Keanu Taylor

Keanu Taylor is a fictional character in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Danny Walters. He was introduced in episode 5511, broadcast on 15 June 2017, as a member of the Taylor family. Keanu is the son of Karen Taylor (Lorraine Stanley) and half-brother of Chantelle Atkins (Jessica Plummer), Keegan Baker (Zack Morris), Bernadette Taylor (Clair Norris), Riley Taylor (Tom Jacobs), and Chatham Taylor (Alfie Jacobs). He is described as a charming, hardworking, and happy-go-lucky man of morals. In his original stint, his storylines focused on being the breadwinner of his family, an affair with Sharon Mitchell (Letitia Dean), a relationship with Sharon’s stepdaughter Louise (Tilly Keeper), a feud with Louise’s half-brother Ben (Max Bowden) and her father Phil (Steve McFadden). In November 2019, it was announced that Walters "bowed out" of the soap for the development of his storyline with Sharon, with his initial departure being depicted in episode 6084, which aired on 21 February 2020.

Keanu returned in episode 6607, broadcast on 13 December 2022, again becoming a regular on the soap. His personality was slightly altered as he was now portrayed as being more mature and deceitful. Keanu's storylines in his return stint focused on the resume of his romance with Sharon, becoming involved in drug trafficking, and faking Albie Watts's (Arthur Gentleman) abduction before his second departure on episode 6826, broadcast on 25 December 2023. He is the victim of "The Six" storyline, being stabbed to death with a meat thermometer by Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), which led to his departure. He makes five additional appearances as a hallucination from 10 January 2024 to 20 February 2024 before his body was found by Bernadette on 3 April 2024. His funeral aired on 13 June 2024.

Casting and Introduction
Walters said that he gained the role after attending a workshop organized by the show, as producers were unsure to introduce a new family or not. Walters was informed later that day that he had been cast as Keanu, with details initially being kept vague, with little information about the character specifically. Once the BBC announced Walters's casting on Facebook, Walters announced it to his friends and family after shaving his head for the role.

The Taylor family's arrival was announced on 10 May 2017, with the family being described by executive producer Sean O'Connor as "noisy, brash and not to be messed with". Keanu is introduced alongside the family, being described as a "charming" and "happy-go-lucky" guy who sees himself as the man of the family and tries to protect his siblings wherever possible. Danny Walters described Keanu as "very mature for his age" due to growing up without a father figure and he has "had to grow up quite quickly to fend for himself and his family". He also described Keanu as a hard-worker, as he is the only source of income for his family, and that he would do "anything" for his family, especially his mother Karen and sister Bernadette. Walters also described Keany as "a good lad [who has] got morals". And that the viewers should not judge the Taylor family as it would become clear that they were "an absolutely beautiful family". Keanu is 18 years old at the time of his introduction.

Keanu, alongside his mother Karen (Lorraine Stanley), half-sister Bernadette (Clair Norris), and half-brothers Riley (Tom Jacobs) and Chatham (Alfie Jacobs) made their first appearances on 15 June 2017. When asked, Walters said the family is "the sort of neighbours you wouldn't want moving into your beautiful square". Walters said the family would clash with everyone on the show. Walters said: "Everyone has been so friendly and kind and gone above and beyond to make us feel welcome and supported. There has been a huge buzz surrounding the new family and I am so excited to see what the future holds for the Taylors". And that his character will "try his very best not to disturb the peace" in the square.

First departure
In October 2019, Walters said to expect "big emotions" and "big stunts" in that year's upcoming Christmas episode. He also said that the storyline about his affair with Sharon Mitchell (Letitia Dean) would become "much more serious" and "more interesting – to watch, to perform and to be a part of". Keanu's first exit was announced on 1 November 2019 by executive producer Jon Sen, promising that Keanu would go out in "spectacular fashion" after over two years on the show, and in a "dramatic and blistering conclusion" to Keanu's storyline with Sharon that would come to a head on Christmas Day 2019. "Keanu's story is set to come to a dramatic and blistering conclusion in the near future as one of the best kept secrets on the Square is finally revealed with devastating consequences. We'd all like to thank Danny for his nuanced performance as Keanu Taylor over the last two and half years. What Danny has brought to his character has been one of the reasons the 'Sheanu' affair has been such compulsive viewing for fans. Everyone at EastEnders wishes him well for the future."

