Keanu Reeves Admits That He's 'Thinking About Death All the Time'

The 'John Wick' actor and Dogstar bassist is preaching the benefits of gratitude.

July 23, 2024

Keanu Reeves with shoulder-length hair and beard, wearing a dark suit, at a public event, hands clasped — Image via Getty/Gareth Cattermole

Keanu Reeves says he's "thinking about death all the time" these days.

To be clear, the John Wick: Chapter 4 star is a vocal proponent of pondering such questions, as he emphasized in a recent BBC News interview while promoting his and China Miéville’s new book, The Book of Elsewhere.

"Yeah, I’m 59 so I’m thinking about death all the time," Reeves responded after being asked about what he and Miéville learned about man’s mortality in the process of putting this book together. "I mean, I think thinking about death is good. Hopefully it sensitizes us to an appreciation of the breath we have and the relationships that we have the potential to have."

The Book of Elsewhere, out Tuesday through the Penguin Random House imprint Del Rey, is billed as a combination of "Miéville’s singular style and creativity" and "Reeves’s haunting and soul-stirring narrative." It follows BRZRKR, a comic book series co-created by the actor and Dogstar bassist.

Reeves, of course, is right. Thinking about death, while also being careful not to tip into obsession territory, is indeed a healthy practice. To at least operate from a base level of self-awareness when it comes to mortality, generally speaking, is to ensure that one is living as presently as possible. No one gets it right all the time, but the more mindful we are, the better chance we stand at getting pretty damn close.

While Reeves has several roles of note on the horizon, including Aziz Ansari's Good Fortune, he'll be on the road with Dogstar through at least the end of next month. First up, the band, whose Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees album arrived last October, are set for the Indiana State Fair on Aug. 8. The trio’s schedule for August and September also include stops in Lexington, Raleigh, Grand Rapids, Kansas City, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, and more.