They explained that in recent years, her health had significantly declined. "She had a stroke in her early 70s and was mostly housebound for the last decade of her life, so watching movies became her main hobby and, in a way, her companion," they shared. Films became a form of solace, with Reeves's work holding a special place in her heart. "Not too long after The Matrix came out, my uncle was in LA for business and was eating at a really swanky restaurant when Keanu came in with a woman." They instantly knew their grandmother would be overjoyed to hear Reeves had been so close by, even if they only managed to tell him about her admiration.
Keanu Reeves surprises fan's grandmother with a heartfelt phone call
Discover how Keanu Reeves made an elderly fan's day with a surprise call.
Editor's note: This article was originally published on August 1, 2022. It has since been updated.
Stories of Keanu Reeves's kindness are everywhere, whether he’s supporting colleagues, funding children's medical care, or going out of his way for fans. Recently, a heartwarming story surfaced online: Keanu Reeves called a fan's grandmother—a longtime admirer with a special fondness for him—giving her a much-needed boost through a short but memorable conversation. "My grandmother had a crush on Keanu Reeves because he reminded her of my grandfather when he was young," her grandchild shared on Reddit. "She saw all his stuff, from Bill and Ted to The Matrix."
"When he finished his meal my uncle came up to their table and said, 'I don’t usually do this, but I just wanted you to know that my 80-year-old mother loves you and has seen all of your movies. You remind her of my dad,'" they wrote. They figured that was the end of the conversation but Reeves took it one step further. "He said Keanu asked if he had a cell phone on him and when he confirmed that he did, he said 'Give her a call, I want to talk to her.' He spoke with my grandmother for several minutes and it absolutely made her year." The down-to-earth actor understood the significant impact a simple call could have on the 80-year-old. "She was so isolated and his genuine kindness to her and interest in her showed what a truly amazing man he is," the Reddit user continued. Reeves was always known to be a star with no airs and his ability to empathize is what makes him different from others.
Reeves is no stranger to the daily challenges of dealing with a health condition. His sister, Kim, battled cancer for 10 years before going into remission. Reeves sold his home and moved closer to cook her meals, clean the house and prepare her medication. He put his career on hold to take care of her, which also led to the first two sequels of "The Matrix" being delayed. “She was always there for me, you know. I will always be here for her,” he said, reported The Daily Mail. "I love Kim. She's so brave, and I want the very best for her. You can star in hit movies, but that's nothing compared to going through what Kim's been through," Reeves reportedly said. Kim said her brother stood by her throughout the ordeal. "Keanu helped me so much through my illness. When the pain got really bad, he would sit with me and hold my hand, and keep the 'bad man' from making me dance. He was supporting me and comforting me all the time, even when he was away," she said.
He also operates a private foundation that supports children's hospitals and cancer research. In a rare instance, he spoke about his charity work. "The Matrix," star told Vogue, "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."
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