Keanu Reeves Opens Up About Death and New Novel as He Turns 60

Keanu Reeves celebrated his 60th birthday on Monday, September 2, 2024, and shared some deep thoughts in a recent interview. The Canadian actor admitted he’s been thinking about death a lot as he grows older.

Reeves became famous in the late ’80s and early ’90s with hits like Parenthood and My Own Private Idaho alongside River Phoenix. He made a big comeback with the John Wick series, where he plays a skilled assassin.

In a chat with the BBC to promote his new book, Reeves opened up about his preoccupation with mortality. “I’m 59, so I find myself thinking about death all the time,” he confessed.

His new fiction novel, The Book of Elsewhere, co-written with British sci-fi author China Miéville, explores themes of immortality and death.

The book follows an immortal warrior named ‘B’ who longs to die. This theme might be linked to Reeves’ reflections on life and death.

The New York Times describes the 352-page novel as thrilling and thought-provoking, tackling deep questions about existence and human nature.

Reeves created the novel based on his 2021 comic book series BRZRKR (pronounced “berserker”). He downplayed his role in writing, saying, “I didn’t write a novel. China wrote a novel.” Miéville agreed; however, he emphasized that the book would not be the same without Reeves’ contributions.

Reeves shared that his fascination with violence in the novel’s protagonist, ‘B’, likely stems from his action movie roles.

“Maybe it was influenced by some of the action films I’ve done,” he said, adding that creating stories helps him cope with his thoughts about mortality.

In addition to his literary pursuits, Reeves recently toured the UK with his band, Dogstar. The alternative rock band, formed in the early ’90s, began with a chance meeting between Reeves and Robert Mailhouse in a supermarket.

They bonded over hockey and later began jamming together, eventually adding Gregg Miller as their original lead guitarist and singer.

As he navigates this milestone year, Reeves blends his passions for acting, writing, and music while also reflecting on the deeper aspects of life.