Ryan Reynolds Talks Father's Death, Says Playing ‘Deadpool’ Taught Him To Take Life 'Less Seriously'

Ryan Reynolds philosophy for dealing with life's troubles: laughter. It's the best medicine, especially when it came to dealing with his father's death from Parkinson's disease last fall. In a new interview with Men's Health Magazine, Reynolds said starring in the upcoming Marvel movie "Deadpool" serviced as the prescription he needed to help him deal with his father's health. The actor explained that taking the role was "something I needed to do. Because I really identified with this character."

"I understand the idea of filtering pain through comedy," Reynolds told the publication. "Laughing can serve you in those dark moments and even help you crawl your way back out."

"I think this character does that quite well... He wakes up in the morning exclusively to annoy everyone around him," Reynolds told Men's Health. "But for your average civilian like me, I think there's something really relatable about that idea, that there's something to be learned by taking life a little less seriously."

Reynolds' father, James C. Reynolds, lost his 20-year battle to Parkinson's last October at the age of 74. Luckily, Reynolds was there for his dad's final moments and said the time was filled with laughter.

"I got to say goodbye to him... We were all in there together, me and my brothers, just joking with him," he recalled. "And of course, we end up busting each other's chops. I recommended that the doctor raise [my] Dad's dose of Dilaudid in order to make my other brother more tolerable. It wasn't a bad way to go. If I could have the same death as my father, I would do it right now."

Still, it hasn't been easy dealing with his father's death. Reynolds continued, "We had a deeply complicated relationship. And it leaves behind some questions that are still being answered. Not just about him, but, you know...how I'm trying to get better at being a dad and a husband and a man."

The Canadian, who welcomed daughter James with wife Blake Lively in Dec. 2014, said fatherhood has given him a new perspective on parenthood, which he admits hasn't been a smooth sailing ride, especially with him being a first-time dad.

"During those first six months, it's amazing that you find a way to keep going," Reynolds told the magazine. "Just the lack of sleep, and the hallucinations. F--k peyote. You want to trip balls? Have a kid and see what it's like to be awake for a month straight."

"Deadpool" opens Feb. 12.

Tags

Ryan Reynolds, Parkinson's disease, Blake Lively