Van Wilder

Background:

Ryan Reynolds is known in Hollywood for portraying Van Wilder in National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002). His significant appearance in the film brought him a nomination for Breakthrough Male Performance at the MTV Movie Awards in 2003. He also played the role of Billy Simpson in Nickelodeon's Fifteen (1991, TV series), and received a nomination for Best Actor in the Youth In Film Awards.

Off screen, Ryan, whose favorite actors are Neil Young, Albert Brooks and Steve Martin, was reported to have a special relationship with musician Alanis Morissette. The couple became engaged in June 2004.

Recently caught on camera wearing matching rings with his fiancé, Ryan clarified his personal relationship by saying, "Our relationship couldn't be better. There's no truth to the rumors we'd temporarily broken up."

Bad Student

Childhood and Family:

The youngest of four brothers, Ryan Rodney Reynolds was born on October 23, 1976, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He is the son of food trader (James) and saleswoman (Tammy). During his youth, Ryan worked in a grocery store.

Though Ryan is a successful actor now, he was not a good one when he was at school. Even so, he left his studies at Kwantlen College to pursue a career in acting.

In his free time, Ryan, who has dogs named Jobey and Boogs, likes Scuba diving, fishing, swimming and snowboarding. He hates flying because once he went skydiving and his parachute failed to open at the first attempt.

The Amityville Horror

Career:

"Acting has given me a way to channel my angst. I feel like an overweight, pimply-faced kid a lot of the time and finding a way to access that insecurity, and put it toward something creative, is incredibly rewarding. I feel very lucky." Ryan Reynolds

Though twelve-year-old Ryan failed drama class, he got an opportunity to portray Billy Simpson in Nickelodeon's Fifteen (1991 TV series, filmed in Florida) two years later. Thanks to the debut role, Ryan earned a nomination for Best Actor in a Youth Film. He also relocated to hometown Vancouver and appeared in some TV films. He won the character of Macro in The Odyssey (1992) and Kevin Bannister in My Name Is Kate (1994). In 1995, Ryan played Andy in Glenn Close's Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story and was cast as Ben Colson in the 1996 TV movie When Friendship Kills. After playing Seth in Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Ryan appeared as Bobby Rupp In Cold Blood.

Once discouraged by his slow moving career, Ryan ran into fellow Vancouver actor & native Chris Martin who suggested they fly to Hollywood. During their nights in LA, the two stayed in a low-priced motel. In 1997, he landed a role in Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place, playing mad student Michael 'Berg' Bergen. Being asked about his role in the TV series Ryan said, "You know I hesitate to say Two Guys, A Girl, and a Pizza Place just because it doesn't feel right because I've had so much fun on it. It just feels like this little thing we did in our backyard and now it's, you know, a hit. That's what they're calling it."

His portrayal in the series drew the producers' attention and Ryan was on his way to fame. He was called in for Dick (1999, as Brad Haldeman's Roommate Chip), We All Fall Down (2000) and Finder's Fee (2001). In 2002 Ryan finally got his first leading role, playing Van Wilder in National Lampoon's Van Wilder, costarring Tara Reid. The role handed him a Breakthrough Male Performance nomination at the MTV Movie Awards. On his role in Van Wilder, he commented, "On that note, that being said, it was damn hard kissing her. You've never experienced anything until you've had a mature, darting tongue in your mouth."

His sparkling performance in the film brought him to the following film projects. He was seen in Buying the Cow (2002, played character Mike Hanson), The In-Laws (2003, portrayed Mark Tobias, starring Michael Douglas and Albert Brooks) and Foolproof (2003, as Kevin). In 2004, Ryan played a cameo in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (as a male nurse) and co-starred in the action/horror flick Blade: Trinity (played Hannibal King).

Recently, Ryan Reynolds appeared in the comedy film Waiting, helmed by Rob McKittrick. In the film he played the role of Monty and costarred with Justin Long and Anna Faris. He was also cast in the remake of The Amityville Horror, portraying the father of a haunted family, George Lutz. The film tells about The Lutz family who only spent twenty-eight days in a house after they were terrorized by a demonic force. The film also starred Melissa George, Jesse James and Jimmy Bennett.

Moviegoers will also see Ryan perform in the upcoming comedy romantic film Just Friends, along with Maria Arcé, James Bitonti, and Jason Bryant. He will also star in Roger Kumble's action comedy Ride Along, with The Rock.

Awards:

Young Hollywood Award: Next Generation Award-Male, 2003.