Keanu Reeves donates 70% earnings from 1999 film 'The Matrix' towards cancer research
Keanu Reeves is hailed as one of the most charitable stars in Hollywood. The actor had reportedly donated around 70 percent of his salary from the original 1999 film, 'The Matrix' to organizations that are involved in research of Leukaemia, a type of blood cancer. The actor is believed to have earned around $45 million in total from 'The Matrix' - $10 million upfront and $35 million from box office success. As per the reports, Reeves has donated $31.5 million to cancer research.
Toronto-raised actor is more specifically involved in cancer research organizations because his younger sister Kim was previously diagnosed with blood cancer in 1991 and the reported donation was made at a time when Kim was battling cancer for years. The actor had also set up his own nonprofit foundation and he continued to raise money for cancer research even after his sister was cured.
RELATED ARTICLES
'The Devil in the White City': 5 things about Hulu series starring Keanu Reeves
'The Matrix Ressurections' fan theory: Matrix machines are bound by Laws of robotics
Reeves moved closer to his sister so he could take care of her while she was going through cancer treatment. The actor revealed the donations he is making towards cancer research for the first time in 2009. He said, "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," he added.
In 2020, Reeves auctioned off a 15-minute Zoom date with himself and donated the proceedings to a summer program for children called Camp Rainbow Gold in Idaho. Recently, 'Speed' star was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame, the actor thanked his hometown during his induction speech. "I would not be here if not for where I came from," he said. "Shout out to the movie theatres that changed my life. Bloor Street cinema, the University cinema, the Eglinton cinema, Roncesvalles, and the 1984 Toronto International Film Festival."
Keanu first starred in the film 'The Matrix' back in 1999 where he portrayed the character of Neo. He then returned with sequel of the film 'The Matrix Reloaded'. The actor recently starred in 'The Matrix Resurrections', the fourth film in the sci-fi franchise following 'The Matrix Revolutions' that was released in 2003.