Ryan Reynolds needs no introduction regarding his career. With titular roles of Deadpool and Green Lantern, among a plethora of other notable works, under his belt, he is unquestionably one of Hollywood's most famous actors.

But even after he got famous, nobody knew he had a tough childhood because of his late father. Here's what we know about his parents — father James Chester Reynolds, and mother Tammy Reynolds — and his life with them. 

Ryan Reynolds Life with Parents

Reynolds grew up with his parents and three older brothers in a strict Irish-Catholic family in Vancouver, Canada. His father worked as a police officer while his mother served as a retail salesperson. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Ryan Reynolds (@vancityreynolds)

Reynolds admittedly had a complicated relationship with his father. During an interview with the Dailymail in 2018, he referred to his dad as "a full-time landmine." 

In addition, the veteran actor also shared how his father was so strict that growing up in his house was never relaxing or easy. He described his father as a person who "was good" but tough on his children. 

He also clarified that he didn't seek sympathy on the matter because "everyone carries their own bag of rocks around and I am no different in that regard." 

To cope with the tough childhood and the anxiety that came along with it, Reynolds chose humor as a defense mechanism. He started looking for the humor in mundane things to stop himself from focusing on sadness and grief. 

Ryan Reynolds' Father Died in 2015

Reynolds' dad, James, battled with Parkinson's disease for 20 long years. Though the diagnosis was bad news, Reynolds found that it helped bring their family together. 

"We were all in there together, me and my brothers, just joking with him," the Deadpool actor told People, recounting his father's last days. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Ryan Reynolds (@vancityreynolds)

James died on October 28, 2015, at the age of 74. Months after his death, Reynolds opened up about his relationship with his dad to People, stating how it never mirrored the father-son dynamic he envied watching 80s sitcoms. 

"My dad left a lot of unanswered questions," he added, having to accept there would be no answers. Then, the 45-year-old asserted that their relationship found its own version of closure in peace. 

Ryan Reynolds Is Close with His Mother 

Reynolds spends quality time with his mother and showcases his love for her through socials. For instance, he wished his mom through a series of Instagram stories on Mother's Day 2021. 

The first picture from the post featured a picture of Reynolds and his mom with a huge text overlay that read, "Happy Mother's Day, Tam Tam."

Besides mentioning his mom on social media posts, the 45-year-old has also taken Tammy to multiple red carpet events. The duo was even joined by Reynold's wife, Blake Lively, when they appeared at the TIME 100 gala in 2017:

Needless to say, Tammy is close to Lively and her three grandchildren: Inez Reynolds, James Reynolds, Betty Reynolds