Ryan Reynolds Explains ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Dedication to Rob Delaney’s Late Son

At the end of Deadpool & Wolverine, a dedication frame noted that the film was made in honor of Henry Delaney. Yesterday, Ryan Reynolds explained what Henry and his dad mean to the franchise.

When stand-up comedian Rob Delaney first entered the Deadpool film series in Deadpool 2 back in 2018, the star and co-creator of the critically acclaimed British sitcom Catastrophe immediately established himself as a fan-favorite performer. Within the Deadpool universe, the titular anti-hero developed his own affection for Delaney’s character, the normal-powered Peter who signs up to be in Deadpool’s superhero squad X-Force who hilariously dies along with most of his teammates mid-movie, and the followers of the franchise similarly fell in love with Delaney’s “Sugar Bear,” even as they watched acid dissolve half his torso. Then, in proper comic book fashion, Peter came back to life in the post-credits scene, and Delaney returned to reprise the role in Deadpool & Wolverine.

The same year that Deadpool 2 made Delaney a minor star in the superhero movie genre, the comedian’s family suffered an unthinkable tragedy when his two-and-a-half-year-old son Henry passed away after an extended battle with a brain tumor. On Monday, Reynolds detailed his love for the Delaney family in a touching Instagram post about what Rob and Henry both mean to the Deadpool team:

“Rob Delaney brought PeterPool (née Sugarbear) into our hearts and effortlessly redefined the modern moose-knuckle — showing it can be chic AND practical,” Reynolds wrote in his fittingly facetious manner, adding, “And if theories are correct, he may be the new Anchor Being.”

However, for all the humor that Delaney and Reynolds brought into each other’s lives, what Delaney, his wife Leah and their family faced in the months and years leading up to the release of Deadpool 2 was devastatingly serious. “There’s more to @robdelaney than some realize. He’s one of the most subversively funny people I know. He’s a beautiful, acerbic and vulnerable writer,” wrote Reynolds. “If you stayed through the credits of Deadpool & Wolverine, you might notice a credit saying, ‘For Henry Delaney.’ Henry is Rob’s son. And Rob lost his little boy to a brain tumor in 2018. Right as we finished Deadpool 2.”

“I’ve always kicked my own ass because I didn’t place a tribute to Henry over the end credits of DP2,” Reynolds admitted, adding, “If there’s a bright side, even more people are seeing Henry’s name in the credits of Deadpool & Wolverine. And at long last, father and son are sharing the same screen.”

Delaney described the heartbreak he and his family suffered and the enduring love they have for Henry in his 2022 memoir A Heart That Works, a book that Reynolds recommends strongly. “It’s an incredible piece of writing which explores the kaleidoscopic colours of emotion Henry’s passing revealed,” Reynolds wrote, then closing, “I’m lucky to know Rob. And I’m lucky to have friends willing to put themselves on the line to make others feel less alone.”