Reynolds, Ryan (1976-…), is a Canadian actor known for his good looks and his witty, comedic performances in motion pictures. He often plays a sarcastic everyman (ordinary person). Reynolds also is known for his film role as the antihero Deadpool, based on a Marvel Comics character. An antihero is a main character lacking typical heroic qualities.
Ryan Rodney Reynolds was born on Oct. 23, 1976, in Vancouver, in the Canadian province of British Columbia. He began his acting career on the Canadian television series “Hillside” (1991-1993). The series aired as “Fifteen” in the United States. In the late 1990’s, Reynolds moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue acting full-time. He then co-starred in the American sitcom (situation comedy) “Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place” (1998-2001).
Reynolds’s first starring movie role was as an unambitious college student in the comedy National Lampoon’s Van Wilder (2002). This performance established him as a comedic actor and led to parts in other comedies, including The In-Laws (2003) and Waiting (2005). Reynolds has starred in such romantic comedies as Just Friends (2005), Definitely Maybe (2008), and The Proposal (2009). He also provided the voice of a character in the animated film The Croods (2013).
In addition to acting in comedies, Reynolds has appeared in a number of superhero movies. Reynolds had the title role in Green Lantern (2011). He also played the comic-book character Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) and in the box-office hit Deadpool (2016). Deadpool is a wisecracking mutant mercenary (hired killer). Reynolds starred in and cowrote Deadpool 2 (2018) and Once Upon a Deadpool (2018), a version of Deadpool 2 for younger viewers.
Reynolds also has gained recognition for his philanthropy and support of various charities. In 2023, he was appointed to the Order of British Columbia, the province’s highest honor.
