Ryan Reynolds Opens Up About His Mom's 'Sacrifice' That's Given Him Purpose (Exclusive)

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Ryan Reynolds Opens Up About His Mom's 'Sacrifice' That's Given Him Purpose (Exclusive) originally appeared on Parade.

Ryan Reynolds is more than an actor: He’s also a health advocate.A couple of years ago, you may have seen him and actor Rob McElhenney film their colonoscopies (yep, you read that right) to raise awareness about colon cancer. They had partnered with Lead From Behind, a campaign powered by the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, and colon cancer survivor Brooks Bell.This year, Reynolds is back in action with another health-related campaign, and this time, his tie to the issue is especially close to his heart. Ahead, Reynolds divulges on Parkinson’s disease, how it affected his family and how he’s taking a stand to help others struggling.🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊

Reynolds Shares the Sacrifice His Mom Made That Changed Everything

If you hadn’t heard, Reynolds’ father—James Chester Reynolds—was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease when Ryan was only 22 years old, and he passed away when Ryan was 39.Parkinson’s disease is an incurable, progressive neurological condition. Symptoms include slowed movements, unstable posture, smaller handwriting, drooling, trouble swallowing, depression, problems sleeping, slower thinking and more. In other words, it’s a debilitating and draining disease.

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As if that wasn’t enough, a whopping 50 percent of people with Parkinson’s also experience hallucinations (sensing things that aren’t there) or delusions (believing things that aren’t true). Sounds pretty confusing and scary, doesn’t it?

When Reynolds recalls his dad’s experience with the condition, he can’t help but think about his mom, who tirelessly supported her husband throughout his years with the disease.

“I watched my mom give her last drop of blood to caregiving and taking care of my father,” he says. “There’s a sense of duty and sacrifice that’s made…You’re not practicing self-care in any way sometimes, and you just kind of have nothing left.”

Related: 10 Amazing Resources for Caregivers From Someone Who’s Been There

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With that, he emphasizes that Parkinson’s is hard not only on the patient but also on their loved ones. Besides the emotional toll of caring for a loved one who’s experiencing serious symptoms, there’s also the matter of stigma, which is especially an issue when conditions aren’t well-understood.

“I think of it as a difficult situation because any kind of struggle you’re having health-wise can sometimes be stigmatized,” Reynolds says. “And then you’ve got this other layer of it that’s incredibly complex and hard to explain and understand.”

Seeing the impact that Parkinson’s can have on both people with the disease and their loved ones, and how important awareness and education are, Reynolds felt compelled to do something about it.

Reynolds’s Advocacy for Parkinson’s Disease

In 2024, Reynolds joined Acadia Pharmaceuticals for the More to Parkinson’s campaign, which raised awareness about Parkinson's-related hallucinations and delusions. This past April, he and Acadia Pharmaceuticals held an event to continue that mission during Parkinson’s Awareness Month.

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Through this campaign, he and others hoped to inspire people affected by this condition to engage in conversations with their families, community and care team. “You’re not just talking to patients; you’re talking to the circle that’s around them,” Reynolds says.

Again, he has personal experience in that department. Reynolds wishes he had the knowledge this campaign is sharing—and the resource MoreToParkinsons.com—when he had to watch his father struggle. He finds that understanding something makes it less scary and helps you feel less alone.

Related: ‘90s Synth-Pop Band Frontman Reveals Parkinson’s Diagnosis

“When you share it, it suddenly becomes accessible, it suddenly stops being the boogeyman,” he says. “When you meet people, you’re actually sharing that with them. And weirdly, that kind of makes it feel less odd.”

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Reynolds believes talking about Parkinson’s (or whatever you’re experiencing) can also be empowering. Looking back, he wishes his dad had talked more about what he was going through. “I think he would have been much, much healthier and better off had he shared more and talked more about what he was feeling or even what he was seeing,” he says.

Alongside those difficult feelings, Reynolds has also found purpose and hope, perhaps, in being able to pay it back to his dad through this campaign. “It’s part of the gift, too, being able to have a platform,” he says.

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Related: The Surprising Sign You May Be at Risk for Parkinson's Disease