Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds
Born	(1976-10-23) October 23, 1976 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Occupation(s)	Actor, producer, entrepreneur
Years active	1991–present
Known for	Deadpool series, Green Lantern, The Proposal

Ryan Rodney Reynolds (born October 23, 1976) is an actor, producer, and entrepreneur holding Canadian-American nationality. Renowned for his work in comedic and superhero films, he ranked as the world's second-highest-paid actor in both 2020 and 2024, with his movies accumulating $6.5 billion globally. Reynolds has earned multiple honors, including a Primetime Emmy Award and nominations for two Grammy Awards as well as a Golden Globe Award.

Originating from Vancouver, Canada, Reynolds embarked on his acting journey at age thirteen, initially appearing in television shows. He secured leading roles in the teen drama Hillside (1991–1993) and the sitcom Two Guys and a Girl (1998–2001). His filmography features commercially successful romantic comedies such as National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002), Waiting... (2005), and The Proposal (2009), alongside superhero movies like Blade: Trinity (2004) and Green Lantern (2011), as well as the biographical drama Woman in Gold (2015).

Reynolds achieved his highest box office acclaim with the Deadpool series, portraying Wade Wilson in Deadpool (2016), Deadpool 2 (2018), and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024). The initial installment garnered him a nomination for the Golden Globe, while the most recent became his top-grossing project. His other notable appearances include the sci-fi horror film Life (2017), action titles such as 6 Underground (2019), Free Guy (2021), and The Adam Project (2022). Additionally, Reynolds lent his voice to animated productions like the The Croods franchise (2013–2020), Turbo (2013), and Detective Pikachu (2019).

In 2017, Time recognized Reynolds among the 100 most influential individuals worldwide. He was honored as People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2010 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017. Beyond acting, Reynolds is an investor with ownership interests in Mint Mobile and co-owns the Welsh football club Wrexham, which is featured in the Emmy-winning documentary series Welcome to Wrexham (2022–present). After divorcing actress Scarlett Johansson, he wed Blake Lively in 2012; the couple has four children.

Early life and education

Ryan Rodney Reynolds was born on October 23, 1976, in Vancouver, British Columbia. His father, James Chester Reynolds, served as a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman before transitioning to food wholesale business. His mother, Tamara Lee (née Stewart), was employed in retail sales. Growing up with three older brothers, Reynolds described himself as a "moving target" due to frequent physical interactions with them. His siblings also acted as protectors from their father, with whom Reynolds experienced a complicated relationship. His paternal grandfather, Chester Reynolds, was both a farmer and politician who represented Stettler in Alberta’s Legislative Assembly from 1940 to 1944. Of Irish heritage, Reynolds was raised Catholic first in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighborhood before moving to Vanier, Ontario.

Reynolds started acting at thirteen and attended drama classes during adolescence, which he did not pass. He worked various jobs including busboy and night shifts at a grocery store in Vancouver—experiences he credits for enhancing his performance abilities. After being expelled from Prince of Wales Secondary School for taking a teacher’s car without permission, he completed his final two years at Kitsilano Secondary School alongside fellow actor Joshua Jackson, graduating in 1994. Initially taking small television roles, Reynolds briefly stepped away from acting at nineteen to study at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Motivated by actor Chris William Martin’s encouragement, he soon moved to Los Angeles to fully commit to his acting career.

1991–2003: Early career developments

Reynolds initiated his acting journey in 1991 with the Canadian teen drama Hillside, which aired in the United States on Nickelodeon under the title Fifteen. He portrayed Billy Simpson, a bully struggling with internal conflicts. His first appearance in a feature film was in the coming-of-age story Ordinary Magic (1993), where he played Jeffrey, an orphan inspired by Mahatma Gandhi to undertake a hunger strike. Directed by Giles Walker, the film garnered mixed critical reactions. From 1993 to 1994, Reynolds took on dual characters in the children's series The Odyssey.

