Jonathan Groff Straddles Keanu Reeves During Tony Awards Performance 2025

The 2025 Tony Awards had plenty of jaw-dropping moments, but none quite like what Jonathan Groff pulled off. In the middle of his performance, Groff—nominated for Best Leading Actor in a Musical—leapt off the stage and landed himself right in the lap of a Hollywood icon: Keanu Reeves.

Yes, you read that right. Jonathan Groff straddled Keanu Reeves during the middle of his show-stopping number. And the best part? Reeves didn’t flinch. In fact, he cheered him on.

Taking the Crowd by Surprise

Groff was mid-performance of Just in Time, a musical about Bobby Darin’s life, when he decided the stage wasn’t enough. As he belted out classics like Mack the Knife and That’s All, he strolled off the stage into the audience. With incredible confidence, he climbed onto the armrests of Reeves’ seat and straddled him—with one leg on each side—while still singing.

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The moment was playful, unexpected, and so very Broadway.

Reeves, who’s no stranger to surreal moments after years in the Matrix and John Wick franchises, looked genuinely thrilled. He flashed double rock hand signs to the camera and seemed to be loving every second of the attention.

A Matrix Reunion, Broadway Style

For fans of The Matrix Resurrections, this moment was extra special. Groff and Reeves played iconic rivals in the 2021 film—Neo and Agent Smith. So seeing them in such a goofy, affectionate moment felt like a surprise reunion no one asked for but everyone loved.

It also showed the real friendship between the two. Reeves didn’t just tolerate the moment—he leaned into it. And Groff, ever the performer, made sure the entire audience and camera crew got every angle of the hilarious interaction.

Groff’s Big Night

Groff’s performance wasn’t just a stunt. It was part of a larger tribute to his role as Bobby Darin in the new Broadway musical. The show, directed by Alex Timbers, scored six Tony nominations this year. Groff’s own nomination comes after years of working on the project.

He told PEOPLE that the journey has taken eight years. Every performance, he said, feels like a “gift.” And on this night, he gave audiences one of the most unexpected gifts of the entire ceremony.

Keanu’s Broadway Debut Is Coming

Interestingly, Reeves was at the show not just as a celebrity guest but also as a presenter. And he’s about to step into the Broadway world himself.

Later this year, he’ll make his debut in a revival of Waiting for Godot, starring alongside his longtime friend and Bill & Ted co-star Alex Winter. If he brings even half the good vibes he showed during Groff’s performance, it’s safe to say audiences are in for something special.

The moment between Groff and Reeves stole the show. It wasn’t scripted. It wasn’t polished. But it was full of heart, humor, and pure Broadway spirit.