Ryan Reynolds: Actor mourns longtime friend

Hollywood is mourning the loss of screenwriter and producer Eric Gilliland, who died on September 1st at the age of 62 from the effects of cancer. He was best known for his work on the series “Roseanne” between 1992 and 1996, for which he also served as executive producer. He later became a consulting producer for series such as “That ’70s Show,” “The Connors” and “My Boys.” Among the many mourners is actor Ryan Reynolds (47), who had been friends with Gilliland for 27 years and dedicated a touching tribute to him on his Instagram page.

“He was kind. And gentle. And incredibly funny”

“It’s a tragedy that he’s gone,” Reynolds wrote. “He was kind. And gentle. And incredibly funny. And incapable of having a conversation that was cruel or put anyone down.” It’s also a tragedy that more people didn’t have a chance to get to know Gilliland.

They became friends immediately when they met almost three decades ago. “He was the first big meeting I had at the beginning of my career. He had finished working as a writer on ‘Roseanne’ and had a fancy bungalow office on the Fox lot in LA. I was really nervous to meet him,” the “Deadpool” star recalled. Then he was pleasantly surprised: “Eric wasn’t what I imagined a really successful comedy writer to be. He was so approachable.” It felt like he had known him forever.

Thanks to Eric Gilliland, Ryan Reynolds was able to grow

“I traveled all over the world with Eric,” Reynolds continued. “He introduced me to vaudeville and Jack Benny and welcomed me into his circle of friends, who were incredibly talented writers and artists. He was my university.” Eric Gilliland helped him “grow and find my voice.” Reynolds concluded his long article with another personal anecdote: after they met, he told the author that he had vomited in the rose bush outside his office after their first meeting. “He seemed to like the news. The rose bush died, but Eric lived for another 27 years.”