MCU Star Ryan Reynolds Recounts the Severe Accident That Left Him in Hospital for Weeks

Ryan Reynolds has shared details about a serious accident he suffered when he was 18 years old, saying he was hit by a drunk driver while walking in Vancouver. The actor spoke about the experience in an interview with GQ, where he was joined by his friend and business partner Rob McElhenney.

Reynolds said the crash left him badly injured and required a long stay in hospital. He explained, “Spent four weeks in the hospital.” He also said the impact of the accident was severe, adding, “Oh yeah, broke every bone in my left side.” According to Reynolds, the crash was so violent that the driver’s car was no longer usable afterward.

McElhenney, who was hearing the story for the first time during the interview, reacted in shock. He admitted he had never known about the incident before Reynolds brought it up.

The accident happened in Vancouver, Canada, where Reynolds grew up. At the time, he was still early in his career. He had already appeared in small television roles, including teen and fantasy series, but he had not yet become a major Hollywood star. His big breakthrough would come years later with films like Van Wilder and eventually Deadpool.

Reynolds later reflected on the circumstances around the night of the crash in another interview. He explained that he had been out drinking but chose not to drive home. Instead, he walked. He said, “I was 19 in Vancouver, Canada — drinking age is different there — and I’d had a couple of drinks and I didn’t want to get in my car, obviously, because that’s insane. I walked home, and on my way home, I got hit by a drunk driver. I was like, ‘Thanks karma!’”

Even though the story is serious, Reynolds also added humor when talking about the medical care he received. He joked, “I’d like to thank Dr. Meek at the General Hospital for putting me back together so kindly. Socialized medicine, he couldn’t say no.”

The actor also used the conversation to look back on how far he has come since those early years. At the time of the accident, his acting career was still very small, and he had not yet reached international fame. Today, he is one of the most well-known actors in Hollywood.

Reynolds’ friendship with McElhenney, known for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and their shared ownership of Wrexham AFC, added a personal tone to the interview. McElhenney was surprised to hear such a serious story from someone he has worked closely with for years.

Reynolds has occasionally mentioned the accident in past interviews, but it is not something he often talks about in detail. His recent comments give a clearer picture of how serious the injuries were and how long the recovery took.

Despite the severity of the crash, Reynolds went on to fully recover and build a long career in film and television, becoming one of the most recognizable actors in the industry today.

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