Walters left on his own accord to pursue other projects, telling Digital Spy that "It has been a joy to play Keanu" and that "EastEnders will always hold a special place in [his] heart". Walters said the storyline's conclusion would be "explosive, like a classic [EastEnders] Christmas". The actor "bowed out" of the soap on his own accord for the purposes of the storyline about his affair with Sharon and to pursue other projects. The nature of his departure was left ambiguous by both Sen and Walters.

Walters and Lorraine Stanley were seen filming in an airport on 25 November 2019, which were initially believed to be Keanu's final scenes. Keanu left the show to avoid the Mitchell family, as his death was being plotted. Stanley believed Keanu would only return if Phil died, as the affair enraged Phil, saying "Maybe he'll come back one day? Never say never". After the airport scene was aired, the actor was seen filming on the River Thames in January 2020. The scenes were heavily speculated to air on the show's 35th anniversary. On filming there, Walters said: "It's a fantastic feeling to be a part of something so iconic. I grew up watching EastEnders, so to be a part of this anniversary I feel really lucky".

Return
Walters made an unannounced return as Keanu on 13 December 2022. Executive producer Chris Clenshaw explained that he wanted to bring Keanu back because "he's got unfinished business and it's been almost three years". When discussing his return, Walters was given brief details, but was excited about being set to return in the episode featuring the funeral of Dot Branning (June Brown), saying, "when I got the call from Chris, he told me about some of the storylines and When I heard what he wants Keanu to do, I couldn't help but want to come back. I'm very privileged to be coming back in such an iconic episode". Walters promised viewers a new side to Keanu, saying "The way I'm playing him now, there's a new type of character that you'll see from Keanu".

Discussing his character's development, Walters said: "Sharon's a strong force but he's now got a child, Albie, who's two". Clenshaw promised a more mature version of Keanu, adding that Keanu has grown up since his original stint, saying "I think Keanu left a boy and he returns as a man". He also promised that the character was no longer afraid of Phil, saying "I don't really think Keanu thinks too much of Phil," the actor said. "What I mean by that is Keanu's focus and energy is on his family. Right now, Albie is the most important person to him". "In Keanu's head, he's had the advice from Sam and Karen about how to make a relationship work".

On his character's reunion with Sharon, Walters believed Keanu's attraction to Sharon tended to drive his decisions, saying "Sharon was always the reason that Keanu had a bit of purpose, really, and a bit of drive". There was a deep, deep attraction to Sharon that I guess even Keanu couldn't explain. There is something that he's drawn to and I think it's reciprocated because Sharon has someone, not just because he's younger, but someone who appreciates Sharon for who she is, and that's why that relationship works so well" and that in his time away, Keanu got into bad habits and then fixed them, saying "he goes into those old habits where he sees himself becoming like his father so he tries to change those habits. I think while he was in Portugal and away from the Square he's had time to think about things, to grow up".

Walters wanted to explore more of Keanu's family with his return, particularly his father, saying: "It's something I've always wanted to explore because, one, I think it's something that the audience will start to see a different side of Keanu's character and where the father comes into it, and why Keanu has been shaped the way he is, and the decisions he's made over the years, and I think he's been very lost over the years, not having that father figure. And which is really interesting, which I don't know whether this was ever scripted, but the way I played it when we were being myself and Steve McFadden is that Keanu is like the son that Phil never had and Phil was like the father Keanu never had and that's why looking back over the years ago, what happened, the whole complexity of that, how much he loved Phil and admired him and adored him, but obviously Keanu's decisions took them both down a very different path".

Second departure
Following a flash-forward sequence in February 2023, showing a seemingly dead body on the floor of The Queen Victoria at Christmas, Keanu was one of the most suspected characters for the body. Walters was "worried" for his character but admitted that he did not know who the body was at that point. The storyline became known as "The Six", referring to the six female characters: Sharon, Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), Denise Fox (Diane Parish), Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth), Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), and Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal), who were suspected to be the murderer. "The Seven" was a list of seven male potential victims: Keanu, Phil, Tom "Rocky" Cotton (Brian Conley), Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo), Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry), and Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara), was announced on 7 December 2023. Keanu's inclusion was justified due to his close connection to Sharon and rivalry with Phil.