In 1996, he made brief appearances in episodes of The X-Files and The John Larroquette Show. That same year, he starred opposite Melissa Joan Hart in the television movie Sabrina the Teenage Witch, portraying Seth, the romantic interest of the protagonist. Additionally, Reynolds played Bobby Rupp in the miniseries adaptation of Truman Capote's nonfiction work, In Cold Blood. He returned to cinema with the dark comedy The Alarmist (1997), which was met with predominantly unfavorable reviews. Between 1997 and 1998, he appeared twice on the series The Outer Limits.

Reynolds achieved a significant breakthrough portraying medical student Michael "Berg" Bergen in Two Guys and a Girl (1998–2001). Although the show had moderate success, his performance received commendation. He accepted minor roles in two comedies released in 1999: Coming Soon and Dick. In 2000, he starred as Karl—a bullied teen revived through a scientific experiment—in the horror comedy Boltneck, and played Quigley in the thriller Finder's Fee (2001).

He led the romantic comedy National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002), which, despite negative critical reception, achieved commercial success. In 2003, Reynolds portrayed Mark Tobias in the action comedy The In-Laws, where his character is engaged to Melissa until her father uncovers his CIA operative father's identity. That year also saw him co-star with Kristin Booth in William Phillips's heist film Foolproof.

2004–2009: Focus on romantic comedies

In 2004, Reynolds made a brief appearance as a nurse in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, followed by his voice acting debut as Ty Cheese in the animated series Zeroman. He took on the role of vampire hunter Hannibal King in Blade: Trinity (2004), for which he gained approximately 11 kilograms of muscle mass. The film earned $132 million against its $65 million budget but was met with largely negative critiques.

The following year, Reynolds starred as George Lutz in the supernatural horror remake The Amityville Horror, depicting a man moving into a haunted residence. He also featured as Monty, a charming waiter, in the comedy Waiting.... In the romantic comedy Just Friends (2005), he portrayed Chris Brander, an overweight high school student attempting to escape being labeled as "just a friend," for which he wore a fat suit. Subsequently, he played FBI agent Richard Messner in the action thriller Smokin' Aces (2006).

Reynolds undertook three distinct roles in the science fiction drama The Nines (2007), which examined themes surrounding reality and personal identity. In 2008, he headlined as Frank Allen in Chaos Theory, embodying an efficiency expert whose orderly life spirals into unpredictability. While the film itself received unfavorable reviews, his performance attracted positive attention. That same year, Reynolds appeared as Will Hayes in the romantic comedy Definitely, Maybe, and portrayed a novelist returning home after his mother's passing in Fireflies in the Garden.

In 2009, Reynolds took on the role of Mike Connell—a technician and musician engaged in an extramarital affair—in Greg Mottola's romantic comedy-drama Adventureland. The film was critically acclaimed and is regarded as one of his most underrated performances. He also portrayed Wade Wilson / Deadpool / Weapon XI in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009). Although Reynolds had been involved with developing a Deadpool adaptation since 2005, he described this particular project as frustrating and criticized its depiction of the character. The movie received generally poor reviews.

That year, Reynolds starred as Andrew Paxton in the commercially successful romantic comedy The Proposal, earning praise for his on-screen chemistry with co-star Sandra Bullock. He additionally appeared as Captain Excellent in the poorly received comedy-drama Paper Man.

2010–2015: Exploring diverse genres and career variability

In 2010, Reynolds appeared as a guest on the children's program Sesame Street. That same year, he took the lead role in the Spanish-American survival thriller Buried, directed by Rodrigo Cortés, portraying Paul Conroy, a truck driver trapped alive underground in Iraq. The film was met with critical acclaim, with Rotten Tomatoes highlighting Reynolds' compelling performance. In 2011, he assumed the role of Hal Jordan in Martin Campbell's superhero movie Green Lantern, which unfortunately failed to impress both critics and audiences commercially. That year, Reynolds also starred in the romantic comedy The Change-Up, which garnered poor reviews overall but earned commendation for the performances of both him and co-star Jason Bateman. Additionally, he served as executive producer and narrator for the documentary The Whale.

In 2012, Reynolds shared the screen with Denzel Washington in the action thriller Safe House, portraying CIA operative Matt Weston. Although critical reception was mixed, his portrayal received favorable remarks. He also made a brief cameo in the comedy Ted. The following year, Reynolds lent his voice to leading roles in two DreamWorks Animation features: Guy in The Croods and the title character in Turbo, which centers on a snail aspiring to become a racer.

