Before the blockbuster movies, billion-dollar franchises and red-carpet appearances, Ryan Reynolds was fighting a very different battle. The Deadpool star has revealed that he was once involved in a horrific accident that nearly changed the course of his life forever. Speaking in a recent interview with Rob Mac, Reynolds shared that he was just 18 years old when he was struck by a drunk driver while walking home in Vancouver. Unlike many tragic stories involving drunk driving, Reynolds had actually made the responsible decision that night.
He explained that after having a few drinks, he chose not to get behind the wheel and decided to walk home instead. But fate had other plans.
According to Reynolds, the impact was so severe that it broke every bone on the left side of his body. The collision left him hospitalized for four weeks and required extensive medical treatment to put him back together.
“I got run over by a drunk driver,” Reynolds recalled, adding that the driver hit him with such force that the vehicle itself was no longer operational afterward.
The actor also took a moment to thank the doctors who treated him, jokingly crediting the medical team at Vancouver General Hospital for rebuilding him piece by piece.
What makes the story even more shocking is how rarely Reynolds has spoken about it. Despite being one of Hollywood’s most open and self-deprecating stars, this chapter of his life has remained largely unknown to fans for decades.
Looking back, the story serves as a powerful reminder of how devastating drunk driving can be. Reynolds did everything right that night. He chose not to drive. He chose the safer option. Yet he still became the victim of someone else’s reckless decision.
It is one of those stories that instantly puts things into perspective.
Today, Reynolds is known for his quick wit, massive film career and successful business ventures. But hearing him talk about spending a month in hospital after nearly being killed as a teenager is a reminder that some of Hollywood’s biggest stars have survived life-changing experiences long before fame found them.
The actor has often built his public image around humour, but this revelation shows a much darker chapter behind the jokes. And perhaps that resilience is one of the reasons Ryan Reynolds has become one of the most relatable stars in Hollywood.
Sometimes the most incredible comeback stories happen long before the cameras start rolling.