Queer writer and director Bruce LaBruce shared some old publicity photos to his Instagram yesterday. The shots feature a young Keanu Reeves and fellow actor Carl Marotte. They were taken to promote a play the two men starred in back in Toronto in 1984.
As LaBruce explains, “In 1984 a theatrical production of playwright Brad Fraser’s “Wolfboy” premiered in Toronto co-starring two young unknown actors named Carl Marotte and Keanu Reeves.
“My friend John Palmer, who, twenty years later, adapted my hustler short stories from my J.D.s fanzine for a movie called “Sugar,” directed the original production.”
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The images prompted a large online response, as many people had never heard of the production. Others marveled at how young Reeves looks. If shot in spring 1984, he was 19-years old and still a drama student.
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Wolfboy was written by Canadian playwright and screenwriter, Brad Fraser.
Based in a mental institution, Reeves’ character was “an innocent teen who got sucked into a relationship with a deranged boy who believes he is a werewolf,” according to a documentary made later on Reeves’ career.
The same documentary says, “The play’s homoerotic undertones made it a cult hit with Toronto’s gay community.”
“He was absolutely gorgeous,” the play’s director, John Palmer, said of casting Reeves.
“He was a knockout…There was an honesty about him. He had so much energy that he didn’t know what to do with.”
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Reeves was born in Beirut to an English mother and US father. His parents separated when he was three and he was raised primarily in Toronto. He came to Hollywood attention with his role in the 1986 movie, River’s Edge. He went to achieve A-list fame with movies such as Point Break, Speed and the Matrix trilogy.
At the same time, he also made arthouse movies, most notably starring alongside River Phoenix as street hustlers in My Own Private Idaho. He returns to screens in 2020 with Bill & Ted Face The Music. New Matrix and John Wick movies are also in the works.
Director, writer, photographer, and pornographer Bruce LaBruce is Canadian and has also spent much of his life in Toronto. He published the queer punk zine J.Ds in the mid-80s before branching out into filmmaking. His works include No Skin Off My Ass (1993) and L.A. Zombie (2010).
Although not achieving the same Hollywood success as Reeves, Marrotte has maintained a successful acting career in Canada, where he is a TV regular.
Polaro
Keanu was my boyfriend for three months in 1997. When he found out about it he didn’t even get a restraining order! What a nice guy. Best imaginary boyfriend ever.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
While you were at it, am hoping you added an imaginary 10″ cuck …
:-p
Josh447
One of my all time favorite actors. He has mystery down like no other. Now about reprising Wolfboy….. (snicker)
canadalaw
Marotte was in a Canadian television series that had a lot of homoerotic overtones called in English,, he shoots , he scores.
Chrisk
Keano was eye candy at best. Proof that acting ability isn’t always needed.
curiobi
Nope Sir, sorry. The John Wick movies prove differently. Especially the 3rd one.
Josh447
For someone who has made at minimum 72 movies in thirty three years, and can barely take a breath he’s in such high demand, I’d say the general public verily disagrees with you.
Chrisk
He’s considered one of the worst actors on every survey. Right behind Ben Afflict and Madonna. Of coarse it’s probably all subjective but I just never saw much range. Just the usual same output.
“Reeves always seems to be focusing on remembering his next line rather than conveying any sort of human emotion. His lack of expression and stiff line readings worked well enough when he was playing a San Dimas slacker like Theodore Logan for the Bill & Ted films, but they’ve only hurt his films since.”
Josh447
Chrisk
I agree opinions are all subjective. There are alot of excessively successful one note Johnny’s, like Reeves Affleck Costner etc, though narrow, their range highly resonates. You’re right about range, these guys don’t have it. They aren’t Anthony Hopkins for sure and will never see an Oscar. But if you like their acting spectrum, then the’ve gotchya.
TimothyBeauchamp
Hot photos but, yawn, if you didn’t know hot stud Keanu played on iur team then yiu have ZERO gaydar!
Josh447
Yup I’ve read all about it, the bf in Paris etc. He’s been a master at keeping his private life private.
sonic_source
They’re doing a new “Bill and Ted” movie?!?! AWESOME!!
nitejonboy
Yeah it was filmed a few hours from me in New Orleans, a lot of my friends worked on it and said he was very very nice. I tried to get an audition for it but didn’t get one, boo..
MudgeBoy
Hee did play a gay-for-pay hustler in My Own Private Idaho, and he did “lay” with River Phoenix. I never got the impression though that Keanu was playing for our team.