The Most Adorable Throwback Photos of Ryan Reynolds

Mar. 15, 2025

Ryan Reynolds throwback.Photo:Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Ryan Reynoldswas one cute kid!Before he ventured into acting, Reynolds appears to have had a normal childhood filled with typical activities such as playing football, fishing and hanging out with his three older brothers — and these adorable pictures are proof! “I wasn’t considered a younger brother, I was considered a moving target,” theDeadpoolactoronce told PEOPLEabout his upbringing.At 13 years old, the futureDeadpoolactor would land his first acting gig, playing Billy Simpson in the Canadian teen dramaHillside,which was later renamedFifteenwhen it aired in the U.S. He went on to steadily build his resume, starring inTwo Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, The Amityville Horror,The Proposaland then, of course, theDeadpoolfranchise.As the star turns 48 on Oct. 23, look back at his adorable early days. (Not much has changed!)

Ryan Reynoldswas one cute kid!

Before he ventured into acting, Reynolds appears to have had a normal childhood filled with typical activities such as playing football, fishing and hanging out with his three older brothers — and these adorable pictures are proof! “I wasn’t considered a younger brother, I was considered a moving target,” theDeadpoolactoronce told PEOPLEabout his upbringing.

At 13 years old, the futureDeadpoolactor would land his first acting gig, playing Billy Simpson in the Canadian teen dramaHillside,which was later renamedFifteenwhen it aired in the U.S. He went on to steadily build his resume, starring inTwo Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, The Amityville Horror,The Proposaland then, of course, theDeadpoolfranchise.

As the star turns 48 on Oct. 23, look back at his adorable early days. (Not much has changed!)

01of 10Football Fan For LifeRyan Reynolds.Ryan Reynolds/InstagramLooks like Reynolds has been a football fan long before he wasspotted cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jetsalongside famous palsTaylor Swift,Hugh Jackman,Sophie Turnerand of course, his wifeBlake Lively.“Me at 2 years old. Football would be a totally ridiculous game if the ball were this big – relative to the player’s body,” hewrote on Instagramalongside this photo of his tiny self holding the ball. “And that uniform… well, it’s just f—— terrible.”

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Football Fan For Life

Ryan Reynolds.Ryan Reynolds/Instagram

Ryan Reynolds/Instagram

Looks like Reynolds has been a football fan long before he wasspotted cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jetsalongside famous palsTaylor Swift,Hugh Jackman,Sophie Turnerand of course, his wifeBlake Lively.

“Me at 2 years old. Football would be a totally ridiculous game if the ball were this big – relative to the player’s body,” hewrote on Instagramalongside this photo of his tiny self holding the ball. “And that uniform… well, it’s just f—— terrible.”

02of 10

Ryan Reynolds and his brother.Ryan Reynolds/Instagram

There is no shortage of cuteness when it comes to the Reynolds brothers. In this photo of a pint-sized Reynolds behind the wheel, theDeadpoolactor is seenrocking a classic bowl cut.

“The first car my brother and I jacked together,” Reynolds wrote on Instagram alongside the vintage shot. “I’ll never forget that bowl cut. Or the sound of Dad screaming from the trunk.”

03of 10Birthday MemoriesRyan Reynolds.Ryan Reynolds/InstagramAhead of his birthday in 2018, Reynoldsshared a memory of one of his childhood birthdayswhere a fresh-faced kiddo is seen sitting behind birthday cake decorated with colorful candles.“Happy Birthday to me. Or as Dad used to affectionately say, ‘the condom broke,'” the actor teased.

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Birthday Memories

Ahead of his birthday in 2018, Reynoldsshared a memory of one of his childhood birthdayswhere a fresh-faced kiddo is seen sitting behind birthday cake decorated with colorful candles.

“Happy Birthday to me. Or as Dad used to affectionately say, ‘the condom broke,'” the actor teased.

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Hand in Hand

“Happy Birthday to my big brother, Jeff. Seems like just yesterday you were changing my diapers, even though it was well over a week ago,” Reynolds wrote on Instagram.

05of 10Big Brother ShoutoutRyan Reynolds and his brother.Ryan Reynolds/InstagramIn another sweet birthday tribute to Jeff,Reynolds shared this photo of the tiny duoin personalized shirts calling his big bro “the first friend I ever had.”“I may have three older brothers, but only one Jeff,” Reynolds wrote onInstagramin 2017.Later in the post he joked, “If there was ever a fire and I had to choose a family member to save, obviously it’d be me. But if I had time to save one more… and I knew it was safe to re-enter the burning building, you can be damn sure I’d call the fire department. They’re experts in the field and have top quality safety gear. Not to mention experience in these matters. I love you. Happy Birthday.”

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Big Brother Shoutout

In another sweet birthday tribute to Jeff,Reynolds shared this photo of the tiny duoin personalized shirts calling his big bro “the first friend I ever had.”

“I may have three older brothers, but only one Jeff,” Reynolds wrote onInstagramin 2017.

Later in the post he joked, “If there was ever a fire and I had to choose a family member to save, obviously it’d be me. But if I had time to save one more… and I knew it was safe to re-enter the burning building, you can be damn sure I’d call the fire department. They’re experts in the field and have top quality safety gear. Not to mention experience in these matters. I love you. Happy Birthday.”

06of 10Ladies ManRyan Reynolds and his brother.Ryan Reynolds/InstagramReynolds shared a glimpse into a family trip to Knott’s Berry Farm in this shot shared to Instagram, where he poses alongside a pair of statues and one of his older brothers.“When I was 5 years old, my Dad used to take us to Knott’s Berry Farm to meet girls,“he wrote. “Only now, as I look back on this photo do I realize, my brother wasn’t real.”

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Ladies Man

Reynolds shared a glimpse into a family trip to Knott’s Berry Farm in this shot shared to Instagram, where he poses alongside a pair of statues and one of his older brothers.

“When I was 5 years old, my Dad used to take us to Knott’s Berry Farm to meet girls,“he wrote. “Only now, as I look back on this photo do I realize, my brother wasn’t real.”

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Fish Are Friends

Ryan Reynolds.Ryan Reynolds/X

Ryan Reynolds/X

Inthis sweet throwbackshared on X, previously known as Twitter, back in 2015, Reynolds shared the funny revelation he experienced at the time of the shot.

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In the Field

Ryan Reynolds in 1999.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

09of 10So MillennialRyan Reynolds.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via GettyMillennials totally understand this look: the layered shirts, colorful pants and artfully gelled hair, worn to theBattlefield Earthpremiere is peak 2000s.

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So Millennial

Ryan Reynolds.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Millennials totally understand this look: the layered shirts, colorful pants and artfully gelled hair, worn to theBattlefield Earthpremiere is peak 2000s.

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Reynolds was certainly giving the boy banders a run for their money with this spiked style he wore to the 1999 premiere ofElection.

source: people.com