Ryan Reynolds Biography

Famous as : Actor

Birth Name : Ryan Rodney Reynolds

Birth Date : October 23, 1976

Birth Place : Vancouver, British Columbia

Claim to fame : As Michael 'Berg' Bergen on ABC's "Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place" (1998-2001)

Handsome comic actor Ryan Reynolds may be best known to television viewers for his role in the popular Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place, though if it weren't for his close friend Chris Martin, Reynolds' star may have not risen quite as smoothly as it did. Born in 1976, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to a food wholesaler father and a retail store saleswoman, Reynolds harbored an affection for acting from his early youth, and was undeterred after failing a drama class at the age of twelve. Making his television debut two years later on the Nickelodeon show Fifteen, the aspiring youngster crossed the border and relocated to Florida for the taping of the show, moving back to Vancouver soon after production ceased in 1991. Turning up in numerous television series such as Sabrina the Teenage Witch and made-for-TV movies in the following years, Reynolds soon grew despondent that his career was not moving along as smoothly as he wished. Recognizing his friend's frustrations, fellow actor Martin suggested that the two pick up and head for the Hollywood hills. Crashing in a cheap hotel and having his jeep stripped and rolled down a hill did little to raise Reynolds' spirits, though the determined actor carried on, landing his role on Two Guys in 1997. The only actor to read for the role of Berg, Reynolds won the favor of the producers and was soon on his way to success in the States. Following with roles in the teen horror comedy Boltneck (1998) and later Dick (1999) and Finder's Fee (2000), Reynolds soon began assuming his position among the hot young actors of the early millennium, taking the lead in 2001 for Van Wilder.

Breakout Star

Playing seventh-year college student-turned-party planner Van Wilder, Reynolds makes his comedic breakthrough. Though Van Wilder only grosses $21.3 million, it becomes a cult classic. The film's popularity even leads Waiting costar Justin Long to later refer to Reynolds as "the frat guys' Jesus Christ."

Canada's First Couple

After two years of dating, Reynolds and musician girlfriend Alanis Morissette get engaged. The two began dating after meeting at Drew Barrymore's 2002 birthday party. "We have the perfect combination of compatibility and incompatibility that makes the relationship very passionate," Morrissette tells PEOPLE. "It's perfect."

Amityville Tops Box Office

The Amityville Horror opens at No. 1, pulling in $23.5 million at the box office. In the remake of the 1979 film, Reynolds stars as the possessed George Lutz, a father and husband who mentally unravels during his family's 28 days in a haunted home. "It was exciting for me," Reynolds tells PEOPLE. "I liked the thought of this guy being a bear, a big intimidating presence." That November, the actor returns to comedy with Just Friends, in which he sports a 60 lb. fat suit.

Following in Hugh's Claws

After X-Men Origins: Wolverine rakes in $87 million opening weekend, 20th Century Fox and Marvel Comic green light a spin-off featuring Reynolds' character Deadpool. A fan of the wise-cracking mercenary formerly known as Wade Wilson, Reynolds tells MTV, "To stay as true to the source material as possible is the only way to do it, and I say that because there's nothing more interesting than the source material for Deadpool."

Reynolds lives in Los Angeles with his dog, a boxer named Jobey. He was engaged to Canadian rock star Alanis Morrisette, but they broke it off in June 2006. He married Scarlett Johansson in September 2008, but on December 14, 2010, they announced that the marriage was over.