“Fans Mistook Keanu Reeves for a Teenager, Not 30, During His 1994 David Letterman Interview”
Promoting the 1994 film Speed alongside David Letterman, fans could not believe Keanu Reeves’ age at the time of the interview.
Not only is Keanu Reeves a major box office attraction but the man behind so many iconic characters is a brilliant human being in real-life.
Along with his intelligence, the actor is extremely humble and downright kind. Heck despite his obvious fame, he’ll still walk into airports alone and take time with the fans.
That’s now, though in truth, Keanu was the same way back then.
We’ll take a look at his interview alongside David Letterman, showing the actor still being incredibly humble, while also showing off his youthful looks.
Keanu Reeves Was On Letterman To Promote Speed
We can’t say the same for the sequel without Keanu Reeves, however, as for the initial film, Speed was a huge success generating $350 million at the box office.
It changed Keanu’s career working alongside Sandra Bullock, though in truth when he first read the script, the actor wasn’t as impressed by the plot and it took some convincing.
“In the early nineties, the director of Die Hard was trying to get a new movie off the ground, Speed. Reeves wasn’t interested.”
“After years of playing high-school outcasts he’d proved he could do action with Point Break, playing Johnny Utah…,” the interviewer continued. “But a bomb on a bus, Reeves, figured: who cares,” Esquire wrote.
Quentin Tarantino was offered the chance to direct, but turned it down. Tarantino later named the film as one of his twenty favorite films since 1992. Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock on the set of Jan de Bont’s Speed pic.twitter.com/FJEmvchSqJ — marco douglass (@doug_marco) July 14, 2022
Keanu was not a fan of how far-fetched the story was and at the time, he was not big on action films either… oh how things would change.
“I remember the script and I was like, ‘Eh?’” he told Esquire. “I mean, the plot’s ridiculous. They [director Jan de Bont and Bullock] said, ‘You’ve got to do this,’” Reeves recalled.
“And I said, ‘I read the script and I can’t. It’s called Speed and it’s on a cruise ship.’”
Making the film but turning down the sequel was the right call. On the road to the film’s release, Keanu made a few pit-stops which included an interview alongside David Letterman.
Keanu Reeves Was Still His Usual Respectful Self As He Is Today During The Interview
In terms of his attitude and charm, Keanu Reeves has not changed and that was very apparent during this ’90s interview.
Keanu’s classic quote of, “the simple act of paying attention can take you a long way,” was on full display during this interview, as he patently listened and laughed at some of Letterman’s terrible jokes.
In addition, Keanu was a gentleman at the start of the interview process. It is all about the little things, like the actor getting back up when he realized Letterman was still standing. He wanted to be seated after the host out of respect.
The interview is up on YouTube and it is quite evident, fans love the actor and the way he conducts himself.
“He stood up again and waited for the host to sit . A very well mannered man.”
“Now that I am watching him I think I should have a Keanu reeves movie marathon really soon.He is always so lovely.”
“Am I the only one watch this in 2019??? He’s never changed.. and the hand gestures 😂😂 I wanna catch his hands.”
Turns out, there was another part of the interview fans couldn’t stop discussing and that was his age.
Fans Were Discussing His Age During The Interview
Most fans would assume Keanu was at the start of his career during this interview. However, that could not be further from the truth…
Born in 1964, do the math, Keanu was already 30 at the time of his sitdown alongside David Letterman. Fans could not believe it given how youthful the actor looks.
“He looked like a teengaer here .. He was 30 yrs. old in 1994.”
“Can’t believe he was 30 here.. he looked so young and nervous like a 19 yo boy.”
“I’m not sure why, it doesn’t matter how old he is, but whenever i see him in anything (new or old) i always just wanna be like “awh lil baby”. AAAnd he’s older than my dad.”
Even today it is evident no matter what the age, Keanu will be young forever.