Speculation for why Keanu would potentially be killed at Christmas generally centered on his and Karen's abduction of Albie being discovered or his fling with Sam Mitchell being exposed. Laura Denby of Radio Times initially ruled Keanu out of possibly being the victim as the suit he was wearing for his wedding was different than the one the body was wearing. When asked if Keanu was the body, Walters said "I think there are multiple characters that are potential players for the cufflinks. This is what's great about the storyline, there's so many players involved, and anyone attached to those six women, or maybe not even attached to those six women; it could be any of us". When asked if Keanu could be the victim, Letitia Dean said "Keanu obviously isn't the man Sharon thinks he is and although she is wracked with guilt over Albie's paternity she has no idea he is keeping this massive secret. Family is everything to Sharon, and the idea that Keanu would purposely play with her emotions in such a cruel way would absolutely break her. I don't think she could forgive him for that". Chris Clenshaw said "As we head towards Christmas, it will become apparent and it will become very clear who the potential body is," he teased. "Not who the body actually is, but who the potential ones we're looking at are and the ones that it could be". Executive producer Chris Clenshaw said "Christmas Day in Walford is always momentous" and praised the fans' speculations.

Watched by 3.58 million people, "The Six" storyline unfolded on Christmas Day 2023, where it is revealed that while Keanu died after being stabbed by Linda Carter, he was not the body on the floor. Clenshaw explained that several fake scenes which included Keanu were filmed with the intention of throwing fans off the scent. Walters felt honored to play the victim in Christmas episode, calling it a "privilege" to play a major role in such an important moment.

2017–2020
Keanu, along with Karen (Lorraine Stanley), Bernadette (Clair Norris), and Keegan Taylor (Zack Morris) move into Albert Square, causing trouble among the residents. Struggling to gain employment, Keanu works temporarily as a nude life model for an art class and for an escort agency before he is recruited by Aidan Maguire (Patrick Bergin) to help with a robbery with Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), Mick Carter (Danny Dyer), and Vincent Hubbard (Richard Blackwood). During the heist, Mick is shot and the money goes missing. Despite the failed heist, Phil hires Keanu as a mechanic at The Arches as a reward for his work. On his first day, Keanu works on Mitch Baker's (Roger Griffiths) – the father of Keegan and Chantelle Atkins (Jessica Plummer) – van and warns him to stay away from his family. Mitch later returns and tries to stay with Karen and Keegan, but Keanu punches him.

After a disagreement, Phil fires Keanu. Keanu sees Sharon Mitchell's (Letitia Dean) son Dennis Rickman Jnr (Bleu Landau) being given a bag full of phones by a gang, and he confiscates the bag and confronts the gang, who steal everything in The Arches as revenge. The gang later attack Dennis and Keanu, but they are interrupted by Phil, who drags Dennis and Keanu back to his house. Sharon later thanks Keanu for defending Dennis. When Dennis is left alone in The Arches, the gang tries to kidnap him, but are stopped by Sharon and Keanu. Sharon thanks Keanu for helping save him. Keanu shuts down the Sharon's claims of being a bad mother and kisses her on the cheek, promising not to tell Phil about it. When Phil finds out about the attack, he is furious that Keanu and Sharon kept a secret from him, so he punches Keanu in the face. Sharon later finds out Phil is going on a business trip, so texts Keanu once Phil leaves and they sleep together. When Sharon discovers Keanu is only 19 years old, she briefly ends the affair but they later reconcile and go on to have numerous sexual encounters, including one where Sharon accidentally sends a voicemail of it to Phil's daughter Louise Mitchell (Tilly Keeper), who blackmails them by threatening to tell Phil. Phil encourages Keanu to start seeing Louise, and they briefly date before Keanu breaks up with her, which infuriates Phil, who threatens Keanu and sends him to Spain. Keanu is left devastated when Phil tells him Sharon came up with the idea. He tells Sharon that the holiday is a charade and he will be doing criminal activities for Phil.

