Reynolds recalled a "profound" observation he once heard from Conan O'Brien, who, like Bill Murray, said that being a people-pleaser in Hollywood "just doesn't work." The Deadpool & Wolverine star explained that he found this perspective deeply relatable. "Being a people-pleaser is, quite literally, the opposite of having a mental health crisis," Reynolds said. "Because as a people-pleaser, you don't want to burden anyone with your anything."
He went on to describe the difficulty of balancing those tendencies while coping with emotional struggles. "The only way out is through," he said, adding that self-centering can feel unnatural for people who are used to prioritizing others. "To the people-pleaser, that's difficult. It's a paradox that fascinates me."
Reynolds co-produced John Candy: I Like Me, a new documentary about the beloved comedian that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. The film, directed by Colin Hanks, features unseen home videos, intimate interviews, and reflections from Candy's family and friends. It offers a heartfelt look at one of comedy's most enduring talents from the 1970s through the 1990s.
During an interview at TIFF, Reynolds shared that he had long sensed John Candy's struggles with anxiety before his death in 1994. "I didn't need anyone to tell me that he did," he said. "I know I have some of those traits, and people-pleasing and mental health don't coexist very well because you never want to burden anybody or be a problem for anyone."
Reynolds added that the only way to manage mental health challenges is through openness and honesty. "You have to take the space and say, 'I'm having a tough time and I need help,'" he said. "That's really hard for a people-pleaser to do, but it's the only way forward."
