Ryan Reynolds has shared a heartfelt story about the closure he received from his estranged father before his passing at the age of 74.
Despite having a complicated relationship with his father, James “Jim” Reynolds, the 47-year-old actor wrote a letter to him, highlighting all the amazing things he had done for him. Reynolds revealed that he mailed the letter to his dad about five months before he passed away due to Parkinson’s disease.
In the letter, Reynolds listed every time his father had shown up for him, including the times they had played catch after baseball practice. He explained that his father struggled to express his emotions, which made it difficult for him to connect with him on a deeper level.
Ryan Reynolds has opened up about the closure he received in the months before his late father’s death (Pictured in New York City August 6)
Reynolds believes that the letter brought closure to their relationship, and he is grateful to have sent it. He also wishes he could have been more patient and understanding of his father’s struggles with Parkinson’s disease.
Reynolds’ father suffered from delusions and hallucinations, which are lesser-known symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. He explained that if he had known about these symptoms earlier, he would have handled the situation better.
Before his father’s passing, Reynolds’ oldest daughter, James, was able to meet her grandfather, which brought joy to both Reynolds and his father.
The actor wrote his father, Jim Reynolds, a letter of gratitude about five months before he died after a 20 year battle with Parkinson’s disease in 2015. ‘I know for a fact it meant the world to him,’ he explained (Pictured with parents Tammy and Jim Reynolds in Los Angeles in November 2005
Reynolds has partnered with the group More to Parkinson’s and Acadia Pharmaceuticals to raise awareness about the lesser-known symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, including delusions and hallucinations.
The actor and his mom, Tammy, have partnered with the group More to Parkinson’s and Acadia Pharmaceuticals to draw attention to the little known symptoms, including delusions and hallucinations (Pictured in Los Angeles in November 2005)
Reynolds sits on the board of the Michael J. Fox foundation and is dedicated to raising awareness about Parkinson’s disease.
He expressed his wish that the resources available today to treat Parkinson’s disease existed during his father’s struggle, as it would have given him hope.