Keanu returns to Walford after being attacked by a rival gang of Phil's. Keanu and Louise become a couple again and Louise discovers she is pregnant with Keanu's baby. Keanu has a one-night stand with Sharon after Louise lies to Keanu about having an abortion. After Keanu expresses that he wanted to have a baby with Louise, she apologies and admits she is still pregnant, leaving Keanu delighted. Sharon discovers she is pregnant takes a paternity test, which says that her baby is Keanu's, but she opts to tell everyone that it is Phil's. After Keanu discovers that Sharon's baby is his, he threatens to tell Louise and Phil about the affair as he can't take it anymore, so Sharon and Karen drug Keanu and tie him up in an abandoned warehouse. Keanu agrees to keep the secret. After Louise is taken hostage by her ex-boyfriend Hunter Owen (Charlie Winter), Keanu tries to rescue her, but is shot by Hunter. Keanu survives and Hunter is killed by police. Hunter's mother Mel (Tamzin Outhwaite) vows revenge on Sharon, after Sharon calls Hunter a heartless psychopath. Mel tells Louise's mother Lisa Fowler (Lucy Benjamin) that Sharon is not pregnant with Phil's son, who then tells Phil. Phil assumes Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) is the father of Sharon's baby and tortures him in The Arches, preparing to kill him. Keanu and Phil's son Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) explain that Phil could have got it wrong, so Phil frees Jack.

On Christmas Eve, Phil discovers the truth about Keanu and Sharon's affair and tries to attack Keanu but Ben suggests having someone else kill Keanu to prevent any evidence linking it to Phil. Phil and Ben tell Louise about the affair and they conspire to kill Keanu. Ben hires Martin Fowler (James Bye) to kill Keanu, agreeing to do the hit as long as Ben erases all evidence. After Keanu admits to Louise that he is the father of Sharon's baby, he insists that he loves Louise and their daughter. Louise betrays Keanu and lets Martin to knock him out. Ben confirms to Phil that he gave Martin a burner phone and demanded a video of Martin killing Keanu. Martin takes Keanu to a warehouse but cannot bring himself to kill Keanu. A drunk Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), who had heard the gunshot, walks in and Martin tells her everything. Linda plans to make a fake video, which they film before quickly bandaging Keanu up and telling him to leave Walford for good. Linda tells Sharon that her and Martin faked Keanu's death, so Sharon steals Martin's phone and sends the video to the police as revenge on Phil. Phil and Ben are arrested for murder but are released on bail, causing Phil to run away to Portugal.

In Phil's absence, Keanu returns and meets with Sharon, who agrees to leave Walford with him. Keanu kidnaps Ben's boyfriend Callum Highway (Tony Clay) and demands £100,000 from him. Ben tries to get the money but is unable to, so he calls Phil and tells him everything. Phil returns from Portugal, purchases a gun from Shirley Carter (Linda Henry) and takes Karen hostage. Despite Karen's refusal to tell Phil anything, Phil finds Keanu and badly beats him, but Keanu tells him he is sorry and tells him where Callum is. Phil chases Keanu around the deck, causing the boat to crash. At the same time, Sharon gives birth to another son. Keanu, Ben, and Phil all escape, but Dennis dies by drowning. Sharon blames the affair for Dennis's death and demands Keanu leave, saying she never wants to see him again.

2022–2024
Keanu returns but Sharon refuses to let him see Albie (Arthur Gentleman). Ben warns Keanu that Phil, who is currently not in Walford, will kill Keanu when he returns. Keanu later meets DI Samantha Keeble (Alison Newman) and pretends he is helping her to get rid of Phil. When Phil returns, they fight before meeting up later, where it is revealed that Keanu and Phil working together to take down Keeble. Keanu gathers evidence on Keeble for Phil, but it is revealed that Keanu had a fling with Phil's sister Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) while away. Sam lures Keanu to Peggy's wine bar and kisses him, as Phil walks in. Phil double-crosses Keanu and tells him he has until midnight to leave Walford. Keanu tells Keeble about his plan and the evidence he has given Phil. Keeble demands the evidence back, but Phil refuses. Keeble hires people to kidnap Phil's fiancée Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) and her son Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall) as revenge. Keanu helps Phil track Keeble down, but Kat shoots Keeble before they find her. Phil offers to take her to the hospital to save her life if she agrees to end her vendetta with Phil. Keeble agrees and Phil tells Keanu to take her to the hospital. Keanu says he will if Phil lets him move back into Walford, which Phil agrees to as long as Keanu stays out of his way.

