Ryan Gosling Once Revealed the Movie That Got Him Kicked Out of School

Ryan Gosling once shared a wild story about how a movie got him suspended from school. During a 2011 interview with Jay Leno, Gosling explained that as a child he was obsessed with Rambo: First Blood. “When I was a kid, I saw Rambo: First Blood – the movie put a spell on me, and I thought I was Rambo,” he said.

He even thought his face looked like Sylvester Stallone’s. Inspired by the film, Gosling packed steak knives into a Fisher Price Houdini kit and brought it to school, throwing them at other kids during recess. “I got suspended, rightfully so, and I’m sorry. I never did anything like that again,” he admitted.

The incident left a mark on his parents, who decided he could only watch Bible movies and National Geographic documentaries for a while. Gosling jokingly recalled in the same interview, “So the next week, I came to school, and I hit a kid in the neck with a blow dart [laughs]. That’s not true; that’s a joke!”

Gosling also told ES Magazine that after the suspension, his school suggested an ADHD assessment. He was never diagnosed, but the event led to a year of homeschooling by his mother. He credits this time with giving him “a sense of autonomy that I’ve never really lost.”

Growing up in Canada, Gosling attended Gladstone Public School, Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School, and Lester B. Pearson High School.

He had a tough childhood, often bullied and without friends until his teens. He was fascinated by action movies like Dick Tracy and used performing arts to build confidence. Gosling performed in local shows, sang at weddings, and even joined a ballet company. These experiences became the only moments where he received praise, boosting his self-esteem.

Interestingly, Gosling developed his own accent as a child because he felt his Canadian accent didn’t sound tough enough. He modeled it after Marlon Brando, a choice that stuck with him throughout his acting career. At 17, he left high school to fully focus on acting, a decision that eventually led him to Hollywood stardom.

This story shows how a childhood fascination with movies can have both chaotic and transformative effects. It’s also a reminder of how far Gosling has come, turning early mischief into a successful acting career. What do you think about his early adventures? Share your thoughts in the comments.