During a recent acceptance speech at the Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards in Los Angeles, Ryan Reynolds honored the memory of his late friend, Eric Gilliland, a beloved TV writer and producer who passed away on September 1 at 62 due to cancer complications.
While receiving the screenwriting award for Deadpool & Wolverine, Reynolds took a moment to pay tribute to Gilliland, dedicating the accolade to him. “I want to dedicate this very fine honor to a writer, to one of my closest friends, Mr. Eric Gilliland,” Reynolds shared with the audience. “I wouldn’t be standing here if not for that man.”
Reynolds, 48, recalled first meeting the “magical” Gilliland nearly 30 years ago when he was a “scrawny, desperately hungover 19-year-old kid.” He reflected on his younger self, admitting he hadn’t quite figured out who he was yet and was “trying on personalities like they were shirts.” However, Reynolds emphasized that Gilliland’s acceptance of him helped him find self-acceptance.
Eric Gilliland’s kindness and mentorship left a lasting impact on Ryan Reynolds’ life and career
The actor fondly remembered how Gilliland introduced him to entertainment legends like Jack Benny and Buster Keaton and welcomed him into circles that felt far beyond his reach as a high-school dropout.
Reynolds humorously noted that while his late friend “had many shortcomings,” like poor housekeeping skills and worn-out shoes, his kindness stood out. “Eric’s prime virtue was that he was kind and that he showed up for people,” Reynolds said, adding that Gilliland treated everyone with equal respect, whether they were a waiter or a movie star, something Reynolds initially found perplexing.
The Deadpool star also shared how Gilliland’s friendship and mentorship had shaped his life during his most formative years. “He modeled a way of being for me when I was probably at my most impressionable,” Reynolds reflected. “He was as good at being brilliantly funny as he was at being a friend and mentor.”
Gilliland, who became an executive producer for Roseanne and later worked as a consulting producer for That ’70s Show and The Connors, was deeply influential in the TV industry. Following his death, Reynolds revealed that a memorial had been held in New York City, with 300 of Gilliland’s closest friends in attendance, funded by proceeds from his estate.
Reynolds concluded by noting that the memorial was a testament to the beauty of Gilliland’s life and how it reminded him of what he loves most about the entertainment business—creating together.
He ended his tribute with a heartfelt message: “And so if you run into a scrawny, desperately hungover 19-year-old who recently threw up in the rose bush outside your office, give that kid a break.”
