Ryan Reynolds is opening up about a traumatic chapter from his past. The 48-year-old actor recently detailed a severe accident from his teenage years in the 1990s, revealing he spent four weeks hospitalized after being struck by a drunk driver. He walked away from the collision with every bone on his left side broken and spent three days in a coma.
He made the revelation while reflecting on the heavy irony of the night. At 18, Reynolds decided to leave a Vancouver establishment and walk home specifically to avoid driving. That responsible choice ended abruptly when an intoxicated motorist hit him on his route.
The immediate physical recovery was rough. Reynolds famously recalled waking up from the coma to the sight of his father holding a vomit tray. He previously discussed the lingering physical toll during a 2011 press tour, describing his body as a “rickety, broken mess” for years after the crash. His latest comments brought the incident back into the 2026 entertainment cycle, according to a report by E! News.
Reynolds spent his early twenties heavily focused on physical rehabilitation. He eventually regained his mobility and built an action-heavy career. His recent retrospective, as highlighted by E! News, emphasizes the sharp contrast between his early physical trauma and his highly demanding stunt work today.