Keanu Reeves, 59, Discloses ‘Crippling’ Fear of Death

Keanu Reeves, who is often celebrated for his “eternally youthful” look, has recently opened up about his contemplations on mortality.

“I’m 59, so I’m thinking about death all the time,” he candidly admitted during an interview with BBC News.

Reeves made these poignant remarks while promoting his new novel, The Book of Elsewhere, co-authored with China Miéville.

The novel features an immortal character eager for death, naturally steering the conversation towards mortality. Reeves elaborated, “Hopefully it’s not crippling, but hopefully it’s sensitized [us] to an appreciation of the breath we have, and the relationships that we have the potential to have.”

The Book of Elsewhere draws inspiration from Reeves’ own comic book series, BRZRKR, which launched in 2021.

© Murray Close

The series is set for a live-action adaptation on Netflix, with Reeves in the lead role, along with an upcoming anime series.

“I love the images,” Reeves shared about comic books. “I love words and storytelling and I love the way that you can have this engagement that overlays. And so you can look at the art and then you can follow the story.”

© Mark Wieland

Reeves’ reflections on life and death coincide with his joyful public appearances with his girlfriend, Alexandra Grant.

The couple recently caught the public’s eye at the MotoGP Liqui Moly Motorrad Grand Prix in Germany, where they smiled and mingled with the crowd, even waving the checkered flag.

This event was fitting for Reeves, who founded his custom motorcycle company, ARCH Motorcycle, in 2011.

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In May, Reeves and Grant attended the Hammer Museum’s Gala in the Garden, impressively dressed, and were later seen at Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica for dinner.

Their romance became public in November 2019 during their red carpet debut at the LACMA Art + Film Gala, sparking widespread interest.

Alexandra remarked on the attention they received after going public, telling British Vogue, “I think every single person I knew called me in the first week of November, and that’s fascinating.”

Actress Jennifer Tilly revealed in February 2020 that the couple had been dating “for years.” She recalled, “I remember a couple of years ago, about a year and a half ago, [Alexandra] said, ‘Keanu Reeves is my boyfriend,’ and I’m like, ‘Wait. What? What? What?’”

© Momodu Mansaray

Their relationship likely dates back to at least 2011, the year their book, Ode to Happiness, was published.

Grant spoke to People in September 2023 about Reeves’ influence on her art, saying, “I had a studio visit a few years ago, and this very kind, very high-level person said, ‘I can see that your work has gotten happier.’ That’s real. We’re all human beings. We’re animals. We’re expressing from where we are. I think the work is happier.” She called Reeves her “inspiration.”

Reeves also shared the joy Grant brings to his life, telling People last March that his “last moment of bliss” was “a couple of days ago with my honey. We were in bed. We were connected. We were smiling and laughing and giggling. Feeling great. It was just really nice to be together.”