Keanu Reeves was once advised to change his name and considered Chuck Spadina and KC Reeves

When Keanu Reeves first arriving in Hollywood at the age of 20, he was ready to pursue his dream of becoming a professional actor. What he didn’t expect was that his manager would immediately suggest something that would throw him into an identity crisis… change his name.

During a recent appearance on the New Heights podcast, Reeves revealed how close he came to losing the name that fans around the world now know and love.

“I got paid when I was 16, so I was a professional actor around 16, 17 [years old]. I was in Toronto, Canada, and then I found a manager who lived in Los Angeles…. When I was 20 I drove to Los Angeles.

“I got out of the car and my manager said, ‘We want to change your name.’ So it’s like a welcome to Hollywood [moment]. I remember I was walking on the beach and thinking, “My name?” What happens if I change my name? What?'”

That moment led Reeves down a hilarious path of self-reinvention. He started brainstorming names that would sound more “Hollywood.”

“My middle name is Charles, so I was like, ‘…Chuck?’ And I grew up on a street called Spadina, [therefore] Chuck Spadina, and then I was something from Templeton.

“So then I became KC Reeves. I got credited as KC Reeves… And then I couldn’t do it. So then I’d do the auditions and they’d be like, ‘KC Reeves.’ And I wouldn’t even answer. Six months later, I thought, “I’m not going to do this.” It’s a Hollywood moment.”

Then, for a short time, Reeves actually called himself “KC Reeves”, appearing under that name in a 1986 made-for-TV Magical World of Disney movie. He said it once too Jimmy Fallon that another name in the running was “Templeton Paige Taylor.”

Luckily, when he started appearing in films like Dangerous relationships AND Bill and Ted’s Excellent AdventureReeves had reclaimed his real name, and the rest is movie history.

These types of “name change in Hollywood” stories are more common than you might think. Leonardo DiCaprio he recently shared that his own agent had once pushed for a rebrand as Lenny Williams, when he was a child. He said:

“I finally found an agent. They said, ‘Your name is too ethnic.’ I say, “What do you mean?” Is it Leonardo DiCaprio?’ They say, “No, too ethnic.” They will never hire you.

“Your new name is Lenny Williams.” I said, “What’s Lenny?” I was 12, 13 years old. I said, “What’s Lenny Williams?” We took your middle name and ran with it. Now you’re Lenny.'”

Thankfully, neither Reeves nor DiCaprio heeded that advice. Imagine a world where The Matrix played by Chuck Spadina!

Reeves is now preparing for his next big screen appearance Aziz Ansariit’s the next comedy Good luckco-star Seth Rogen AND Keke Palmer.

In the film, Reeves plays a guardian angel who loses his wings as he teaches a man that money doesn’t buy happiness. The film will be released in theaters on October 17th by Lionsgate.