Ryan Reynolds has revealed a painful experience from when he was 18 years old, recalling that he was struck by a drunk driver after leaving a bar. In a GQ video, Reynolds said he had only had one beer and chose to walk home instead of driving because his destination was only four blocks away. Despite that decision, a drunk driver hit him while he was on foot, turning what should have been a short trip home into a life-threatening accident.
Reynolds said the collision left him with severe injuries and forced him to spend four weeks in the hospital. He explained that he broke every bone on his left side and said the impact was so strong that the driver’s car was rendered inoperable. He also expressed gratitude to the doctors who treated him and helped him recover, saying they put him back together kindly.
The actor has spoken about the accident before. In a 2011 reflection, he described the lasting effects of the crash and the difficult recovery period that followed. He remembered his father sitting beside him with a vomit tray while he was unconscious and said the accident left him feeling like a “rickety, broken mess” in the years since.
Reynolds’ comments also help explain why he has become more cautious about physical work as he has gotten older. While he has performed stunt work in the past, he has said he now steps aside when a scene is too dangerous and a trained professional can do it instead. He has also joked that aging has changed how his body responds to punishment, noting that after turning 35, being thrown onto cement was no longer something he found funny.
The story adds another layer to the actor’s public image, showing that behind his action-hero roles and comedic persona is someone who has lived with the consequences of a serious childhood accident. His account highlights how a single decision to avoid driving after drinking may have prevented an even worse outcome, even though he still suffered major injuries as a pedestrian.
Reynolds’ openness about the incident also underscores the long-term physical toll that severe trauma can have. Even decades later, the memory remains a vivid part of his life story, shaping the way he approaches both work and aging.
