Keanu Reeves’ Surprise Moment at the Tony Awards
Keanu Reeves was caught off guard by Broadway star Jonathan Groff during an appearance at the Tony Awards on Sunday evening, June 8, 2025. The John Wick icon seemed surprised by the sudden move during a high-energy performance of "Mack the Knife" by Groff from the musical Just in Time at New York’s Music City Hall.
The Unexpected Encounter
Groff, who starred alongside Reeves in the 2021 film The Matrix Resurrections as villain Agent Smith, jumped onto the seat of the Hollywood star and stood on both armrests of the chair. Reeves had clearly not anticipated Groff’s swift move, but he quickly took it in stride and gave a nod of approval with a "rock on" hand gesture.
Social Media Reaction
The unexpected and hilarious moment quickly went viral, with many people praising Reeves for being a good sport about the encounter. "Jonathan Groff flirting and doing absolutely nothing with Keanu Reeves was not on my Tonys Bingo card, but I’m here for it," said one spectator. Another person joked, "See what happens when you’re unproblematic, you age like Keanu."
The Tony Awards Ceremony
The ceremony itself saw Maybe Happy Ending win the most awards of any production, taking home six trophies, while Buena Vista Social Club won four awards. Foreign Things: The First Shadow was recognized as the best play with three Tonys. The evening was marked by several historic moments in terms of performance and design.
Historic Wins
The actor Cole Escola became the first non-binary performer to win the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for their role as Mary Todd Lincoln in Oh Mary! Hollywood A-lister George Clooney was also in attendance. Consequence star Sarah Snook took home the first acting prize of the evening for her portrayal of a woman in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
More Award Winners
Former Pussycat Dolls member Nicole Scherzinger won the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for playing Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard. Joy star Darren Criss won his first two Tonys, one for his performance in Maybe Happy Ending and another for producing the musical. He became the first known Asian American, Pacific Islander (AAPI) to win the leading actor in a musical category, and the first person to win this award for a show that he also produced.
A Year of Firsts
Paul Tazewell won for Death Becomes Her, marking the first time in 73 years that a costume designer won an Oscar and a Tony in the same year. He had previously won an Oscar for Wicked: Part I earlier in the year. The evening was filled with memorable moments, both on and off stage, making it a night to remember for the attendees and viewers alike.
