Keanu Reeves Proved He Is Not the Father of 4 Kids with a DNA Test - Their Mother Still Doubted the Result

The 60-year-old actor is known for living quietly and avoiding public drama. But in the late 2000s, one bizarre court case pushed his name into headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Keanu Reeves has faced more than his share of personal challenges. But in 2009, his life was shaken by a bizarre court case — one that involved a woman claiming he fathered her four adult children. The allegations led to a legal battle that took an unexpected turn and drew intense public attention.

What followed tested his patience, his privacy, and the calm image he's long been known for. And while he eventually moved past the drama, the case remains one of the most unusual moments in his life and stands in stark contrast to his own experience growing up without a father.

Growing up Fatherless

Keanu was just three years old when his father, Samuel Reeves, left the family. Their final meeting came years later during a trip to Hawaii, when Keanu was 11. After that, they never saw each other again.

Samuel lived a transient life and struggled with addiction, and although he made brief attempts to reconnect, their relationship remained distant and unresolved.

Growing up without a stable father figure, Keanu experienced early emotional distance that would contrast sharply with the bizarre claim made decades later — that he had secretly fathered four children. For someone who had lived in the absence of a father, the sudden accusation of being one in court was especially surreal.

The pain of that early distance didn't end in childhood. As Keanu's career began to rise, even greater personal losses would follow.

Tragedies That Shadowed a Rising Career

In 1991, Keaunu's younger sister Kim Reeves was diagnosed with leukemia. He stepped away from major projects — including delaying work on "The Matrix" sequels — to care for her during treatment.

He later described their bond as deeply supportive and said he felt it was important to be there for her, just as she had always been there for him. Kim eventually went into remission, and the siblings later co-founded a cancer foundation, though Keanu chose not to tie his name to it.

Two years later, Keanu lost one of his closest friends, "My Own Private Idaho" co-star River Phoenix, who died of a drug overdose. "River was just so down to earth, spiritual and a unique artist," Keanu said. "Yeah, I miss him."

Then, just a few years later, another loss would mark Keanu's life with even deeper grief.

In the late 1990s, he began a relationship with actress and assistant Jennifer Syme. The two met in 1998 and soon became a couple. Not long after, they learned they were expecting a child — a daughter they planned to name Ava.

But in December 1999, at eight months pregnant, Jennifer gave birth to a stillborn baby. The loss was devastating, and the couple separated shortly afterward. However, they stayed close and were reportedly rebuilding their relationship.

In April 2001, tragedy struck again. Jennifer died in a car crash after leaving a party hosted by Marilyn Manson. Her vehicle hit a row of parked cars, and she died instantly. She was 28. Keanu, devastated once more, served as a pallbearer at her funeral.

Reflecting years later on the toll of those experiences, Keanu said in a past interview, "Grief changes shape, but it never ends." He described it not as something to overcome, but something that remains with you. In the same conversation, he added, "When the people you love are gone, you're alone."

These losses, quiet and deeply personal, shaped the introspective way he would later navigate both life and fame.

A Connection That Never Turned Romantic

One of Keanu's most memorable roles was in the 1994 action film "Speed," where he starred alongside Sandra Bullock. The movie was a huge hit — not just for its fast-paced story, but also for the natural chemistry between the two leads. What fans didn't realize at the time was that their connection went deeper than what appeared on screen.

During a 2019 appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," Keanu watched a previously recorded interview in which Sandra admitted she had a crush on him while filming. She said it had been hard to stay serious during scenes, especially when he looked at her.

Keanu smiled as the clip ended and revealed that the feeling had been mutual. "She obviously didn't know I had a crush on her, either," he said. When Ellen asked why nothing had ever happened between them, he explained simply, "We were working."

That kind of quiet discretion had long defined Keanu's personal life but in the late 2000s, a bizarre legal case unexpectedly thrust him into a rare and very public spotlight.

A Courtroom Drama That Tested Reality

In 2009, Keanu was pulled into a courtroom battle that stood apart from the challenges he had faced before — this time, not emotional, but legal. A Canadian woman, Karen Sala, accused the actor of secretly fathering her four children and demanded millions in retroactive payments.

Karen, who represented herself in court, alleged that she and the actor had a sexual relationship before, during, and after her marriage. She claimed they had lived together and that Keanu used the name "Marty Spencer."

She sought $3 million per month in spousal support, retroactive to November 2006, and $150,000 per month in child support, going back to June 1988.

At the time, her children were 25, 23, 22, and 21 years old. Yet Karen said she had only recently made the connection, claiming she had known Keanu from childhood but didn't realize he was the actor until years later.

Keanu categorically denied knowing Karen and volunteered to take a court-ordered DNA test, which confirmed he was not the biological father of any of the children. Still, she challenged the result in court, suggesting that the test may have been tampered with — or that Keanu had used hypnosis to influence the outcome.

"I do know for a fact that he is the biological father," she stated but refused to show any documentation, including her children's birth certificates. She also declined to have her ex-husband tested, despite divorce documents naming him as the children's legal father.

Keanu's lawyer, Lorne Wolfson, filed a motion to dismiss the case, challenging both the paternity and the basis for spousal support. He noted that under the Family Law Act, three years of cohabitation are required to make such a claim, and stated that Kenau had never lived with the applicant.

According to Lorne, Keanu said he "hasn't cohabited with the applicant for a minute, let alone three years." Keanu later described how unsettling it was to be accused of fathering children he had no connection to. "I had to go to court. It was horrible. I didn't do it. I'm not the dad," he said.

After many difficult years, Keanu found comfort in a relationship built on creativity, respect, and calm companionship.

Finding Love in Work and Life

Keanu met artist Alexandra Grant in 2009, and over time, they formed a meaningful connection built on shared creativity and mutual respect. They worked together on a book called "Ode to Happiness," which was published in 2011, and later collaborated again on "Shadows" in 2016.

They later collaborated again on "Shadows" in 2016. By 2017, they had co-founded X Artists' Books, a small publishing company focused on unique, artist-driven projects that don’t follow traditional formats.

Though they had attended events together for years, it wasn't until 2019 — when they appeared hand-in-hand at the LACMA Art + Film Gala — that their relationship became public.

Their public appearance quickly drew widespread attention, and Alexandra later reflected on how overwhelming the reaction was. She said she heard from almost everyone she knew and used the moment to reflect on how to turn that unexpected spotlight into something positive.

While they kept their relationship mostly private, a few glimpses into their partnership have surfaced over the years. In 2023, Alexandra spoke about Keanu's impact on her work. "He’s such an inspiration to me," she said. "He's so creative, he’s so kind. He works so hard."

Keanu has expressed the same admiration, calling Alexandra "for sure" the more creative of the two.

Their shared passions extend beyond the studio. "We have been on a couple of trips together on the motorcycle and we have enjoyed it," Keanu shared. Their creative and personal connection became more public with the release of "Visionaries," a 2025 docuseries they co-developed alongside longtime collaborator Gard Hollinger.

The project explores innovation, design, and artistry, the values that also reflect the foundation of their own relationship.

Keanu shared a rare glimpse into his personal life, recalling a recent moment of happiness spent at home with Alexandra. It was a simple, intimate time where they felt close, laughed together, and enjoyed just being with each other.

Keanu has consistently kept his focus on his work, even as his life has drawn public attention through both career milestones and personal challenges. Whether enduring private grief or responding to public allegations, he has handled each with restraint.