Ryan Reynolds Says Healing After His Dad’s Death Comes 'Through My Relationship with My Own Kids' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Ryan Reynolds.Photo:Taylor Hill/WireImage

Taylor Hill/WireImage

In the nine years since his father’s death,Ryan Reynoldshas come to a more peaceful place about their fractured relationship.“I think most men and boys have a slightly complicated relationship with their father, but I also think that the healing for me or the closure around my dad actually really comes more through my relationship with my own kids,” theDeadpool & Wolverinestar tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue.James Chester Reynoldsdied in 2015 at age 74 after living with Parkinson’s disease for nearly 20 years. In the years after his father’s death, Ryan learned James’ struggle with hallucinations and delusionsare two lesser-known symptoms of Parkinson’s. He has since partnered with the educational campaignMore to Parkinson’s, which offers resources to patients and caregivers.The youngest of four, Ryan, 47, is now a dad to his own four children with wifeBlake Lively, 36: James, 9, Inez, 7, Betty, 4, and Olin, whom the coupleannounced they welcomedin Feb. 2023. Becoming a father, Ryan says, has brought a new opportunity to heal some of his past.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Ryan (bottom right, at age 5 in 1981, with brothers Jeff, bottom left, Patrick and Terry, top left and right) and father James (center).Courtesy Ryan Reynolds“My dad had incredible integrity. He did not lie. He had this compulsion and moral and ethical compass that was I think very impressive,” says Ryan of his father, who he has described as an often tough and stoic former police officer. “[It] always pushed him to do the right thing at the right time, even though he made a massive amount of mistakes, was not a great communicator, blew it, all kinds of stuff.“He continues: “But I blow it all the time and we all do. It’s funny that our parents are meant to have this kind of infallibility. So I do feel like part of that process and journey for me is with my own kids…I get to fill in those little gaps that maybe hurt me with respect to my own father.”Those opportunities present themselves, he says, in the more tense moments of parenting.“I get to show up. And even though I may have an instinct when my kid is acting out or telling me I’m the worst — my father’s instinct would be to shut that kid off. My dad would retreat into the power of silence, and that is not the way to acknowledge your kid.”Ryan in 1988 with his parents and brother Jeff (far left).Courtesy Ryan ReynoldsIn those tougher moments, Ryan works to lean into what’s happening in front of him.“To be able to get down on their level and just tell them that I believe them and that I’m here for them. That they can’t go do the thing that they’re asking to do — but at the same time, I’m willing to sit here and hear them out and feel whatever they’re going through.“And instead of shutting down, says Ryan, he’s able to forge a connection “and let them know…I’m going to stay with you until we can feel a little bit better. I don’t know if I can fix it, but I can definitely be with you through this. That kind of stuff, I’m like, ‘Oh, okay. I just weirdly didn’t mean to, but I fixed something with my own dad.’”Ryan now says that learning his father’s decline into hallucinations and conspiratorial webs was connected to Parkinson’s has made him want to speak out so that others can seek resources.“It really destabilized my relationship with him because I didn’t really know what was happening,” says the star. “I wish I’d known about this. I wish help was available. This is the part that really unwound my family.”For more from Ryan Reynolds’s exclusive PEOPLE interview, pick up this week’s issue, on stands Friday.

In the nine years since his father’s death,Ryan Reynoldshas come to a more peaceful place about their fractured relationship.

“I think most men and boys have a slightly complicated relationship with their father, but I also think that the healing for me or the closure around my dad actually really comes more through my relationship with my own kids,” theDeadpool & Wolverinestar tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue.

James Chester Reynoldsdied in 2015 at age 74 after living with Parkinson’s disease for nearly 20 years. In the years after his father’s death, Ryan learned James’ struggle with hallucinations and delusionsare two lesser-known symptoms of Parkinson’s. He has since partnered with the educational campaignMore to Parkinson’s, which offers resources to patients and caregivers.

The youngest of four, Ryan, 47, is now a dad to his own four children with wifeBlake Lively, 36: James, 9, Inez, 7, Betty, 4, and Olin, whom the coupleannounced they welcomedin Feb. 2023. Becoming a father, Ryan says, has brought a new opportunity to heal some of his past.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Ryan (bottom right, at age 5 in 1981, with brothers Jeff, bottom left, Patrick and Terry, top left and right) and father James (center).Courtesy Ryan Reynolds

Courtesy Ryan Reynolds

“My dad had incredible integrity. He did not lie. He had this compulsion and moral and ethical compass that was I think very impressive,” says Ryan of his father, who he has described as an often tough and stoic former police officer. “[It] always pushed him to do the right thing at the right time, even though he made a massive amount of mistakes, was not a great communicator, blew it, all kinds of stuff.”

He continues: “But I blow it all the time and we all do. It’s funny that our parents are meant to have this kind of infallibility. So I do feel like part of that process and journey for me is with my own kids…I get to fill in those little gaps that maybe hurt me with respect to my own father.”

Those opportunities present themselves, he says, in the more tense moments of parenting.

“I get to show up. And even though I may have an instinct when my kid is acting out or telling me I’m the worst — my father’s instinct would be to shut that kid off. My dad would retreat into the power of silence, and that is not the way to acknowledge your kid.”

Ryan in 1988 with his parents and brother Jeff (far left).Courtesy Ryan Reynolds

In those tougher moments, Ryan works to lean into what’s happening in front of him.

“To be able to get down on their level and just tell them that I believe them and that I’m here for them. That they can’t go do the thing that they’re asking to do — but at the same time, I’m willing to sit here and hear them out and feel whatever they’re going through.“

And instead of shutting down, says Ryan, he’s able to forge a connection “and let them know…I’m going to stay with you until we can feel a little bit better. I don’t know if I can fix it, but I can definitely be with you through this. That kind of stuff, I’m like, ‘Oh, okay. I just weirdly didn’t mean to, but I fixed something with my own dad.’”

Ryan now says that learning his father’s decline into hallucinations and conspiratorial webs was connected to Parkinson’s has made him want to speak out so that others can seek resources.

“It really destabilized my relationship with him because I didn’t really know what was happening,” says the star. “I wish I’d known about this. I wish help was available. This is the part that really unwound my family.”

For more from Ryan Reynolds’s exclusive PEOPLE interview, pick up this week’s issue, on stands Friday.

source: people.com