Ryan Reynolds was a cute kid!
Even though he wears many unusual hats now, Reynolds seems to have had a normal childhood filled with typical activities like playing football, fishing, and hanging out with his three older brothers — and these adorable pictures are proof of that! “I wasn’t seen as a little brother, I was seen as a moving target.” Deadpool the actor once told PEOPLE about his upbringing.
As the multihyphenate turns 47 on October 23, take a look back at his Canadian roots with these adorable photos from his childhood.
In motion
Ryan Reynolds/Instagram
There’s no shortage of cuteness when it comes to the Reynolds brothers. In this photo of a little Reynolds behind the wheel, Deadpool the actor is seen rocking a classic bowl cut.
“The first car my brother and I stole,” Reynolds wrote on Instagram alongside the vintage photo. “I’ll never forget that bowl cut or my dad’s voice yelling from the trunk.”
Birthday Memories
Ryan Reynolds/Instagram
Ahead of his birthday in 2018, Reynolds shared a memory of one of his childhood birthdays, where a fresh-faced child was seen sitting behind a birthday cake decorated with colorful candles.
“Happy birthday. Or as my dad lovingly calls it, ‘the condom burst,'” the actor quipped.
Hand in hand
Ryan Reynolds/Instagram
Growing up, Reynolds was the youngest of four boys. In 2016, she paid tribute to the memory of one of her older brothers, Jeff, by sharing a childhood photo of them holding hands next to the water.
“Happy birthday to my brother Jeff. Even though it’s been over a week, it feels like just yesterday you were changing my diapers,” Reynolds wrote on Instagram.
Big Brother shout
Ryan Reynolds/Instagram
In another sweet birthday treat for Jeff, Reynolds shared this photo of the little duo wearing personalized shirts, calling his older sibling “the first friend I ever had.”
“I may have three older brothers, but there’s only one Jeff,” Reynolds wrote on Instagram in 2017.
Later in the post, she joked: “If there was a fire and I had to choose one family member to save, it would definitely be me. But if I had time to save one more person… and I knew it was safe to re-enter the burning building, you can be sure I would call the fire department. They are experts in their field and have the highest quality security equipment. I’m not even talking about experience in these matters. I love you. Happy birthday.”
Ladies Man
Ryan Reynolds/Instagram
In this photo shared to Instagram, Reynolds shared a glimpse of her family trip to Knott’s Berry Farm, where she posed with a pair of statues and one of her older brothers.
“When I was 5, my dad would take us to Knott’s Berry Farm to meet girls,” he wrote. “Only now, when I look back at this photo, do I realize that my brother is not real.”
Pisces Are Friends
Ryan Reynolds/X
Inside this sweet comeback In a post shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, in 2015, Reynolds shared the funny incident he experienced during the shooting.
“I soon realized that fly fishing has nothing to do with pulling a trout out of your pants to surprise your siblings,” she wrote alongside a photo of her younger self in an adorable outfit holding a fish by its tail.