- Keanu Reeves isn’t just an action movie star, he’s also mastered rom-coms and dramas.
- INSIDER has compiled a list of nine of his most iconic movie roles, including Jack Tavern in “Speed,” Neo in “The Matrix,” and, most recently, John Wick in the “John Wick” franchise.
- Visit INSIDER’s homepage for more stories.
Those who have followed Keanu Reeves‘ three decades-long career know that he has no shortage of iconic roles. This year alone, the “respectful king” has starred in three major films: “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,” Netflix’s “Always Be My Maybe,” and “Toy Story 4.”
Other memorable characters in the Toronto native’s repertoire include Neo in “The Matrix” trilogy, Jack Tavern in “Speed,” and Ted Logan in the “Bill & Ted” franchise.
Here we’ve compiled a list of nine of his most iconic roles on the silver screen.
He played Ted Logan, a slacker who finds himself in excellent adventures with his buddy Bill, in “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” (1989) and “Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey” (1991).
Reeves’ first memorable role is the hilarious Ted Logan in the “Bill & Ted” cult-classics.
In 2018, it was announced that Reeves and costar Alex Winter (Bill) will be reprising their roles in the third installment of the series, titled "Bill & Ted Face the Music." It's set to premiere in the summer of 2020.
Reeves portrayed rebellious rich boy, Scott Favor, in "My Own Private Idaho" (1991).
This Gus Van Sant-directed film is coming-of-age indie drama at its finest. Reeves played a swoon-worthy Scott Favor, alongside River Phoenix's brilliant Mike Waters - two drifters who develop an intense friendship.
Read more: Every single Keanu Reeves movie, ranked
He played Johnny Utah, an undercover FBI agent posing as a surfer dude, in "Point Break" (1991).
He showed he can hold his own starring alongside Patrick Swayze in this 1991 action-comedy. Reeves brought his signature depth to Johnny Utah, an FBI agent who goes undercover to catch a group of criminals who also happen to be surfers with the help of Bodhi (Swayze).
He played a youthful Jonathan Harker, whose fiancee is portrayed by Winona Ryder, in "Bram Stoker's Dracula" (1992).
His portrayal of a naive Jonathan Harker in Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of "Dracula" may be criticized - even by Reeves himself - but it was a memorable one nonetheless.
Coppola went on the record in 2015 to say that he probably should've been more critical of the actor's faltering English accent, but he liked Reeves "personally" too much to do it.
He played Jack Tavern, a cop who tries to save passengers from a bus that'll explode if it goes under 50 mph, in "Speed" (1994).
Reeves showed off his action hero chops as the gallant LA cop, Jack Tavern, in this Oscar-winning film. His undeniable chemistry with co-star, Sandra Bullock, makes the film all the more iconic.
He played Neo, also known as "The One" who'll bring peace to a dystopian future, in "The Matrix" trilogy (1999 - 2003).
If "Speed" catapulted the Lebanon-born actor into US mainstream stardom, "The Matrix" trilogy cemented him as an international household name. Neo and his dangerous quest for the truth is easily one of the most important characters in the history of sci-fi films.
He portrayed comic book antihero, John Constantine, in "Constantine" (2005).
Jumping from one manga-based character to a comic book-based one, Reeves portrayed the brooding antihero, John Constantine, in this 2005 action thriller. The cast includes Rachel Weisz, Shia LaBeouf, Tilda Swinton, and Peter Stormare.
He plays notorious assassin, John Wick, in the "John Wick" franchise (2014 - 2019).
The 54-year-old plays the titular role in the "John Wick" franchise. Wick, "the man, the myth, the legend," is a former assassin who's forced to come out of retirement after someone kills his dog.
Although many studios initially passed on the movie, it proved to be a box-office success and will return with a fourth installment on May 21, 2021.
He played an over-the-top version of himself in "Always Be My Maybe" (2019).
People were so obsessed with his small part in the rom-com that they quickly made him into a meme and, of course, the internet's new favorite boyfriend.