Keanu meets Sharon in The Queen Vic for a date, but Sharon hesitates to reunite, but she is able to forgive him. Keanu starts a job as a bouncer but is forced into strip dancing for customers by Kim Fox (Tameka Empson), and he catches the eye of Kim's niece Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams). They flirt and sleep together, but Sharon learns about their relationship from Karen and arranges a fake date. Sharon is furious when Keanu does not admit to sleeping with Chelsea the night before, and she throws a drink over Keanu. Keanu tries to win Sharon back, even asking her to marry him. Sharon admits she has feelings for Keanu but doesn't want to be hurt again. Keanu kisses Sharon and gives her some space. They reunite and plan a christening for Albie, but Keanu realizes he doesn't have enough money for it, so he approaches Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) for criminal jobs to make money.

Keanu agrees to a job supplying marijuana to a man named Christos, but after he is caught, the police find cocaine in Keanu's van, despite Ravi and Christos claiming it was marijuana. Ravi threatens to kill Keanu if he mentions his name to the police. Sharon bails Keanu out of jail but slaps him for getting involved with drugs. Phil fires Keanu from Peggy's wine bar, and Ravi is ordered to kill Keanu to avoid punishment. Ravi beats Keanu almost to death, puncturing his lung. Keanu is rushed to the hospital, and when he wakes up, Sharon asks him to marry her, which he accepts. Sharon calls the police to arrest Ravi, but he is released on bail. Keanu is released from the hospital and is watched by Ravi and his father Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry). Karen visits Nish's wife Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal) to get Nish to leave Keanu alone, and Nish promises to leave them alone as long as they stay out of their way. Lisa returns with Keanu's daughter Peggy, revealing that Louise has been struggling with alcohol and drug addictions since Keanu and Sharon's affair was revealed. Lisa blackmails him for £3,000, prompting Keanu to steal £10,000 from Phil's safe to give to Lisa. Sharon discovers Lisa's gambling addiction and realises this is the reason why Lisa blackmailed Keanu, leading to an argument. Sharon agrees to get Peggy back for Lisa if she tells Keanu the truth and allows Keanu access to Peggy. Lisa tells Keanu the truth, but Keanu is furious when he discovers Lisa will only allow him to make video calls to Peggy. Keanu and Sharon break up after he discovers she betrayed him.

Keanu discovers Phil has cheated on Kat with Emma Harding (Patsy Kensit) and blackmails him with the threat of telling Kat. Phil lies to Keanu, telling him he has already told Kat about him and Emma and that she has forgiven him. Keanu reveals this to Kat's ex-husband Alfie Moon (Shane Richie), who agrees to keep quiet as long as Phil never lets Kat down again. Phil marries Kat and threatens to kill Keanu if he tells anyone else about him and Emma. Keanu takes Albie out for the day, gets his ear pierced, and brings him back late. Sharon realises Keanu is jealous and warns if he does not give Albie back on time again he will regret it. Sharon wants a solicitor to arrange a parenting plan for her and Keanu, and Keanu agrees. They meet at the Boxing Den with Karen, where Keanu discovers Sharon has the right to decide Albie's future. Karen suggests marrying Sharon to get rights to Albie and take everything from Sharon. Keanu reluctantly agrees and seduces Sharon. Keanu then kidnaps Albie, who calls out for Sharon. Keanu calls Karen to take Albie to Kandice Taylor's (Hannah Spearritt), before Sharon and her half-brother Zack Hudson (James Farrar) call the police. Keanu claims he took Albie to the park and he was abducted when he turned his back. Keanu posts a ransom note demanding £50,000 in exchange for Albie's return. Phil and Kat hear about Albie's kidnap and offer to give them money and help. Keanu convinces Sharon to allow Karen to drop off the money instead of Phil, and Karen returns Albie from Kandice's husband Malcolm (Greg Haiste).

