Keanu Reeves has one of the most iconic, unforgettable names in Hollywood. Over the years, the actor has built a massive fanbase not just for his accolade-winning performances but also for his humble nature. However, there was reportedly a time when many told Reeves that his name wasn’t cool enough, and he even contemplated changing it for work.

Keanu Reeves recalls suggestions about changing his name

The John Wick star recently shared how he once considered changing his name.

On the October 15 episode of the New Heights podcast, Keanu Reeves got candid with the podcast hosts and brothers Jason and Travis Kelce about the early years of his acting career.

“I got paid when I was like 16, so I was a professional actor around 16, 17. I was in Toronto, Canada, and then I got a manager who lived in Los Angeles. … At 20 years old I drove in my car to Los Angeles. Got out of my car and my manager said, ‘We want to change your name.’ So that’s like, a welcome to Hollywood [moment]”, Reeves shared.

The Matrix actor further added that his managers had no suggestions of their own after asking him to change his name. Hence, he took matters into his hands and renamed himself KC Reeves, with the C standing for his middle name, Charles.

“Then I became KC Reeves. I was credited as KC Reeves,” the 61-year-old said before disclosing that it was his listed name in his first film. However, his new name didn’t resonate with him. Reeves then recalled, “And then I couldn’t do it. So then I would be in auditions and they would go, ‘KC Reeves.’ And I wouldn’t even answer. Six months later, I was like, ‘I’m not doing this.’ That’s a Hollywood moment.”

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Keanu Reeves has shared this name-changing anecdote publicly. During a 2017 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, he revealed, “I was 20 years old, I had my first car, and I wanted to make movies, so I went to Hollywood. I got there and they told me: ‘We want you to change your name because it is very exotic.’”

“Is Keanu Reeves not a hireable name?” Fallon asked, while laughing in disbelief. Adding to the hilarity, the Constantine actor revealed that he even suggested Chuck Spadina and Templeton Page-Taylor as options.

“I proposed Chuck Spadina to them, and they said no. What’s wrong with Chuck Spadina? Isn’t it going in the direction you want?” he asked. Luckily, the manager turned down Reeves’ suggestions, and he kept his original name.

Recently, rumors circulated that Keanu Reeves secretly married his girlfriend, Alexandra Grant. However, both have since clarified it to be false news.