Keanu Reeves is famous around the world for more than just his big action roles. His fans also recognize him as the nicest guy in Hollywood. Reeves regularly goes out of his way to be kind to others. Reeves once lived as a homeless man to prepare for a movie role and continued this kindness in a truly astonishing story.

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Keanu Reeves stars in ‘The Devil’s Advocate’

Keanu Reeves | Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images

Reeves successfully dodged a bullet by passing on Speed 2. Rather, he decided to star in The Devil’s Advocate. Taylor Hackford directed a screenplay written by Jonathan Lemkin and Tony Gilroy. The story follows a very powerful lawyer in Florida. He’s offered a job at a prestigious New York firm with a highly-respected boss. However, he could never predict just how powerful his boss is.

Reeves stars alongside Al Pacino and Charlize Theron. The project ultimately gave him a noticeable boost in 1997. This role bumped his asking price to $10 million per film contract. The Devil’s Advocate came before The Matrix, which remains the most iconic role of his career.

Keanu Reeves went homeless to research for a movie role

Brian J. Robb’s Keanu Reeves: An Excellent Adventure explores the actor’s career and personal life. He moved on to another project after The Devil’s Advocate. Robb wrote that the plot follows “a homeless man who experiences a big win on the US lottery.” He decided to live as a homeless man to properly prepare for the role.

“The first night I bedded down was terrifying because I could hear people screaming in their sleep or talking with each other, plotting to take my cardboard box from me,” Keanu said. “There were four guys in the alley and they didn’t recognize me because I looked so bad.”

Reeves continued: “I was scared at first but they quickly got used to the fact that I was there and stopped trying to intimidate me. They befriended me and taught me all their tricks of the trade – basically how to survive out in the open.”

The actor found it difficult living on the street after staying in luxury hotels. He only brought a toothbrush and $20 with him after a limousine dropped him off on his adventure.

“I had to live, eat, mingle and breathe with these people, so I knew what made them tick,” Reeves said. “Now I know the true luxury of an undisturbed night’s sleep in a soft bed, in a warm, quiet room.”

Reeves only stayed on the streets for four days before being spotted. He soon retreated back to his hotel. However, he returned to visit the friends he made in that brief amount of time and invited them to dinner.

“I expected them to ask for a steak or lobster,’ Reeves said. “But all they wanted was to go to McDonalds!”

The movie didn’t end up getting made and Reeves didn’t comment on the movie title.

The nicest man in Hollywood

Reeves is known for always treating others with respect and kindness. His fans regularly comment on this even in interviews when the media can get a bit overzealous. The John Wick 4 set only continued to prove that after all of these years, he remains a generous man. He gifted his stunt crew luxurious presents as a way to keep them all connected.

The actor most recently returned as Neo in The Matrix Resurrections. However, he’ll soon return to the John Wick universe. Unfortunately, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in massive delays. John Wick 4 moved from May 2022 to March 24, 2023.