Ryan Reynolds is an award-winning Canadian actor, producer, and entrepreneur who has starred in numerous popular films over the past two decades. He is known for his quick wit and sarcasm both on and off-screen. Some of his most famous roles have been in blockbuster movies like “Deadpool”, “The Proposal”, and “Green Lantern”.
Early Life and Background
Ryan Rodney Reynolds was born on October 23, 1976 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was the youngest of four brothers in his family. His father, James Chester Reynolds, was a retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, and his mother, Tammy, worked as a retail saleswoman.
Reynolds has described his upbringing as “ordinary.” As a child, he was fascinated by acting after getting a role in a school play in the second grade. This early interest set him on the path to becoming an actor.
Key Details:
- Date of Birth: October 23, 1976
- Place of Birth: Vancouver, Canada
- Parents: James & Tammy Reynolds
- Siblings: 3 older brothers
- Early Interest: Acting from a young age
Reynolds attended Kitsilano Secondary School in Vancouver and graduated in 1994. He then enrolled in Kwantlen Polytechnic University but dropped out after just a few months to pursue acting full time.
Acting Career
After dropping out of university, Reynolds started taking on small roles in television shows like “The Odyssey” and TV movies in the mid-1990s. His early acting credits included bit parts and guest appearances.
Some Early Roles:
| Show/Movie | Year | Role |
|---|---|---|
| The Odyssey | 1993 | Macro |
| Ordinary Magic | 1993 | Ganesh |
| The Marshall | 1995 | Marshall |
| The X-Files | 1996 | Allusive Man |
His first leading role came in 1996 in the TV series “Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place”, which ran for several seasons and helped establish Reynolds’ career. Following this breakthrough, he started getting more prominent roles in movies like “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder”, “Blade: Trinity”, and “The Amityville Horror.”
Over the next decade, Reynolds steadily gained recognition for comedy and action movies like “Definitely, Maybe”, “The Proposal”, and “Buried” while continuing acting in films of other genres like thriller and drama as well.
Some Notable Movies:
| Film | Year | Genre | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Lampoon’s Van Wilder | 2002 | Comedy | Van Wilder |
| Blade: Trinity | 2004 | Action | Hannibal King |
| The Amityville Horror | 2005 | Horror | George Lutz |
| Definitely, Maybe | 2008 | Romantic Comedy | Will Hayes |
| The Proposal | 2009 | Romantic Comedy | Andrew Paxton |
| Buried | 2010 | Thriller | Paul Conroy |
His career reached new heights when Reynolds was cast as the Marvel superhero Deadpool in 2009’s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” and then again in the 2016 standalone film “Deadpool” and its even more successful 2018 sequel. His performance was praised for capturing Deadpool’s humor and sarcasm from the comics. The “Deadpool” films have been Reynolds’ biggest commercial successes so far.
Recent Projects
After the massive success of “Deadpool” and securing himself as an A-list star in Hollywood, Reynolds has continued taking on a variety of acting projects:
- Action movies – The Hitman’s Wife Bodyguard (2021), 6 Underground (2019)
- Animated films – Turbo (2013), The Croods 2 (2020)
- Romantic comedies – The Change-Up (2011)
- Dramas – The Captive (2014), Woman in Gold (2015)
- Detective film – Self/less (2015)
He also made his screenwriting debut with 2020’s action comedy “Free Guy”, which was both a critical and commercial hit.
In addition to on-screen projects, Reynolds has invested in various business ventures as an entrepreneur over the years too. Some of his major investments/acquisitions include:
- Aviation Gin (2018)
- Mint Mobile (2019)
- Welsh football club Wrexham AFC (2020)
At 45 years old currently, Reynolds remains one of the most popular actors in Hollywood today known for his versatile filmography and box office appeal. He has built a thriving career over three decades in the entertainment industry.
What was Ryan Reynolds’ big break role?
Reynolds’ first major breakthrough role is considered to be the lead character of Van Wilder in “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder” in 2002. While he had acted in films and TV shows earlier in the 90s, this raunchy college comedy helped put Reynolds on the radar of young audiences. The movie became a hit and his performance as the witty and charming party animal Van Wilder garnered praise and attention. This ultimately led to more prominent roles in Hollywood movies over the next few years.
How did Deadpool change Ryan Reynolds’ career?
Ryan Reynolds’ career reached new heights of stardom after playing the Marvel antihero Deadpool in the 2016 film “Deadpool” and its 2018 sequel. Though he first played this character in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” in 2009, it was the stand alone “Deadpool” film that became a massive critical and commercial hit and propelled his fame globally.
Some ways “Deadpool” supercharged Reynolds’ acting career:
- Established him as a bankable box office star with “Deadpool” becoming highest grossing R-rated film
- Gave him a very popular fan favorite character that created his enduring star image
- Allowed him to showcase his comedic talents and timing on a blockbuster scale
- Opened up opportunities for more varied film roles (action, comedy, drama)
- Reynolds gained more creative control and input as a producer in films
- Gave him leverage to invest in entrepreneurial ventures outside films
Thanks to the runaway success of “Deadpool”, Reynolds has reached A-list status as one of the most sought after actors working today in Hollywood. The antihero role cemented him as a household name across the world.
What awards has Ryan Reynolds won?