Mitch finds out the truth about Albie's kidnap and confronts Keanu, who aggressively tells him to back off. Phil becomes suspicious when he sees Karen spending money in The Queen Vic, and when he finds his marked notes that were given to Sharon to pay off Albie's kidnapper, he is convinced that the Taylors kidnapped Albie. Phil confronts the Taylors and reveals the true circumstances behind Albie's kidnap in front of Sharon. Karen admits to being behind the kidnap and takes the blame for it to protect Keanu. Phil angrily confronts Keanu and demands his money back, while Sharon slaps Karen. Karen tells Mitch she is going to take Phil's money and flee Walford, but Mitch decides to stay and tells Keanu that he is dead to her. Phil tells Keanu that the Taylors' debt is now his and that Keanu owes him £50,000.

On Christmas Day 2023, Keanu asks Bernadette to move in with him and Sharon, but Keanu tells her to leave him alone. In revenge, Bernadette tells Phil that Keanu was behind Albie's kidnap, leading to Phil interrupting their wedding. Sharon punches Keanu and reveals to him that Albie is actually Phil's son, leaving both men shocked. Later, Sharon, Suki, Linda, Kathy Cotton (Gillian Taylforth), Denise Fox (Diane Parish), and Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) have a heated argument with Nish, who is knocked unconscious by Denise. Keanu arrives and demands to see Albie, but Sharon insists that Albie is not his son. When Keanu gets violent and tries to kill Sharon by strangling her, Linda stabs Keanu with a meat thermometer, killing him instantly. The women debate what to do with Keanu's body, but decide to hide it under the Bridge Street Café floorboards, call an ambulance for Nish, and claim Keanu held them all hostage at knifepoint and that he attacked Nish.

Keanu begins appearing as a hallucination to Denise after the incident when she experiences a psychotic episode. When the cement concealing Keanu's body under the floorboards caves in, Denise asks Jack to retrieve her necklace from the crime scene which would have incriminated her. While Jack successfully retrieves the necklace undetected, the mess of the floorboards causes Bernadette to discover Keanu's body. Sharon is then arrested for his murder, however the women then frame Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo) for killing Keanu.

Reception
Danny Walters received several award nominations for his portrayal of Keanu. At the 2017 Inside Soap Awards, he was nominated for "Best Newcomer" and "Sexiest Male" but lost both nominations to Julia Goulding (Shona Ramsey in Coronation Street) and Davood Ghadami (Kush Kazemi in EastEnders) respectively. In 2018, Walters won the award for best "Newcomer" at the 23rd National Television Awards. In 2018, he was also nominated for "Best Soap Performance" at the I Talk Telly Awards, but lost to Anna Passey (Sienna Blake in Hollyoaks). In 2019, he was nominated for "Best Actor" at the British Soap Awards, but lost to Gregory Finnegan (James Nightingale in Hollyoaks). In 2019, he was once again nominated for "Best Soap Performance" at the I Talk Telly Awards, losing to Shayne Ward (Aidan Connor in Coronation Street). In 2024, Walters won the "Best Exit" award at the Radio Times Soap Awards.

After four months back on the show, Keanu's return was deemed "bland" and "unmemorable" by Alexandra Bullard of MyLondon. Helen Daly of Radio Times called Keanu's character "loveable". Walters described Keanu as "not an evil character, he just makes really poor decisions". He also named his personal favourite scene as Keanu as Keanu's first scene, the arrival of the Taylor family. In 2023, when discussing Sharon and Keanu's relationship, EastEnders' executive producer Chris Clenshaw told Digital Spy: "I think it was all kind of fun and lots of mischief when they were having an affair a few years ago, but they're quite different people when it comes down to it." Lewis Knight of Radio Times called the character a "favourite" and following his death, called Walters's performance "natural" and wrote that Keanu "succumbs to his worst impulses and loses his life in the process. A heartbreaking but logical conclusion to a character who started as a sweet hero and ended up a desperate villain no longer worthy of Walford icon Sharon Watts".