As if we needed more reasons to love Ryan Reynolds, right? Ryan Reynolds took to his Facebook page to honor the late Connor McGrath, who Reynolds met at Edmonton hospital when McGrath was still battling cancer. The two enjoyed an advanced screening of Deadpool together. McGrath has since passed away, and Reynolds honors him in a truly moving way. RIP Connor.
Just six-years-old, Jacob Hall was shot at the Townville Elementary School in Townville, South Carolina by a 14-year-old gunman who opened fire on a playground during recess on September 28th. Hall was put on life support after being shot, and tragically passed away on October 1st. To pay tribute to Hall's passing and well known love of everything superheroes, the community held a superhero-themed funeral. Get ready for a direct shot to the feels, everyone.
It's been eight years since Heath Ledger died from a lethal drug overdose. Heath Ledger's father recently sat down for an interview to discuss his son's truly tragic death.
“The last conversation Kate had with him was this discussion about his medications and she warned him, ‘‘You can’t mix drugs that you don’t know anything about’,” Ledger’s father Kim told news.com.au.
“He said ‘Katie, Katie, I’ll be fine’. Well, that’s a cavalier boy’s answer. It just put his whole system to sleep I guess,” Mr. Ledger said.
Heath's father went on to say that his son wasn't addicted to opioids--he just made the mistake of mixing the wrong drugs. And that Heath's chaotic work schedule had begun to take its toll on the actor.
“There is pressure on everybody, especially young people, to perform and to keep going. He was a young guy that travelled all the time for work. Even as a two-year-old, he hardly ever slept. He was trying to work and travel and do everything in a short space of time.”
RIP Heath Ledger you were a fiercely talented young man, taken from us all too soon.
Ryan Reynolds' dear friend, 13-year-old Connor McGrath just passed away after battling cancer for multiple years. The following was posted by Reynolds on his Facebook page, following McGrath's passing:
For three straight years, my friend, Connor McGrath drop-kicked cancer... Not sure how... Maybe the cancer cheated... But the fight came to an end two nights ago.
In my wildest dreams, I can't imagine how hard this is for his parents Kim and Gerald - along with his extended family in Newfoundland.
Connor was 13. But this kid... He was smart. He was funny. And not just funny 'for a kid' - or funny 'for a person battling something awful'. He was unqualified funny. He had that... thing.
That thing you see in great performers or comedy writers. A running commentary/observational skill people are just lucky to be born with.
He went way too early and it's impossible to reconcile. Connor was a great friend, a great son, and a light to the people lucky enough to know him. While repeatedly punching cancer in the balls, he made everyone laugh. Including the entire staff who cared for him at Edmonton's Stollery Children's Hospital.
It was the Make-A-Wish Foundation that brought us together. I can't thank them enough. Seriously. Thank you. Because of his wish, Connor was the first person to see Deadpool. I traveled up to Edmonton, Alberta to surprise him with a rough cut of the film. There were still huge sections with wires we hadn't yet painted out, jokes which weren't working (and still aren't) and green screens. Connor didn't seem to mind. And I'd never felt luckier to get to be Wade Wilson.
***Before you jump down my throat for showing a 13 year old an R-Rated film, please know this kid knew more swear words than a British chef.
I went back to Edmonton 6 weeks later and I wish I could say things were looking up. After my visit, I didn't know if I was saying goodbye or see ya later. Sitting here now, I realize it was both.
I'm grateful I got to orbit Connor's world for a brief time. Grateful for the pages and pages of hilarious texts between us. Grateful to his parents for allowing Connor to spend time with a foul-mouthed child in the body of a 39 year old.
I called Connor, "Bubba". And he called me "Bubba2". We met because he loved Deadpool. In a certain sense he WAS Deadpool. Or, at least everything Deadpool aspires to be; balancing pain, fearlessness, love and a filthy (filthy!) sense of humor in one body. I wish he could've stuck around a lot longer.
If you'd like to donate to The Make-A-Wish Foundation, I can pretty much guarantee, your money's going to a damn good place. These people do not suck. They are heroic. Full stop. http://makeawishna.ca/wishes/donate
My deepest condolences and thanks to Kim, Gerald and the entire clan McGrath -- who loved this little boy so very well. And thankfully, Connor knew it.
See ya down the road, Bubba.
- r
This morning, DC Comics, creators of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and countless other iconic heroes, officially closed their New York Offices, their home since 1934.
Marvel responded to the news, by offering a tearful gif of Rocket Raccoon. While, DC Comics is fine and will thrive in their new LA home, NYC was the birth place of hero comics, and has been a part of their culture from the very beginning.
New York will miss you DC Comics.
