Ryan Reynolds: Drunk driver almost killed me

Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds has opened up on how a drunk driver nearly killed him when he was 18, revealing that he was left with broken bones and spent four weeks in hospital after the accident.

The Deadpool star made the disclosure in a new GQ video released on Tuesday, June 9, where he appeared alongside his Welcome to Wrexham co-star, Rob Mac.

Reynolds, now 49, said the incident happened after he left a bar where he had taken a beer. According to him, he decided not to drive home because he felt it was unsafe to do so, even though the distance was short.

“When I was 18, I left a bar and I’d had a beer,” Reynolds recalled.

He said he told himself that “even if it’s four blocks home, absolutely not,” insisting he would not drive after drinking.

But in a painful twist, Reynolds said he was hit while walking home by a drunk driver.

“I spent four weeks in the hospital,” he said.

His revelation shocked Mac, who responded: “What? That’s the first time I’ve heard that.”

Reynolds then explained the extent of his injuries.

“Oh, yeah, broke every bone in my left side,” he said. “He hit me so hard, his car was not operational.”

The actor thanked the doctor at the Canadian hospital where he was treated, saying he was grateful for “putting me back together so kindly.”

Reynolds had earlier spoken about the accident in a 2011 interview with CTV News, where he remembered waking up to his father sitting beside him with a vomit tray after the crash.

He joked that the incident left him a “rickety, broken mess.”

Despite the serious injuries, Reynolds went on to build a career around physically demanding roles, especially as the foul-mouthed superhero Deadpool.

However, the actor has admitted that he now performs fewer stunts as he gets older.

In a 2022 interview with *Variety*, Reynolds said he still tries to do as much stunt work as possible, but knows when to step aside for professionals.

“I think it’s important to do as much of it yourself as you can, but I’ll step aside when there’s something that’s just too gnarly and there’s a trained professional ready to go,” he said.

He added jokingly: “You’re not allowed to eat Advil like cereal.”

Reynolds is expected to appear next in *Mayday*, scheduled for release on September 4. He will also return as Deadpool in *Avengers: Doomsday*, billed for release on December 18.