Keanu Reeves’ Manager Told Him to Change His Name at 20 Years Old. They Considered ‘Chuck Spadina’ Before Using ‘KC Reeves’: ‘And Then I Couldn’t Do It’

Keanu Reeves revealed on the “New Heights” podcast that his manager was adamant about changing the actor’s name when he first arrived in Hollywood as a teenager.

“I got paid when I was like 16, so I was a professional actor around 16, 17 [years old],” Reeves said. “I was in Toronto, Canada, and then I got a manager who lived in Los Angeles…. At 20 years old, I drove in my car to Los Angeles. Got out of my car and my manager said, ‘We want to change your name.’ So that’s like, a welcome to Hollywood [moment]. I remember I was walking on the beach and I was just like, ‘My name? What if I change my name? What?’”

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His manager’s request sent Reeves into an existential spiral. Then Reeves started brainstorming what he could possibly change his name to if he wanted to be a Hollywood performer.

“My middle name is Charles, so I was like, ‘…Chuck?’ And I grew up on a street called Spadina, [therefore] Chuck Spadina,” Reeves said. “And then I was something Templeton. So then I became KC Reeves. I was credited as KC Reeves…  And then I couldn’t do it. So then I would be in auditions and they would go, ‘KC Reeves.’ And I wouldn’t even answer. Six months later, I was like, ‘I’m not doing this.’ That’s a Hollywood moment.”

Reeves actually was credited as “KC Reeves” in one of his first films, a made-for-TV movie in 1986 for the Magical World of Disney. The actor told Jimmy Fallon in 2017 (via EW) that the “Templeton” name that was considered for him was “Templeton Paige Taylor.” Fortunately by the time Reeves started landing more high profile work in projects like “Dangerous Liaisons” and “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” he was being credited by his real name “Keanu Reeves.”

Reeves is back on the promotional trail for his new comedy, “Good Fortune.” Directed by Aziz Ansari and co-starring Seth Rogen and Keke Palmer, the movie casts Reeves as a guardian angel who loses his wings while trying to teach a human that money doesn’t solve one’s problems. The comedy opens in theaters Oct. 17 from Lionsgate.

Name changes are a common practice in Hollywood. Leonardo DiCaprio revealed in his own “New Heights” interview last month that an ex-agent told him to ditch “DiCaprio” as a young actor because it sounded “too ethnic.”

“I finally got an agent. They said, ‘Your name is too ethnic,’” DiCaprio recalled. “I go, ‘What do you mean? It’s Leonardo DiCaprio?’ They go, ‘No, too ethnic. They’re never going to hire you. Your new name is Lenny Williams.’ I said, ‘What is Lenny?’ I was 12, 13. I said, ‘What is Lenny Williams? We took your middle name and we made it. Now you’re Lenny.’”

Watch Reeves’ full interview on the “New Heights” podcast in the video below.