Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds
Born	Ryan Rodney Reynolds 23 10, 1976
Birthplace	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nationality	Canadian, American
Occupation	Actor, film producer, entrepreneur
Known for	Deadpool franchise, Two Guys and a Girl, Free Guy, co-ownership of Wrexham A.F.C.
Education	Kwantlen Polytechnic University (attended)
Spouse(s)	Template:Unbulleted list
Children	4
Awards	Two Primetime Emmy Awards

Ryan Rodney Reynolds (born October 23, 1976) is a Canadian and American actor, entrepreneur, and film producer whose career spans more than three decades in film and television. Born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Reynolds began acting at the age of thirteen, taking on small roles in various television series before landing his first lead role in the teen soap opera Hillside (1991–1993). He went on to star in the sitcom Two Guys and a Girl (1998–2001), which established him as a comedic leading man, and subsequently appeared in a wide range of films—from romantic comedies such as National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002) and The Proposal (2009) to superhero entries including Blade: Trinity (2004) and Green Lantern (2011). Reynolds achieved his greatest commercial success as the titular character in the Deadpool franchise, with Deadpool (2016), Deadpool 2 (2018), and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) collectively grossing billions of dollars worldwide. His films as a leading actor have grossed over $6.6 billion worldwide, and he was the world's second-highest-paid actor in both 2020 and 2024. Beyond acting, Reynolds has built a substantial business portfolio that includes an ownership stake in Mint Mobile and co-ownership of the Welsh football club Wrexham A.F.C., the latter of which is documented in the Emmy Award–winning television series Welcome to Wrexham (2022–present). He has received numerous accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards, and nominations for two Grammy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. In 2017, Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Early Life

Ryan Rodney Reynolds was born on October 23, 1976, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He grew up in the Vancouver area, where he would begin his acting career as a teenager. His paternal grandfather was Chester Reynolds.

Reynolds began acting at the age of thirteen, securing small roles in various television series produced in the Vancouver area, which at the time was a growing hub for film and television production in North America. His earliest professional work placed him in the milieu of Canadian youth television, a training ground that would shape his comedic timing and screen presence in the years ahead.

Education

Reynolds attended Kwantlen Polytechnic University in his home province of British Columbia but did not complete his studies, choosing instead to pursue his acting career full-time.

Career

Early Television Work (1991–1997)

Reynolds's first significant acting role came in the Canadian teen soap opera Hillside (known as Fifteen in the United States), which aired from 1991 to 1993. The Nickelodeon-distributed series gave the young actor his first experience as a series regular and introduced him to North American audiences.

During the early and mid-1990s, Reynolds appeared in a number of Canadian and American television productions. He had a guest role on The Outer Limits, appearing in multiple episodes of the science fiction anthology series. He also appeared on The John Larroquette Show. Additionally, Reynolds appeared in a sketch on In Living Color.

On the film side, Reynolds appeared in the 1993 Canadian drama Ordinary Magic, which received a review from Variety. He also appeared in other small film roles during this period, including Life During Wartime.

Actress Melissa Joan Hart later recalled that she "kind of had a little thing" with Reynolds during their time as young co-stars in the 1990s.

Breakthrough: Two Guys and a Girl (1998–2001)

Reynolds's breakthrough came with the ABC sitcom Two Guys and a Girl (originally titled Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place), which ran from 1998 to 2001. In the series, Reynolds played one of the titular "two guys," and his performance established him as a charismatic comedic actor capable of carrying a television series. Variety later cited the role as one of Reynolds's best performances, noting the comedic foundation it laid for his subsequent career.

During and around this period, Reynolds also took on film roles. He appeared in the 1999 film Coming Soon, reviewed by Variety. He also appeared in Finder's Fee (2001), which similarly received coverage in Variety.

Film Career: Comedies and Early Superhero Roles (2002–2015)

Following the conclusion of Two Guys and a Girl, Reynolds transitioned to a film-focused career. His first major movie success came with National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002), a comedy in which he played the title character, a perpetual college student. The film was a commercial success and cemented Reynolds's reputation as a comedic leading man.

Reynolds continued to star in comedies throughout the 2000s. He appeared in Waiting... (2005), a comedy set in a chain restaurant, and The Proposal (2009), a romantic comedy opposite Sandra Bullock that became a significant box office hit. He also appeared in The In-Laws (2003), a comedy remake.

Simultaneously, Reynolds began pursuing roles in superhero and action films. He appeared as Hannibal King in Blade: Trinity (2004), marking his first entry into the comic book genre. He subsequently appeared as Wade Wilson / Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), though the portrayal of the character was met with criticism from fans and critics alike for its departure from the source material, particularly the decision to depict the character with his mouth sewn shut. Reynolds then starred as the titular hero in Green Lantern (2011), a DC Comics adaptation that underperformed both critically and commercially.

Between these superhero ventures, Reynolds demonstrated range with roles in dramatic fare such as Buried (2010), a thriller in which he was the sole on-screen actor, and the biographical drama Woman in Gold (2015), in which he portrayed E. Randol Schoenberg.

