Ryan Reynolds: Ryan Reynolds talks about his late father’s battle with Parkinson’s: ‘There was a ton of denial, a ton of hiding,’

The ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ star Ryan Reynolds recently opened up about the challenges his family faced during his father’s 20-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. Reflecting on the emotional toll it took, Reynolds revealed that his Vancouver-based family rarely discussed the illness, with his father, James, only mentioning ‘Parkinson’s’ a few times, and never directly to him.Ryan Reynolds lost his father in 2015 to Parkinson’s disease.
In an interview with People, Ryan mentioned that his father used the word ‘Parkinson’s’ only three times. ‘There was a ton of denial, a ton of hiding,’ the actor remembered. Ryan described his complicated relationship with his father, noting that while his dad was always present in his life, attending every football game, he struggled to express emotions or engage in deep conversations. Reynolds characterized his father as a tough, emotionally reserved man who found it difficult to share his feelings.

The Hollywood star further explained that his father’s Parkinson’s disease caused hallucinations and delusions, which deepened the emotional divide between them. He recalled thinking his father was losing his grip on reality, leading to a loss of trust from those around him. He described how his father’s delusions led him to create elaborate conspiracy theories, which were completely unlike the rational man Reynolds had known growing up.

He reflected on the years since his father’s death, admitting that he has been piecing together their relationship. He realized that, in the past, he avoided taking responsibility for their disconnect, blaming their differences instead of making an effort to understand and connect with his father.