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Ryan Reynolds appeared in his first breakout role in 2002. From there, his career took off and he found quick and immense success. Today, Reynolds is one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood and has taken on a variety of movie roles. Still, he wasn’t always sure the acting path was the right fit. So, what would he have done if he hadn’t been an actor? Ryan Reynolds would have been a police officer.

Ryan Reynolds thought about joining the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Ryan Reynolds once admitted that acting, and all that went along with it, didn’t exactly come easy to him. In several interviews, he’s admitted to being a bit embarrassed by his interest in the arts as a teen. He even considered alternate career paths before the success of National Lampoon’s Van Wilder. During a 2010 interview with a Canadian outlet, Reynolds mused that while acting has worked out for him, he would have joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as a police officer if it hadn’t.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police ride their horses in front of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial ahead of a Sunset Ceremony on April 8, 2017 in Vimy, France
Royal Canadian Mounted Police | Jack Taylor/Getty Images

While Reynolds seems dedicated to staying with acting, he can, technically, still apply to be a Mountie. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, there is no age restriction to apply. Still, most join the force as young adults and retire around 60. Reynolds, now 48, has a few years left to become a Mountie. Still, he seems pretty set on staying in Hollywood, despite its ups and downs.

His brother is currently a member of the force

Ryan Reynolds didn’t fulfill his dream of becoming a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police like his father, but his brother did. Reynolds is one of four boys born to Tammy and James Reynolds. Ryan the youngest of the four, is the only member of the family that went into acting. One of his brothers opted to follow in their father’s footsteps and become a Mountie. Reynolds revealed that his older brother, Terry, joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and has served as an officer for years. His brother, Patrick Reynolds, is a teacher. It is unclear what his eldest brother, Jeff Reynolds, does for a living.

Ryan Reynolds and brothers pose for a photo as Reynolds is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on December 15, 2016 in Hollywood, California
Ryan Reynolds with family | Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images
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While one of the Reynolds brothers did go on to join the RCMP, it wasn’t the career path that James Reynolds, the family’s patriarch, kept his entire life. While he worked as a Mountie early in his career, he changed careers later on in life. During an appearance in Welcome to Wrexham, Reynolds opened up about his dad and his career paths. He said that his father became a food broker following his stint in the RCMP. Reynolds quipped that “food broker” sounds like a “cover.” It is not. James Reynolds died in 2015.

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