Ryan Reynolds lost one of his biggest fans to cancer last week.
The “Deadpool” star had been visiting teen Connor McGrath, a 13-year-old Canadian super fan, from Edmonton through the Make a Wish Foundation. The devastated actor responded to the sad news of the child’s passing by writing a moving tribute in honour of the young cancer victim’s memory.
“For three straight years, my friend, Connor McGrath drop-kicked cancer… Not sure how… Maybe the cancer cheated… But the fight came to an end two nights ago. In my wildest dreams, I can’t imagine how hard this is for his parents Kim and Gerald – along with his extended family in Newfoundland,” Reynolds wrote.
“Connor was 13. But this kid… He was smart. He was funny. And not just funny ‘for a kid’ – or funny ‘for a person battling something awful’. He was unqualified funny. He had that… thing. That thing you see in great performers or comedy writers. A running commentary/observational skill people are just lucky to be born with,” said the actor.
He also recalls flying to Edmonton, Alberta last year to show McGrath a rough cut of “Deadpool” before the film was released in cinemas. Then he quipped, “Before you jump down my throat for showing a 13-year-old an R-Rated film, please know this kid knew more swear words than a British chef.”
Reynolds goes on to describe the genuine friendship which transcended the regular relationship between actor and fan. “I’m grateful I got to orbit Connor’s world for a brief time. Grateful for the pages and pages of hilarious texts between us. Grateful to his parents for allowing Connor to spend time with a foul-mouthed child in the body of a 39-year-old,” he continued.
The 2 unlikely friends, who bonded over McGrath’s favourite superhero Deadpool, can be seen sharing laughs and good times over the duration the pair had known each other. “I called Connor, “Bubba”. And he called me “Bubba2”. We met because he loved Deadpool. In a certain sense he WAS Deadpool. Or, at least everything Deadpool aspires to be; balancing pain, fearlessness, love and a filthy (filthy!) sense of humour in one body,” said the actor.
The “Deadpool” star sent his condolences to the parents and family, saying, “My deepest condolences and thanks to Kim, Gerald and the entire clan McGrath — who loved this little boy so very well. And thankfully, Connor knew it.”
He added, “See ya down the road, Bubba.”
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