That year also saw him star as Nick Walker in R.I.P.D., a film that performed poorly at the box office and was widely criticized. In 2014, Reynolds took on multiple characters in the horror-comedy The Voices, playing a factory worker with schizophrenia; despite limited recognition, he later cited this as one of his favorite projects. He also appeared in the psychological thriller The Captive, which generally received unfavorable reviews.

In 2015, Reynolds portrayed Curtis in the comedy-drama Mississippi Grind, centered around a high-stakes poker road trip. Although reviews were varied, his performance was notably praised. He also played attorney E. Randol Schoenberg in the biographical drama Woman in Gold, helping recover a stolen Klimt masterpiece. Later that year, he starred in the science fiction film Self/less, which underperformed both critically and commercially.

2016–present: Breakthrough with Deadpool and established stardom

Reynolds reached significant critical and commercial heights with the 2016 superhero film Deadpool, a project that had been in development since 2000. Having previously portrayed Wade Wilson in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), Reynolds actively participated in crafting a reboot that more faithfully reflected the original Marvel Comics. To facilitate its production, he accepted less than his full salary and reinvested earnings to keep co-writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick involved during filming. The movie grossed $782 million worldwide, ranking ninth among 2016 releases, and Reynolds’s charismatic portrayal received widespread acclaim.

Also in 2016, Reynolds appeared in Ariel Vromen's action thriller Criminal as Bill Pope; however, the film was met with negative reviews. He reunited with director Daniel Espinosa for the sci-fi feature Life (2017), which achieved moderate financial success despite mixed critical feedback. That same year, he starred as Michael Bryce, an executive protection agent guarding assassin Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) in Patrick Hughes’s action comedy The Hitman's Bodyguard. Critics praised the chemistry between Reynolds and Jackson while expressing some reservations about the formulaic storyline. Production for the sequel Deadpool 2 commenced in June 2017; upon its 2018 release, it earned $715 million globally, again ranking ninth for that year.

Reynolds provided the voice for the title role in Rob Letterman’s 2019 adaptation of Detective Pikachu, based on the popular video game series. The film was well-received, with particular praise for Reynolds's engaging vocal performance. That year, he also starred as the leader of a vigilante group targeting a dictator in Michael Bay’s action movie 6 Underground and reprised his voice role as Guy in The Croods: A New Age (2020). Additionally, he returned as Michael Bryce in Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard (2020). In Shawn Levy’s fantasy comedy Free Guy (2021), Reynolds played a non-player character who gains self-awareness within a video game world. Also during 2021, he co-starred alongside Dwayne Johnson and Gal Gadot in Netflix’s action-comedy Red Notice.

In 2022, Reynolds led Levy’s sci-fi action-comedy The Adam Project, portraying a time pilot investigating his wife’s disappearance. While critical opinions were mixed, reviewers acknowledged Reynolds’s signature wit and charm. Following completion of work on the holiday musical comedy Spirited (2022), he announced a short hiatus from acting. In August 2024, Reynolds and his spouse Blake Lively made history as the first married Hollywood couple since 1990 to simultaneously top box office charts with their respective films—Deadpool & Wolverine and It Ends with Us, securing first and second place during the August 9–11 weekend. Directed by Levy, Deadpool & Wolverine achieved both commercial success and critical acclaim, grossing $1.338 billion worldwide; it ranked as the second-highest-grossing release of 2024 and twentieth all-time at that point.

Business career

In January 2018, Reynolds established the production company Maximum Effort and secured a three-year first-look agreement with Fox. Development was announced for a live-action film adaptation of the board game Clue, scripted by Deadpool writers Reese and Wernick. On June 23, 2021, Maximum Effort's marketing branch was separated and acquired by MNTN Software. Reynolds utilized Maximum Effort to produce promotional content for his movies as well as brands such as Peloton and R. M. Williams.

