Keanu Reeves Reveals He Nearly Modified His Title

Keanu Reeves practically had a distinct stage identify earlier than turning into an motion star, although he simply “could not do it.” At the moment, the actor’s identify is broadly related along with his main roles in motion movies, from The Matrix to John Wick.

Throughout a current look on the New Heights podcast hosted by Jason and Travis Kelce, selling his new film Good Fortune, Reeves revealed that when he first got here to Hollywood as a teen, his supervisor strongly insisted that he change his identify:

I received paid once I was like 16, so I used to be knowledgeable actor round 16, 17 [years old]. I used to be in Toronto, Canada, after which I received a supervisor who lived in Los Angeles… At 20 years previous, I drove in my automotive to Los Angeles. Received out of my automotive and my supervisor stated, “We need to change your identify.” In order that’s like, a welcome to Hollywood [moment]. I keep in mind I used to be strolling on the seaside and I used to be similar to, “My identify? What if I modify my identify? What?”

His supervisor’s demand threw Reeves into an existential disaster, prompting him to brainstorm potential new names he might use to pursue a profession in Hollywood, and he selected “Chuck Spadina” earlier than altering to “one thing Templeton” and ultimately turning into KC Reeves, since his center identify is Charles:

My center identify is Charles, so I used to be like,”…Chuck?” And I grew up on a road known as Spadina, [therefore] Chuck Spadina. After which I used to be one thing Templeton. So then I grew to become KC Reeves. I used to be credited as KC Reeves… After which I couldn’t do it. So then I might be in auditions and they’d go, “KC Reeves.” And I wouldn’t even reply. Six months later, I used to be like, “I’m not doing this.” That’s a Hollywood second.

In one in every of his earliest roles, The Magical World of Disney in 1986, Reeves was truly credited as “KC Reeves.” Throughout a 2017 look on The Tonight Present Starring Jimmy Fallon, he revealed that one of many names thought-about for him was “Templeton Paige Taylor.” Fortunately, by the point he started securing higher-profile roles in tasks like Harmful Liaisons and Invoice & Ted’s Glorious Journey, he was as soon as once more utilizing his actual identify, Keanu Reeves.

Altering names is a widespread apply in Hollywood. In his personal look on the New Heights podcast final month, Leonardo DiCaprio shared {that a} former agent as soon as suggested him to drop “DiCaprio” early in his profession as a result of it sounded “too ethnic,” suggesting the identify “Lenny Williams” as a substitute. DiCaprio recalled:

I lastly received an agent. They stated, “Your identify is just too ethnic.” I’m going, “What do you imply? It’s Leonardo DiCaprio?” They go, “No, too ethnic. They’re by no means going to rent you. Your new identify is Lenny Williams.” I stated, “What’s Lenny?” I used to be 12, 13. I stated, “What’s Lenny Williams? We took your center identify and we made it. Now you’re Lenny.”

Emma Stone’s actual identify is “Emily Stone,” having modified it early in her profession since her identify was already taken when registering for the Display Actors Guild. She briefly glided by “Riley Stone,” which she struggled to regulate to, earlier than altering her stage identify to “Emma” in honor of Emma Bunton, aka Child Spice, of the Spice Ladies.

Reeves has returned to the highlight to advertise his newest comedy, Good Fortune, which releases in theaters on October 17. Directed by Aziz Ansari and co-starring Seth Rogen and Keke Palmer, the movie follows Keanu Reeves as a guardian angel who loses his wings whereas making an attempt to point out a human that cash cannot clear up every thing.