Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. is a name many fans of Keanu Reeves have seen, but few know deeply. In this article, we explore Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. his life, family, struggles, and legacy. We look into when Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. died, his age at death, his parents and grandparents, his children and connections with Patricia Taylor. We aim to paint a human portrait, with facts and context.
Quick Bio Table of Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr.
Fact | Details |
---|---|
Full Name | Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. |
Born | September 13, 1942 |
Place of Birth | Honolulu, Hawaii, USA |
Died | January 26, 2018 |
Place of Death | Ewa Beach, Hawaii |
Age at Death | 75 years |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | Hawaiian, Chinese, Portuguese, English, Irish |
Occupation | Geologist, Farmer |
Father | Samuel Nowlin Reeves Sr. |
Mother | Sarah “Momilani” Monilani Victor |
Spouse | Patricia Taylor (ex-wife) |
Children | Keanu Reeves, Kim Reeves, Emma Rose Reeves |
Early Life and Background
Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. was born on September 13, 1942, in Honolulu, Hawaii. His early childhood is less chronicled in public sources, but his family rooted deeply in Hawaiian heritage. The name Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. connects to generations before him. His upbringing took place against the backdrop of a mixed culture Native Hawaiian, Portuguese, Chinese, English, and Irish heritage. Over time, Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. would move on and start his own life path, eventually connecting to the world of entertainment through his children.

Family Origins: Parents and Grandparents
The father of Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. was Samuel Nowlin Reeves Sr., born in 1921 and passing in 1978. His mother was Sarah “Momilani” Monilani Victor, born in 1923 and passing in 2014. Their union brought forth Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. along with a cultural and familial heritage. On the paternal line, his grandparents were Charles Armistead Reeves and Rose Lokalia Miguel. On the maternal side, his grandparents were George Peter Pahio Victor and Lillian Kaholo Kuwehu Mahiʻai. These ancestors tie Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. to prominent Hawaiian genealogies and local histories.
Personal Life: Marriage to Patricia Taylor and Children
One major relationship for Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. was with Patricia Taylor. She was an English costume designer and showgirl, and she and Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. had two children: Keanu Reeves (born September 2, 1964) and Kim Reeves (born 1966). Their marriage ended when Keanu was very young. Later in life, Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. fathered another child, Emma Rose Reeves, born in 1980, making Emma Reeves a half-sister to Keanu and Kim. Each of these children carry part of the legacy of Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. through blood and story.
Relationship With Keanu Reeves
The relationship between Keanu Reeves and Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. was distant for much of Keanu’s life. The two became estranged when Keanu was still a child. According to sources, Keanu Reeves last saw his father around the age of 13. Over the years, Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. remained in Hawaii, while Keanu Reeves pursued a career in acting in North America. While Keanu Reeves achieved global fame through films like The Matrix, John Wick, and Speed, Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. stayed mostly out of public view. Still, his name is always linked with the narrative of Keanu’s personal history.
Legal Issues, Health, and Later Years
In the 1990s, Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. faced serious legal and personal issues, including struggles with addiction. Around 1992, he was arrested at Hilo International Airport related to a heroin case and sentenced to prison. He was paroled later and during his time in prison earned a GED. In public statements, Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. was reported to have had health problems such as Graves’ disease and diabetes. These struggles contextualize a life marked by challenges, far from the glamour of Hollywood. Despite these difficulties, when Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. died, he was still remembered as the father of a very famous son.
Death and Legacy
Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. died on January 26, 2018, in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, at the age of 75. His death brought renewed interest to his life and connections. The age at death of Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. underscores that he lived through eras of social change in Hawaii and the United States. His legacy, though privately held, is bound up in the story of Keanu Reeves, whose global success often prompts fans to ask who was the father behind the name?
Physical Details: Height and Presence
Public sources describe Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. as being about 5 ft 10 in tall. In a profile from the early 2000s, his weight was noted around 230 lb. These physical details create a more human portrait: not just a name, but a person who had a presence, struggles with health, and a life shaped by both place and circumstance. That he stayed in Hawaii while his children moved away adds to his distinct profile.
Genealogical Reach: Great-Grandparents and Beyond
The roots of Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. stretch further into Hawaiian genealogy. On the Reeves side, his great-grandparents include Sampson W. Reeves and Mary Virginia “Jenny” Armistead Nowlin. On the Miguel branch, ancestors include Joseph Miguel and Malaia Lokalia. On his mother’s Victor side, ancestors include Joseph Aiona Victor and Maggie Makakapu Pahio. These lines reflect long-standing family ties on the islands ties to land, tradition, and community. They form deep context behind the name Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr., showing how his identity was shaped by generations before him.
Cultural and Media Impact
The mention “κιάνου ριβσ Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr.” is a Greek transliteration combining Keanu Reeves (in Greek) with Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. It illustrates how international fans look up the father’s name alongside Keanu. In media, articles titled “All About Keanu Reeves’ Parents, Patricia Taylor and Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr.” or “Father, Failures, and Fame: The Life of Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr.” reflect persistent curiosity.

Public Records and Source Limitations
Writing about Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. involves navigating limited, conflicting, or private records. Genealogy websites sometimes disagree on dates or lineages. Public interviews focus more on Keanu Reeves than his father, leaving gaps about Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. While this article uses the best-available resources genealogy trees, newspapers, People magazine, and Find a Grave records we must accept there remain uncertainties about some life moments. Still, the core facts birth, death, children, legal history remain consistently reported.
How People Remember Him
Though not widely known in Hollywood circles, Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. is remembered through the lens of Keanu Reeves’ story. To fans and biographers, he is a piece of the puzzle: a father with flaws, distance, and struggles. His marriage to Patricia Taylor adds intrigue, and his later child Emma Reeves gives another human link. When people search “Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. died”, they find obituary pages. When they search “Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. grandparents”, they find genealogical trees. Each piece builds the narrative around Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr., and why so many still ask: who was this man behind the name?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When was Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. born?
He was born on September 13, 1942, in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
2. When did Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. die?
He died on January 26, 2018, in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, at the age of 75.
3. Who was Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr.’s wife?
His wife was Patricia Taylor, an English costume designer and the mother of Keanu Reeves and Kim Reeves.
4. Who are the children of Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr.?
He had three children — Keanu Reeves, Kim Reeves, and Emma Rose Reeves.
5. What was Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr.’s nationality and background?
He was American, with a rich Hawaiian, Chinese, Portuguese, English, and Irish heritage.
Conclusion
In sum, Who Was Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr.? Facts About Keanu Reeves’ Father is more than a headline. It is an invitation to explore a man whose life intersected with fame, distance, and Hawaiian roots. Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr. was born in Honolulu in 1942, fathered Keanu Reeves and Kim Reeves with Patricia Taylor, later fathered Emma Reeves, struggled through legal and health challenges, and passed away in 2018 at 75. His parents, grandparents, and ancestors tie him deeply into Hawaiian genealogy. Though many details are private or uncertain, his name continues to echo in the story of one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars.
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