Happy Birthday Keanu Reeves: Here are 17 excelllllllent things about the actor

Neo is 50, woah!

JOE instantly recoiled in shock when we learned that Keanu Reeves is turning 50 today. So with that in mind we have decided to take a look at some of the reasons why he is so revered...

This meme and lots more like it

He starred in one of the greatest action films of all time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEuZgK669zY

Clip via - actionjawa

He is very generous

Reeves gave $50m of his $70 million pay cheque from the Matrix sequels to the films’ unsung heroes, the special effects and make-up teams.

He passed on Speed II

For our money this could still be one of the worst sequels in the history of time.

This parody sketch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmHPIPcX3W0

Clip via - Silknitter87

He loves ice hockey

Apparently he was quite a decent goalkeeper before he decided to become an actor. Reeves remains a die hard fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He was pretty bad ass in Constantine

Clip via - warnervod

He isn't afraid to share the spotlight

Apparently he deferred $2m of his salary on The Devil’s Advocate so that the producers could hire Al Pacino.

The 'Sad Keanu' photograph...

Never has an image of a man eating a sandwich on his own promoted such an internet frenzy. It even helped launch an international “Cheer Up Keanu Day” on Facebook and this toy figure.

Make Life Happy With A Sad Keanu Action Figure http://t.co/hiqINy3xZb pic.twitter.com/eUiF4TbcwS — neatorama (@neatorama) January 24, 2014

It was still pretty funny

Image via - Hypervocal

This story

A friend of a set builder on the Matrix has been quoted as saying the following;

“A family friend builds movie sets; doesn't design, is one of the poor dudes that just builds. Anyway he worked on the set for the Matrix and Keanu heard about family trouble he was having and gave him a $20,000 Christmas bonus to help him out."

This scene from Point Break

The Hot Fuzz parody of that scene

He played Glastonbury

His band Dogstar opened for David Bowie and Bon Jovi and they even played at the famous festival in 1994.

He has Irish heritage on his fathers side

We will claim anyone...

The actor is also clearly a musical genius

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY4UrdZOfJY

Clip via - Gordon Baker

Reeves seems like a really decent dude

Reeves set up a cancer charity, choosing not to attach his name to the organisation; he has also been involved with PETA, the SickKids Foundation and Stand Up To Cancer.