Reynolds took an ownership stake in Aviation American Gin in February 2018, assuming responsibility for its creative vision. Later, in November 2019, he acquired between 20% and 25% of Mint Mobile. Both Reynolds and Mint founder David Glickman served on the board of the Michael J. Fox Foundation, with Glickman commending Reynolds’s marketing efforts for Deadpool. In 2020, Reynolds joined the board of Match Group and subsequently sold Aviation American Gin to Diageo in a transaction valued at up to $610 million.

In September 2020, the Wrexham Supporters Trust revealed that Reynolds and actor Rob McElhenney were negotiating to acquire Welsh football club Wrexham. Their purchase was finalized in November 2020 and received approval from the Financial Conduct Authority by February 2021. Embracing Welsh traditions, they promoted the Welsh language through media initiatives and were honored with the Diolch Y Ddraig award from broadcaster S4C. Reynolds requested Welsh subtitles for his Netflix release Red Notice (2021), which also featured promotional efforts tied to Wrexham. Their acquisition journey is chronicled in the series Welcome to Wrexham (2022–present).

Reynolds’s investments extend to companies like Wealthsimple, 1Password, and FuboTV. In 2022, he briefly pursued ownership of the National Hockey League's Ottawa Senators but withdrew his bid by mid-2023. Subsequently, he joined an investor consortium acquiring a 24% share in the Alpine F1 Team. In March 2023, T-Mobile announced its purchase of Mint Mobile for up to $1.35 billion. The following month, Canadian payments firm Nuvei disclosed Reynolds as one of its investors.

Philanthropy and activism

In May 2020, Reynolds took part in a celebrity reading of Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach to benefit Partners In Health, an organization co-founded by Dahl’s daughter Ophelia that supports COVID-19 relief efforts in vulnerable areas. In July 2020, alongside broadcaster George Stroumboulopoulos, he offered $5,000 each toward recovering a stolen teddy bear containing a recording of a woman’s late mother; the item was returned shortly thereafter. Reynolds has openly endorsed same-sex marriage and advocated for enhanced LGBTQ+ representation within the film industry.

As an environmental advocate, Reynolds supports the Michael J. Fox Foundation, inspired by his father’s battle with Parkinson’s disease. He completed the New York City Marathon for Team Fox in 2008 and joined the foundation’s board in 2009, maintaining active involvement in promoting research initiatives. In March 2022, Reynolds and Blake Lively contributed $500,000 to Water First, which supplies Indigenous communities in Canada with clean water access and environmental education. He was honored with the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television's Humanitarian Award at the 11th Canadian Screen Awards in October 2022. Additionally, the couple donated $1 million to Feeding America following hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Reynolds and Lively committed to matching donations up to $1 million for Ukrainian refugees. In August 2023, they joined other Hollywood couples in contributing $1 million to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation to assist actors facing financial difficulties. In October 2023, they donated $1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross to support children impacted by the Israel–Hamas conflict, becoming among the first celebrities to publicly provide financial aid to both sides involved.

Acting approach and public persona

In 2014, The Hollywood Reporter referred to Reynolds as "one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood for nearly two decades." His portfolio spans a wide array of roles, predominantly within the comedy, action, and superhero categories. Throughout the late 2000s, he frequently starred in modestly budgeted romantic comedy movies. According to NME, he combines a crude and sarcastic demeanor with remarkable versatility and a willingness to embrace risk. The Guardian highlighted his flexibility across romantic comedies, television sitcoms, and independent cinema. Variety praised his courageous selection of projects that are less mainstream.

Although he often embodies sardonic characters, CNBC has recognized Reynolds as among the friendliest personalities in Hollywood. He attributes much of his popularity and achievement to his use of self-mocking humor. Critics underscore this characteristic as central to his public identity, which he views as essential not only to his narrative style but also to his entrepreneurial endeavors. Adweek characterized his public image as "dry, egotistical, quick-witted, and somewhat oblivious," a persona he skillfully utilizes for marketing purposes.

Reynolds was featured in the Time 100 list of the world’s most influential individuals in 2017. In both 2020 and 2024, Forbes placed him as the second highest-earning actor worldwide, reporting incomes of $71.5 million and $85 million respectively. That same year, he ranked eighteenth among the most powerful public figures globally. His attractiveness has been acknowledged by People, which named him Sexiest Man Alive in 2010, as well as by Harper's Bazaar, which included him on its 2024 roster of the 50 Hottest Men of All Time. By 2025, his films had collectively grossed more than $6.5 billion worldwide according to The Numbers.

