My mother and I have always bonded through movies and when I was about 15, she showed me Point Break starring young Keanu Reeves. Man oh man, she was not aware of what she was getting herself into. I was instantly “in love” with him and began to obsess over his filmography. I had to watch every movie that starred young Keanu Reeves. Her childhood celebrity crush became mine.
Reeves has been a Hollywood treasure since he began acting at 9 years old. As he grew he starred in huge blockbuster productions like John Wick that deemed him as one of the internet’s favorite action stars. Fans have remained loyal during his decades in the industry, having captured hearts with his hockey performance in the 1986 film Youngblood.
The actor is known for his kind and humble demeanor with both strangers and colleagues of his. Reeves once reminisced with Drew Barrymore about their motorcycle ride, which Drew described as the “ride of my life”. He has been known for his decades-long passion for motorcycles and founded Arch Motorcycle, his custom motorcycle company, in 2011. “Riding your bike is thrilling and there is a freedom to it,” he told Barrymore. His youthful spirit and generosity have set him apart from his peers. As someone who was not here during the 90s, gosh his movies make me wish I was.
See Keanu Reeves when he was young
To commemorate his lifelong work in Hollywood and his status as a bona fide heartthrob, here are photos of Keanu Reeves young that will make you wish it was the 90s again.
1986: In River’s Edge
When a troubled friend murders his girlfriend and displays her body in front of his friends, everyone is forced to stay silent and keep the secret. Matt (Keanu Reeves) and Clarissa (Lone Skyle) are conflicted about whether to report to authorities due to guilt or remain loyal to their friend.
1987: Press shots for Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
Cast in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure when he was just 22, it made Keanu a star.
1988: In The Night Before
1989: At the 4th Spirit Awards with Winona Ryder
Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves attend the Fourth Annual Independent Spirit Awards on March 25, 1989 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California.
1989: In Parenthood
Pregnancy, drugs, and school make parenthood extremely difficult. In this comedy-thriller, Steve Martin strives to be the best father possible. Keanu, as Tod Higgins, reveals that he is more than what others believe him to be.
1991: Point Break premiere with Patrick Swayze
Waves and crime have nothing on Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves), but our favorite undercover agent has one weakness and that is Tyler (Lori Petty). Unmasking this surfer gang led by Bodhi (Patrick Swayze) proved harder than expected.
1991: In My Own Private Idaho
Keanu Reeves graced our screens with yet another Shakespearean adaptation, this time alongside River Phoenix. Mike, a gay hustler, and Scott, the rebellious son of a mayor, set out to find Mike’s mother, but they end up catching the eye of an affluent benefactor and sexual deviant.
1991: Another You premiere
Just another photo of Keanu on a motorcycle. You’re welcome.
1991: Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey premiere
Amiable slackers Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) are once again roped into a fantastical adventure when De Nomolos (Joss Ackland), a villain from the future, sends evil robot duplicates of the two lads to terminate and replace them.
1992: MTV Movie Awards
Keanu Reeves during 1992 MTV Movie Awards at Culver Studios in Culver City, California. That same year, he played Siddhartha in a curiously cast movie, Little Buddha.
1993: Arriving at the Spirit Awards
Keanu Reeves arrives at the 8th annual Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, Calif. on a motorbike.
1993: Much Ado About Nothing premiere
In this adaptation of a Shakespearean tale, Don Pedro (Denzel Washington), Hero (Kate Beckinsale), and her future husband Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard) conspire to set up Benedick (Kenneth Branagh) and Beatrice (Emma Thompson). Meanwhile, Don John (Keanu Reeves) is plotting to call off the wedding.
1994: At the Speed premiere
June 7, 1994. Hollywood. Sandra Bullock & Keanu Reeves At The Premiere Of “Speed” At Mann’s Chinese Theatre. (Photo By David Keeler/Getty Images)
Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves at the premiere of Speed at Mann’s Chinese Theatre in LA. In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres in 2019, Reeves confessed he had a crush on his Speed co-star, but they never dated. “We were working,” he said. “But it was nice to go to work.”
1995: A Walk In The Clouds premiere
After returning from World War II, Paul Sutton (Keanu Reeves) learns he doesn’t know his wife very well causing strain in their relationship. Following this realization, he enters into an affair with Victoria Aragon (Aitana Sánchez-Gijón) and must agree to act as her spouse to her Mexican-American family.
1996: Posing with his band Dogstar
Did you know Keanu has a band? They’re called Dogstar and they were founded in 1991, so he’s been a musician for as long as he’s been an actor.
1998: At Showest with Carrie Anne Moss
Carrie Anne Moss and Keanu Reeves at Showest ’98 in Las Vegas, an annual convention for the motion picture industry.
1999: The Matrix premiere
This action/ sci-fi film cemented Keanu into the film world and has become a cult classic. In a world where fate rules, there is only the illusion of choice since all actions are predetermined. Can Neo get his question answered, “what exactly is the matrix?”
2000: Keanu lights up LA
Keanu participates in the 15th Annual Lighting of the Downtown Los Angeles Official Christmas Tree on November 30, 2000, in Los Angeles, CA.
2000: At The Replacements premiere
In this heartwarming tale, Keanu takes us on a football journey as Shane Falco, a replacement player for the Washington Sentinels. He has the second chance that he and his crew have been waiting for– how will they take on this massive challenge?
2001: Keanu brings his mom to the Sweet November premiere
A romcom starring young Keanu Reeves was all I dreamed of when I was little. After spending the day at the DMV, Nelson Moss and Sara Deever (Charlize Theron) decide to have a one-month trial with no strings attached, and as expected, they fall in love! What’s cuter than that? He brought his mom to the premiere.
