Actor Keanu Reeves is well-known for his dedication to the film industry and generosity. The actor is also well known for his memorable roles in the "John Wick" movie franchise and even starred with the beloved late River Phoenix in 1991. Reeves also has three sisters but has only bonded with two.
Advertisement
The actor may have gone through a string of tragic moments in his life, but he was never short of a support system. Keanu Reeves is reportedly incredibly close with his mother and two of his sisters, who have also felt the helping hand of their celebrity family member. Reeves has also collaborated with his sisters on films.
A family friend once revealed that Keanu was "embarrassed" by the income and fame his work garnered, so much that he often gifted his co-workers with luxurious gifts, including personally embroidered Rolex watches. Following the onset of his sister's battle with cancer, Reeves began donating millions to cancer research foundations.
Keanu Reevesposes for a picture at the 40th New York Film Festival's opening night with the "About Schmidt" premiere on September 27, 2002, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
The Parents of Keanu Reeves Had Only Two Children Together
Advertisement
Keanu Reeves drew his first breath in Beirut, Lebanon, on September 2, 1964. He was born to Patricia Taylor, who once worked as a showgirl and later became a famed costume designer. According to her IMDb, she designed renowned singer Dolly Parton's bunny costume for her 1978 Playboy cover.
Keanu once cheekily borrowed that costume for a Halloween party when he was a teenager. Reeves's father was Samuel Nowlin Reeves, who worked as a geologist. Taylor and Reeves married the same year they welcomed Keanu. Their secondborn, Kim Reeves, joined the family in 1966.
Sadly, Kim's birth coincided with her parent's separation. Following their divorce, Taylor took her children, relocated to New York, and settled in Toronto. She married stage and film director Paul Aaron in 1970, but they divorced in a year and never had any children.
Keanu Reeves poses with his mom, Patricia Taylor, during "Keanu Reeves Honored With a Star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in California | Source: Getty Images
Advertisement
Taylor moved on to Robert Miller, who worked as a rock promoter. They wed in 1976 and had Keanu's second sister, Karina Miller. The former couple went strong for four years before splitting in 1980. Per Taylor's IMDb, the costume designer's last known union was with a salon owner named Jack Bond, but she filed for divorce in 1994.
Keanu never had a bond with his father and had little to do with his life. According to a source who spoke with Page Six and close to the family, Keanu's father, who passed in 2018, battled drug addiction, which took a toll on his marriage and was a significant emotional blow for Keanu. He had a daughter from another relationship, Emma Reeves.
Kim Reeves Is Keanu Reeves's Sister and His Best Friend
Kim Reeves was born in Sydney, Australia, on September 16, 1966. Kim shared her brother's interest in the film industry with her brother and is known as an actress and writer. In 1992, she appeared in a small role in "Samurai Vampire Bikers From Hell."
Keanu Reeves pictured as he arrives with his sisters, Kim Reeves (left) and Karina Miller (right) | Source: Getty Images
Advertisement
Kim is also known for the 2002 productions "Love Don't Come That Easy" and "The Color of Water." As Kim and Keanu moved around five times with their mom, who often remarried, they developed a tight-knit bond that extended well into adulthood, as the pair still spends time together.
In 2018, the Arch Motorcycle Company co-founder enjoyed a vacation in Rome during the December holiday season with the "The Color of Water" actress. Kim was reportedly diagnosed with leukemia in 1991 - a year before her role in the fantasy vampire movie. She went into remission in 2010.
It was a difficult time for her family and her brother, who made it his business to be by her side on her journey to recovery. A family friend recalled watching Keanu hold Kim's hand every day he visited her in the hospital.
Keanu Reeves arrives with his mother, Patricia Taylor, for the 92nd annual Oscars on February 9, 2020, in Hollywood | Source: Getty Images
Advertisement
Furthermore, Keanu used his earnings to donate to cancer charities and research foundations after Kim's diagnosis and continues to do so. According to Page Six, the actor auctioned a date featuring himself for a children's cancer organization called Camp Rainbow Gold in 2020. The winning bid was reportedly at $16K.
The actress showed and bred horses in her Shady Ranch in her LA home. Kim and Keanu's biological parents barely showed up for them as kids. As Kim recalled, their parents rarely made time to play with them, watch her horse-riding or watch Keanu play ice hockey.
Moreover, as her mom, Patricia Taylor, changed partners, their lives revolved around "the man of the moment," and each "left an imprint." Kim explained how when their former stepdad, Paul Aaron was still in the picture, they had a Friday tradition where they donned all white clothes and sang Shabbat songs.
