone else entirely? Keanu Reeves, the beloved actor known for his roles in The Matrix and John Wick, almost had a completely different name thrust upon him at the start of his career. Can you imagine calling him something else?
In a recent appearance on the "New Heights" podcast, Reeves recounted a pivotal moment when his then-new manager, fresh off the bus from Toronto, Canada, to Los Angeles at the tender age of 20, suggested a name change. "I was in Toronto, Canada, and then I got a manager who lived in Los Angeles," Reeves explained. "At 20 years old, I drove in my car to Los Angeles. Got out of my car and my manager said, ‘We want to change your name.’ And so that’s like, a welcome to Hollywood [moment]."
Reeves described a moment of existential crisis on the beach. "And I remember I was walking on the beach and I was just like, ‘My name? What if I change my name? What?’ My middle name is Charles, so I was like, ‘Chuck?’ And I grew up on a street called Spadina, Chuck Spadina. And then I was something Templeton. So then I became K.C. Reeves. I was credited as K.C. Reeves."
He was briefly credited as K.C. Reeves, even appearing under that moniker in an episode of The Magical World of Disney. But here's where it gets controversial... Reeves just couldn't bring himself to embrace the new identity. "And then I couldn’t do it. So then I would be in auditions and they would go, ‘K.C. Reeves.’ And I wouldn’t even answer," he confessed. "Six months later, I was like, ‘I’m not doing this.’ That’s a Hollywood moment.“ The idea of changing your identity to fit in – is that something artists should ever be asked to do?
Keanu's not alone. Leonardo DiCaprio also faced similar pressure early on. His first agent reportedly felt his name was "too ethnic." It raises the question: how many other actors have been subtly (or not so subtly) encouraged to alter their names or identities to gain a foothold in the industry?
Speaking of Keanu, fans can look forward to seeing him in the upcoming film Good Fortune, alongside Aziz Ansari and Seth Rogen. The film follows a struggling gig worker played by Ansari, who's down on his luck. Through the intervention of a well-meaning, but perhaps not-so-bright angel played by Reeves, Ansari's character finds his life swapped with that of a successful tech mogul (Rogen). The angel believes Ansari will miss his old life, but that couldn't be further from the truth. And this is the part most people miss... the film seemingly explores themes of identity, satisfaction, and the grass being greener on the other side.
Early reviews suggest Reeves steals the show. Chris Bumbray noted, "While Ansari and Rogen alone would make this a comedy worth seeing, the movie’s secret weapon is the third lead, the angel Gabriel, played by none other than Keanu Reeves. Perfectly cast, Reeves is hysterical as the spacey, none-too-bright angel whose responsibilities are limited to keeping people from getting into accidents while texting and driving. When he messes up, he finds himself demoted to being human, and a lot of the movie’s humour revolves around him adjusting to life as a mere mortal."
So, what do you think? Should actors be pressured to change their names to fit into Hollywood's mold? Or should they embrace their individuality, even if it means facing initial resistance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
