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In April 2016, Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds captured hearts worldwide when he penned an emotional Facebook tribute to 13-year-old Connor McGrath, a devoted Deadpool fan who lost his battle with cancer. Their extraordinary friendship, made possible by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, not only gave Connor a once-in-a-lifetime experience but also left a lasting impact on Reynolds himself.
Connor McGrath, a spirited Canadian teenager, had spent three years fighting cancer when he met Reynolds, who was in the midst of his meteoric rise as the wisecracking antihero Deadpool. Through Make-A-Wish, Connor was granted an unforgettable gift: to be the very first person to see Deadpool—even before it hit theaters. Reynolds arranged a private screening, showing Connor an unfinished cut complete with raw effects and unpolished sound. Connor’s unfiltered joy and razor-sharp humor cemented a bond that transcended the usual celebrity-fan dynamic.
On April 28, 2016, just days after Connor’s passing, Reynolds shared the depth of his grief and gratitude in a Facebook post that resonated far beyond his fanbase. “I’m grateful I got to orbit Connor’s world for a brief time,” Reynolds wrote. The actor revealed their playful nicknames—Connor as “Bubba” and Reynolds as “Bubba2”—and recalled their shared, irreverent sense of humor. “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 humor in one body. I wish he could’ve stuck around a lot longer… See ya down the road, Bubba.”
The sincerity of Reynolds’ tribute, sourced from outlets like TIME and Variety, reflected a genuine friendship grounded in mutual admiration, inside jokes, and resilience in the face of adversity. The actor was open about his decision to let Connor—well aware of “every curse word known to man,” as Reynolds joked—watch the R-rated film. “He went full tilt,” Reynolds said, drawing a comparison to a “British chef” for Connor’s colorful language.
The world soon learned how deeply Connor had touched Reynolds’ life. In Deadpool 2, there’s a subtle tribute: a conversation about potential baby names, with “Connor” lovingly mentioned—a small but powerful nod to a young fan whose spirit became part of the film’s legacy.
Connor’s passing, reported on April 26, 2016, drew condolences and memories from across the internet, but none were as poignant as the stories and private texts Reynolds shared. Their friendship stands as a testament to the power of compassion, laughter, and shared dreams—even in the face of life’s hardest battles.