After more than two decades of silence, Samuel Nowlin Reeves, father of actor Keanu Charles Reeves, has finally spoken to his son.
The elder Reeves, who has tried multiple times to reach out to Keanu, has also been estranged from his daughter Kim.
In a recent interview, he opened up about the emotional journey and the reasons behind their separation.
Samuel recalls a moment when he saved his son from being swept away by knee-deep water at the age of 11.
He vividly remembers holding him tightly as a big wave nearly engulfed them both.
This memory serves as a reminder of the bond they once shared.
Despite the lack of communication, Samuel is aware of some significant events in his children’s lives.
He knows that Kim battled leukemia but is now in remission.
He also learned about the tragic loss of Keanu’s stillborn child, Ava, with former girlfriend Jennifer Syme.
The news of Keanu’s supposed death in a car accident shocked Samuel when he overheard a conversation between his mother and aunt.
However, he later discovered this was not true and that it was actually Syme who had passed away.
Samuel admits that this incident made him realize the depth of his feelings for Keanu.
Acknowledging his own role in the estrangement, Samuel attributes it partly to his troubled past, which involved drug use and addiction.
His addiction reached its lowest point in 1992 when he was arrested for attempting to sell heroin.
Although he spent time in prison and eventually turned his life around, the damage to his relationship with his children had already been done.
Now living with his mother in Hawaii, Samuel reflects on his life choices with regret.
He acknowledges feeling embarrassed by his current circumstances, relying on food stamps and struggling with various health issues.
When asked if he believes his wealthy son could assist him, Samuel refuses to see it as Keanu’s responsibility.
He takes full ownership of his own situation.
Samuel debunks rumors that he abandoned his family when Keanu was just a toddler.
While he did travel and work with his brother, caring for horses, he claims to have lived with his wife Patricia in Toronto until their son was around 5 years old.
They remained close to Keanu for many years, only divorcing when he was 15.
The Reeves family has a unique background, having met and married in Beirut, Lebanon.
Both Keanu and Kim were born there before the family moved to Toronto.
Samuel attributes their frequent relocations to his own wanderlust and the accessibility of Toronto for his mother, who played a significant role in raising the children.
Reflecting on missed opportunities, Samuel mentions writing letters to Keanu during his time in prison but never sending them.
He also recalls the pride he felt when Keanu’s fame brought him some recognition in prison.
Samuel dropped off a note with his phone number at a venue where Keanu’s band was performing, though he didn’t expect a response.
Despite the pain of their estrangement, Samuel cherishes the memories he shared with his son.
He fondly recalls Keanu’s love for trucks, building things, and music during their visits to his Big Island farm.
However, he also recognizes his own shortcomings and acknowledges the impact of his drug use on their relationship.
Samuel recently stumbled upon unsent letters he had written to Keanu, causing him to wonder why he never mailed them.
Reading an interview where Keanu described his father’s life as “tragic” deeply affected Samuel.
Despite the challenges they’ve faced, Samuel will always consider Keanu his son, hoping for a rekindled connection between them.