Deadpool Franchise and Commercial Peak (2016–present)

Reynolds's career reached its commercial zenith with the Deadpool franchise. After years of advocating for a faithful adaptation of the Marvel Comics character, Reynolds starred in Deadpool (2016), directed by Tim Miller. The film, produced on a relatively modest budget for a superhero film, became a massive commercial and critical success, breaking multiple box office records for an R-rated film. Reynolds's performance as the wisecracking, fourth-wall-breaking antihero earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

The sequel, Deadpool 2 (2018), directed by David Leitch, continued the franchise's success, again performing strongly at the worldwide box office. The third installment, Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), directed by Shawn Levy and co-starring Hugh Jackman, became Reynolds's highest-grossing release, marking the character's integration into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Beyond the Deadpool films, Reynolds starred in a number of high-profile projects during this period. He appeared in the science fiction horror film Life (2017), the action film 6 Underground (2019) directed by Michael Bay for Netflix, Free Guy (2021), and The Adam Project (2022), the latter two both directed by Shawn Levy.

Reynolds also established himself as a voice actor. He voiced characters in The Croods (2013), Turbo (2013), and The Croods: A New Age (2020). In 2019, he provided the voice for the titular character in Pokémon Detective Pikachu.

In 2026, it was reported that Reynolds is attached to star in a new film for Apple TV+ as part of the streaming service's 2026 film slate. Additionally, Reynolds's production company, Maximum Effort, developed Bedtime Stories with Ryan, a live-action storytime series for Nickelodeon, which was announced in February 2026.

Television Rights and Production

Reynolds has also been involved in the production side of entertainment. The television rights to the novel Cold Blood were optioned in connection with Reynolds, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. The project was later described as becoming a television event series.

In a humorous promotional venture, Reynolds launched a streaming service that featured only a single film.

Business Ventures

Outside of acting, Reynolds has built a significant business portfolio. He holds an ownership stake in Mint Mobile, a prepaid wireless carrier, for which he has also served as a spokesperson and creative force in advertising.

In 2020, Reynolds and fellow actor Rob McElhenney acquired ownership of Wrexham A.F.C., a Welsh football club competing in the English Football League. The acquisition and subsequent stewardship of the club is documented in the television series Welcome to Wrexham (2022–present), which has aired on FX and won Primetime Emmy Awards. Reynolds and McElhenney's ownership has drawn significant international attention to the club. In a February 2026 interview with the BBC, Reynolds noted that his children become "frustrated" when Wrexham fans stop him in the street to discuss the club. Reynolds and McElhenney have also faced scrutiny regarding their comments about club management; in February 2026, they were called out for making what were described as "very naive" comments about Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson.

Reynolds previously held an ownership stake in Aviation American Gin, which was acquired by Diageo in 2020 in a deal reported to be worth up to $610 million. He has also been involved with Maximum Effort, a production and marketing company.

Personal Life

Reynolds was in a relationship with Canadian singer Alanis Morissette from 2002 to 2007. He married actress Scarlett Johansson in September 2008; the couple divorced in 2011.

In September 2012, Reynolds married actress Blake Lively. The couple has four children together. Reynolds holds both Canadian and American citizenship.

In early 2026, private texts and emails involving Reynolds were unsealed as part of an ongoing legal dispute between Lively and It Ends with Us director Justin Baldoni. Reynolds's representative publicly defended the contents of the communications.

Reynolds has been noted for his friendship with actor Michael J. Fox, a fellow Canadian. In 2026, Fox was reported to be relying on Reynolds to continue advocacy for Parkinson's disease research.

Recognition

Reynolds has received numerous accolades throughout his career. He has won two Primetime Emmy Awards, both for Welcome to Wrexham. He received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for his performance in Deadpool (2016). He has also received two Grammy Award nominations.

In 2010, Reynolds was named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive.

In 2017, Reynolds was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and Time included him in its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. His films as a leading actor have grossed over $6.6 billion worldwide, and he was ranked as the world's second-highest-paid actor in both 2020 and 2024.

Legacy

Reynolds's career arc—from Canadian teen soap opera actor to one of the highest-grossing film stars in Hollywood—represents one of the more distinctive trajectories in modern entertainment. His sustained campaign to bring a faithful adaptation of Deadpool to the screen, a process that spanned approximately a decade from his initial appearance in X-Men Origins: Wolverine to the release of the 2016 film, is frequently cited as an example of an actor's personal commitment to a project resulting in significant commercial and creative vindication. The Deadpool franchise redefined expectations for R-rated superhero films, demonstrating that such productions could achieve box office returns competitive with their PG-13 counterparts.

Beyond film, Reynolds's co-ownership of Wrexham A.F.C. with Rob McElhenney has been credited with bringing unprecedented global attention to lower-league football in England and Wales. The accompanying documentary series Welcome to Wrexham has attracted audiences with no prior interest in football, and the club's on-pitch fortunes have improved markedly during Reynolds and McElhenney's tenure. The venture represents an increasingly common intersection between Hollywood celebrity and professional sports ownership.

Reynolds's business ventures, particularly his involvement with Mint Mobile and Aviation American Gin, have also established him as one of the more commercially active figures in the entertainment industry, blurring the line between actor and entrepreneur in a manner that has become increasingly common among high-profile performers of his generation.