Keanu Reeves’ Generosity Is Spotlighted in 2 Movies Where He Sacrificed a Chunk of His Salary
Horror stories abound about the out-of-touch celebrities who love to make life miserable for everyone around them. Whether its Charlie Sheen’s well-documented outbursts or Teri Hatcher feuding with her fellow cast members, there are plenty of tales of spoiled celebrities who have clearly let fame go to their heads.
On the other side of the coin, though, there are tales of celebrities who are truly gracious, humble, and kind. For example, Donald Glover insists on getting his own coffee and Jennifer Lopez is kind to her crew. There are also plenty of celebrities who put their money where their mouths are when it comes to charitable donations.
Keanu Reeves manages to impress on both fronts. He’s earned an impeccable record of being kind to everyone he meets, and he’s quick to donate in order to share his wealth.
Keanu Reeves is universally beloved
Plenty of celebrities get mixed reviews from fans and co-stars alike, but Reeves has managed the nearly impossible task of pleasing just about everyone. Frequently cited as one of the nicest celebrities in the world, Reeves has earned a reputation as being thoughtful, polite, and genuine.
One way that Reeves manages to stay down to earth is by keeping up routines that many celebrities eschew once they have the means to avoid them. Reeves has been known to take the subway and has even been caught giving up his seat to other riders.
Fans were also delighted when they looked closely at pictures Reeves took with fans. It turns out that he is very conscious of others’ personal space and makes sure not to encroach on anyone’s comfort level. Instead of wrapping his arms around women’s waists, he respectfully hovers them behind their backs.
When fans gushed over the discovery, Reeves responded with his signature humility. “The positivity is great. It’s been really nice and special for me,” he explained.
Keanu Reeves is generous with his wealth
At this point, Reeves has been part of several very successful film projects, but he has not let the money go to his head. In fact, those close to him report that money is not a major priority for him, and his actions demonstrate that he is very generous with his wealth.
Even before his fame rose to the level it’s at today, Reeves had the responsibility of caring for his sister who was diagnosed with leukemia. Inspired by that experience — and his sisters’ long-term remission from the disease — Reeves started a secret cancer foundation.
When asked about it, Reeves responded: “I have a private foundation that’s been running for five or six years, and it helps aid a couple of children’s hospitals and cancer research. I don’t like to attach my name to it, I just let the foundation do what it does.”
Keanu Reeves is a team player
Aside from being kind to fans and charitable with his wealth, Reeves is also creatively a team player. He has worked alongside some impressively big names, but it turns out that some of those casting decisions were only made possible because of Reeves’ own generosity.
When Al Pacino’s role demanded extra budget for The Devil’s Advocate, Reeves was quick to give up his own salary in order to get the star on the project. According to Mental Floss, this is an action that Reeves has taken more than once.
He seems surprised that people are shocked by his willingness to defer his own salary. Instead, he expressed enthusiasm and excitement over getting to work alongside someone he respected.
“Sure! What else do I have to do? ‘Cause I’ll do it!,” the star says of the decision.