While Ryan Reynolds has been nominated for numerous awards over his career, notably he has won these honors so far:
Critics Choice Movie Awards
- Best Actor in a Comedy (2016) – for Deadpool
This was for his performance as the titular antihero Deadpool which garnered praise from critics and fans alike when the movie released in 2016. Reynolds won many Best Actor awards that year across different award groups and critic circles for bringing this Marvel character to R-rated life in this faithful movie adaptation.
People’s Choice Awards
- Favorite Movie Actor (2016, 2017)
- Favorite Comedic Collaboration (2021) – for Free Guy
Reynolds won the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actor two years in a row in 2016 and 2017 at the height of Deadpool’s popularity. He also won Best Comedic Collaboration with co-star Jodie Comer for their acting together in 2021’s action comedy Free Guy which Reynolds starred, produced and co-wrote.
Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Star Honoree (2017)
In recognition of his contributions to the film industry, Reynolds was awarded a star on the famed Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017 adding his name alongside some of the most famous movie stars to have received this honor.
So while competitive awards like the Oscars or Golden Globes have eluded him so far, Reynolds has received notable honors based on public popularity and critical praise welcoming him as a movie celebrity following his successful string of movies.
What is Ryan Reynolds’ net worth?
According to multiple sources, Ryan Reynolds’ current estimated net worth as of 2023 is approximately $150 million.
As one of the highest paid actors in the film industry today commanding up to $20 million per movie now, Reynolds has amassed his multimillion dollar wealth primarily from his salaries starring in numerous hit Hollywood films over his career spanning more than 25 years.
Some other contributing factors to his high net worth fortune include:
- Backend profits and bonuses from films he has producer/co-writer credits in
- His popular celebrity image and brand endorsements deals (brands like Hugo Boss)
- Lucrative aviation gin business Reynolds co-owns which sells over 700,000 cases annually
- Co-owner equity stake in wireless provider Mint Mobile valued between $100-$500 million
- Part owner of soccer club Wrexham AFC since 2020
At just 45 years old currently, Reynolds’ wealth and star power looks set to rise even higher given his A-list status, production company, entrepreneurial ventures, and critically acclaimed acting performances. He is considered one of the richest actors in Hollywood today.
What is Ryan Reynold’s family like?
Reynolds has been married to American actress Blake Lively since 2012, after meeting her early on the sets of their movie “Green Lantern” in 2010 where they played love interests. The celebrity power couple now have three daughters.
- Wife: Blake Lively (married 2012 – present)
- American actress best known for roles in TV series “Gossip Girl” & films “A Simple Favor” and “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” franchise.
- Kids: James (born 2014), Inez (born 2016), and Betty (born 2019)
Reynolds maintains a relatively private home life with his family across their properties in New York and Los Angeles.
In interviews over the years, he has often expressed how fatherhood changed him and has praised his wife Blake for her support in all his career ventures. Reynolds also makes sure to take breaks from his busy acting schedule to focus on raising his three children.
Overall, Ryan Reynolds appears very devoted to his wife Blake Lively and close with his three daughters as part of a loving, tight-knit celebrity family away from the spotlight.
Conclusion
In summary, Ryan Reynolds has emerged as one of the biggest contemporary movie stars through his acclaimed and commercially successful acting over the past two and a half decades. After early small roles, Reynolds achieved his major breakthrough playing funny yet charming lead characters in hit comedies like “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder” and “The Proposal” establishing himself as a bankable Hollywood actor.
But it was his defining performance as the sarcastic antihero Deadpool in 20th Century Fox’s Marvel franchise starting 2016 that propelled Reynolds into global fame as an A-lister and hugely boosted his box office appeal across demographics. Capitalizing on this popularity, Reynolds has balanced starring in big-budget action blockbusters and lower scale passion projects in recent years, showing impressive range and talent as a versatile actor in both comedy and drama genres on top of his proven action film prowess.
Off-screen, Reynolds maintains an affable public image through entertaining talk show appearances and social media while pursuing entrepreneurial ventures co-owning brands like Aviation Gin which align with his celebrity persona. The former TV sitcom star has certainly come a long way to now ranked as one of the highest paid actors in the world with an estimated $150 million fortune nearly three decades into his showbiz career. And at 45 years old currently, Reynolds shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon with his ever-growing Hollywood clout.
FAQs about Ryan Reynolds
What nationality is Ryan Reynolds?
Ryan Reynolds is Canadian. He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on October 23, 1976.
How tall is Ryan Reynolds?
Reynolds is 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall. His taller height contributes to his strapping build and appearance which suits many of his action roles like Deadpool.
What is Ryan Reynolds’ Twitter handle?
Reynolds is very active on Twitter interacting with fans through the verified account handle @VancityReynolds which over 17 million followers currently.
How much did Ryan Reynolds buy Wrexham FC for?
In 2020, Reynolds and fellow actor Rob McElhenney purchased the fifth-division Welsh football club Wrexham AFC for £2 million.
Did Ryan Reynolds buy Mint Mobile?
Yes, Reynolds acquired an ownership stake in wireless startup company Mint Mobile in 2019. Mint Mobile provides affordable prepaid mobile plans and continues its operations with Reynolds as a key investor and the face of its advertising.