Keanu Reeves and his family pose on the red carpet at the "Constantine" film premiere on February 16, 2005, in Hollywood | Source: Getty Images
Advertisement
During summer holidays, the siblings would be sent to Jewish camps. Their father, Samuel Reeves, had settled back in his native home Hawaii after serving two years of a ten-year sentence for drug possession. When People interviewed his childhood friend Shawn Arbele, he shared how the actor rarely spoke of Reeves.
Whenever the subject of his dad came up, Keanu would change it; but Arbele saw how his father's absence affected him regardless of the love he received from his mom and sisters. Yet, no matter how many of his mom's partners entered and left his life, Keanu maintained a charming and polite attitude.
Kim described him as her prince. Before initially buying his mom and himself a home, Keanu mainly resided in the Chateau Marmont hotel or stayed with his sister, where they rode horses, watched movies, or enjoyed a bottle of wine while making supper. Kim explained why she called her brother her prince, saying:
"He listens to every word, to every comma after every word, that you are saying."
Keanu Reeves and his family pose on the red carpet at the "Constantine" film premiere on February 16, 2005 in Hollywood | Source: Getty Images
Advertisement
Karina Miller Is Keanu Reeves's Sister from His Mother's 3rd Marriage
Karina Miller was born to Patricia Taylor and her third husband, Robert Miller, in 1976 in Toronto, Canada. Currently based in Glendale, California, Karina has been the president of Sparkhouse Media since 2009 and is a Columbia University and University of Michigan alumna.
Her LinkedIn states that she's been working in branding, marketing, and entertainment for fifteen years, working with INTIMAN Theatre, Shunpike as the Board president from 2005 to 2007, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society as the Director of the 50th Anniversary Initiative for a year in 2009, to name a few of her clients.
Karina Miller and brother Keanu Reeves pose at the Stage Directors And Choreographers Society 50 Year Celebration on November 8, 2009 in New York | Source: Getty Images
Karina is a producer and actress known for 2017's "To The Bone," in which her brother, Keanu Reeves, stars alongside Lily Kolins. The film centers around a young woman battling anorexia who meets a doctor that challenges her to face her condition and encourages her to embrace living.
Advertisement
Karina is also known for producing "Semper Fi," about a Marine Corps Reserves officer who struggles with a moral dilemma when his brother is imprisoned. She is also producing TV series currently in the post-production phase, "Bedlam." Keanu joined his sister in Los Angeles for the "Semper Fi" screening in 2019.
Keanu Reeves and Karina Miller pictured as the arrive at the "Henry's Crime" premiere, during the 35th Toronto International Film Festival, on September 14, 2010 in Toronto | Source: Getty Images
During their short interview on the red carpet with Entertainment Tonight, Karina revealed how supportive her brother was of her career in the film industry and expressed her gratitude. Production had taken approximately three years, and Keanu was excited to see the final product. Per ET Online, Karina gushed:
"He's always been so supportive and so protective of me doing my own thing. I always really appreciate that."
Read also
Advertisement
The Los Angeles Times visited Karina and her husband's home in 2019, where she expressed her love of food, cooking, and baking. Karina shared how much she loved her elegant and spacious kitchen and how she enjoys feeding her loved ones as it helps her to de-stress. Her favorite food to make is cupcakes.
Keanu Reeves and sister Karina Miller pose on the red carpet at a Special Screening Of Lionsgate's "Semper Fi" on September 24, 2019 in Hollywood | Source: Getty Images
Emma Rose Reeves Is Keanu Reeves's Sister, with Whom He Is Not in Contact
Keanu Reeves reportedly stopped contacting his dad at thirteen years old. During interviews, he barely spoke of him; however, the actor once described his dad's life as "tragic," which didn't land well with the late Samuel Reeves. According to The Things, Samuel explained:
"Keanu said my life was 'tragic' and, oh boy, does that hurt. Sad, yeah? I never figured things would end up this way. But he'll always be my boy."
Advertisement
Keanu Reeves and sisters Kim Reeves and Karina Miller | Source: Getty Images
Reeves admitted that his addiction was a significant factor in the lack of a bond between himself and his son and was "embarrassed" by the fact that Keanu wanted nothing to do with him. After settling in Hawaii, Reeves had a daughter named Emma Rose Reeves in 1980, who held a memorial service for her dad in 2018.
All of Reeves's other children didn't attend. According to Nicki Swift, Emma Rose followed her brother's films and accomplishments and read articles about him. However, that still didn't satisfy her desire to get to know Keanu and be part of his life. Hence, to this day, the siblings are still estranged.
Advertisement