Reynolds is recognized for a minimalist yet impactful fashion sense. GQ describes his attire as uncomplicated—favoring basic t-shirts, tailored pants, and subtle sneakers. Esquire dubs him the "king of outfit repetition" due to his approachable style choices. Meanwhile, British GQ notes his preference for traditional three-piece suits, black velvet tuxedos for formal occasions, and earthy-toned bomber jackets during daytime events.

Controversy surrounding It Ends with Us

The making of It Ends with Us (2024) became subject to dispute following disagreements between Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni. Lively disclosed that Ryan Reynolds had contributed substantial dialogue for a rooftop sequence without Baldoni’s awareness. Rumors of discord escalated across social media platforms, notably on TikTok, where the novel had garnered significant attention within the BookTok community.

On January 16, 2025, Baldoni initiated a $400 million lawsuit against Reynolds and Lively, accusing them of extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. The complaint alleges that Lively threatened to levy false sexual harassment claims and withdraw from the project unless granted creative control—actions that ultimately sidelined Baldoni from the production process and prevented him from attending the premiere. Additionally, Baldoni accused Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist of orchestrating efforts intended to tarnish his reputation and shift focus away from the film’s message on domestic violence.

In response, Reynolds filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in March 2025, denying any involvement beyond supporting Lively and refuting assertions that his character Nicepool was modeled after Baldoni. He further described the legal action as an example of "thin-skinned outrage."

Personal life

Reynolds's relationship with singer Alanis Morissette began in 2002, leading to an engagement announcement in 2004; however, they ended their relationship in 2007. Morissette later disclosed that her 2008 album Flavors of Entanglement was influenced by their separation. Soon after, Reynolds started dating actress Scarlett Johansson in 2007, became engaged in 2008, and married the same year. Their marriage concluded with a separation in 2010 and divorce finalized in 2011.

In July 2010, Reynolds met actress Blake Lively while working on Green Lantern. Their romantic relationship commenced in October 2011, culminating in marriage at Boone Hall Plantation, South Carolina, in September 2012. After the civil rights protests of 2020, Reynolds issued an apology regarding the plantation’s historical connection to slavery and subsequently renewed their vows privately in New York. The couple has four children and lives in Pound Ridge, New York. They share a close friendship with singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, who is godmother to their daughters. Additionally, Reynolds credits actor Hugh Jackman for introducing him to director Levy, who has helmed three of his films.

Reynolds’s father, James, passed away in 2015 following a prolonged struggle with Parkinson’s disease. Reynolds has acknowledged that humor played a vital role in managing his grief and that playing Deadpool contributed significantly to his emotional recovery; becoming a father also helped him reconcile his complex feelings toward his late father. He has been candid about living with anxiety throughout his life, noting in 2018 that embodying Deadpool helped him cope with his fears. By 2024, he described his anxiety as causing him to be "quiet" and "shy" when not acting. Around 2018, Reynolds became a U.S. citizen and participated in voting for the first time during the 2020 presidential election.

Acting credits and accolades

According to Rotten Tomatoes, some of Reynolds’s most acclaimed films include Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004), Adventureland (2009), Buried (2010), The Whale (2011), Mississippi Grind (2015), Deadpool (2016), Deadpool 2 (2018), The Croods: A New Age (2020), Free Guy (2021), and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024).

His career achievements encompass a wide array of honors such as a Primetime Emmy Award for executive producing Welcome to Wrexham. He earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for his role in Deadpool (2016). For the soundtrack of Deadpool 2, he received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media and was nominated again for the soundtrack of Deadpool & Wolverine in 2024. His accolades also include three MTV Movie & TV Awards, three People's Choice Awards, and a Saturn Award.

On December 15, 2016, Reynolds was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2021, he received the Canadian Governor General Performing Arts Award. In August 2023, he was selected as a recipient of the Order of British Columbia, with an investiture ceremony planned for November 2023. On December 19, 2024, Reynolds was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada recognizing both his cinematic contributions and philanthropic work.