Keanu Reeves in Oregon: From “Point Break” to “My Own Private Idaho”
It’s not unusual when certain Hollywood actors become identified with certain locations. Think John Wayne and the epic expanses of Monument Valley. Or Robert DeNiro and the mean streets of New York City. To that list you can add Keanu Reeves and the diverse landscapes of Oregon. To date, no less than five of the actor’s films have been made in Oregon beginning with 1988′s “Permanent Record”. 1991 was a watershed year for Reeves and Oregon with the action hit “Point Break” and the critically acclaimed “My Own Private Idaho”.I found some more information here. 1993 saw the release of “Even Cowgirls Get The Blues”, followed by “Thumbsucker” in 2005. Reeves’ Oregon-based films have brought the state notoriety and revenue while also boosting the actor’s career: “Point Break” helped establish Reeves as a viable mainstream action star. “Permanent Record” and “Private Idaho” showcased Reeves’ acting chops. “Cowgirls” was his second Oregon-based collaboration with director Gus Van Sant after “Idaho”. And “Thumbsucker” demonstrated the actor’s ability to play character parts in offbeat films. It’s obviously been a mutually beneficial relationship for the actor and Oregon. In fact, one could argue that the connection is so strong that Reeves’ “Point Break” character Johnny Utah should’ve been named Johnny Oregon.