- Canadian actor Ryan Gosling was called a "problem" at school and was kicked out for bringing knives and throwing them at kids during recess.
- His mother raised him by herself, and for a year, she home-schooled him. Ryan grew up to be a grateful son and a wonderful father of two daughters.
- In 2007, the actor helped his mom at the Oscars so she wouldn't feel ashamed of her "out of fashion" hairstyle.
Ryan Gosling was born on November 12, 1980, and is 42 years old. The actor's first taste of success in the entertainment industry came through his role in the American variety television show, "The Mickey Mouse Club." Ryan's first big break happened when he was only 13.
The "La La Land" actor starred in other television series when he was a teenager, including "Breaker High" and "Young Hercules." His opportunities to handle diverse roles came about after he starred in the romantic movie, "The Notebook."
Ryan Gosling on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images
Gosling's strong performance in movies has earned him award nominations, including a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for his performance as a jazz pianist in the musical, "La La Land."
The actor has also appeared in other notable films over the years, such as "Crazy Stupid Love" in 2011, "The Ides of March" in 2011, and "The Big Short" in 2015. In 2017, he starred in the sci-fi action film, "Blade Runner 2049."
Gosling, who is also a singer and jazz guitarist, is a father to two girls, Esmeralda Amada and Amada Lee. The actor also likes to box and make furniture in his free time. Meanwhile, he advocates for several worthy causes, such as the humane treatment of animals, AIDS research, and poverty relief.
Ryan Gosling in Toronto, Canada on September 15, 2010 | Source: Getty Images
A Difficult Childhood and Parents' Divorce
Gosling grew up in Ontario, Canada, where he experienced a difficult childhood. The singer's mother, Donna, was a secretary, and his father, Thomas, was a traveling salesman. Gosling was the second child with an older sister, Mandi.
The actor's parents divorced when he was in his teens, and he was raised by his mother and sister. He frequently got into trouble in school up until his adolescence, which made growing up difficult for him.
When he was 8, he came home from school beaten and bloody. His mother asked him to go back to school and beat the kids who attacked him. However, after he did what his mother had asked, he was in tears because he was opposed to violence. He never went back to that school.
Ryan Gosling in New York City in 2001 | Source: Getty Images
Gosling's troubles in school worsened when his parents divorced. The actor struggled to fit in, adding he felt very lost at his young age and was finding his way:
"I did not play sports. I could not read or write. My teachers thought I was stupid, and so did I. I was always a brat and always in trouble."
Ryan Gosling in Beverly Hills, California on December 2, 2004 | Source: Getty Images
Gosling also said he orchestrated most fights at school because he wanted to please girls. He would pick on tough guys because he knew the girls loved them:
"If I beat these guys up, the girls would like me. But that never happened. I was in so much trouble. They called me "Trouble." That was my nickname."
Ryan Gosling in Park City, Utah on January 24, 2010 | Source: Getty Images
The singer also admitted to studying with mentally disabled children because the school placed him in a special education class. However, after the fight where he came home bloody and beaten, he said his mother quit work and homeschooled him:
"She helped me read and write and found creative ways for me to express knowledge. I gained self-confidence. In the time she taught me, I felt not so worthless."
Gosling studied at home for a year. During that period, his mother figured out that the actor learned differently. Donna gave his son the tools he needed to educate himself, and when he returned to school, he performed fine.
Actor Ryan Gosling and mother Donna Gosling in Hollywood, California on January 7, 2013 | Source: Getty Images
However, the "Drive" actor still felt out of place when he joined a high school so he quit at 17. He headed to Los Angeles, where he thought he might find a place for himself, and that's where he met his "The Mickey Mouse Club" co-star, Justin Timberlake.
Timberlake revealed in "The Ellen Show" that at one point, his mother, Lynn Harless, became Gosling's legal guardian when Donna was forced to keep her job in Canada while her son was working on the TV show.
Actors Justin Timberlake (L) and Ryan Gosling in Hollywood, California on February 26, 2017 | Source: Getty Images
Timberlake admitted that he and Gosling would do terrible things because they thought they were cool, including driving into the MGM Studios with a golf cart they stole.
Having grown up with women, Gosling is never afraid of letting his feminine side show, admitting he thinks like a girl.
Gosling's interest in the entertainment sector began at a young age as he would perform at weddings. He also sang at a Mormon talent show in 1991. In 1993, he joined "The Mickey Mouse Club" after attending the open auditions in Montreal alongside Britney Spears and Timberlake.
The actor's love for movies goes way back in his childhood. In fact, it got him into trouble at one point. A fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone's "Rambo, he recalled bringing knives to school and causing quite a stir:
"One day, I took steak knives to school and threw them around at recess time as I thought we were in the movie. I am not proud of this, but I did learn a lesson as I was suspended from school."
Actor Ryan Gosling and actress Summer Phoenix in West Hollywood, California on September 6, 2001 | Source: Getty Images
A Loving Son and Family Man
Gosling's transition from child actor to adult roles began when he started playing mature parts in movies. At first, he saw his job as a means to an end, but after working regularly, he began choosing roles in acting that would challenge him.
The actor picked more popular roles, and his status as a superstar actor rose. However, despite his fame, he maintained his love for his mother and sister, who both raised him.
On September 12, 2014, when Gosling had his first daughter, Esmeralda, with his wife, Eva Mendes, Donna and Mandi came to Los Angeles to help them. Donna, who was thrilled to be a grandmother, was at the hospital during the birth.
Ryan Gosling and Mandi Gosling (sister) in New York City on November 29, 2006 | Source: Getty Images
Gosling and Mendes were happy to have a healthy and happy baby, and Mendes was especially thrilled because she got her wish to have a girl. Thus, Gosling hilariously said he would have to be extra manly so as not to be overpowered by girls in their home.
The star actor has a close relationship with his daughters, who sometimes visit him on set. During the shooting of the biographical drama "The First Man," Gosling recounted how Esmeralda and Amada reacted when they visited:
"They came on this day when I was shooting a launch scene. I was in the space suit and pretending to launch. They now think I'm an astronaut, as my oldest asked one day, pointing at the moon, that's where you work, right?"
Actor Ryan Gosling in Washington, D.C. on July 8, 2008 | Source: Getty Images
Gosling's heroic and superhuman image isn't only limited to his performances on screen but also in real life. In 2012, the actor saved a freelance British journalist from being hit by a cab in New York City. He grabbed the journalist, Penny, away from the taxi and asked her to watch out.
Penny admitted she was not looking the right way when crossing the road because she was from London. She added that the encounter with Gosling lasted a quick five seconds.
This was not the first time the actor came to someone's rescue. In 2011, he was caught on camera in New York City breaking up a street fight.
While Gosling has become a hero to total strangers, he is more than a hero to his mother. His love for Donna is evident when he brings her as his plus-one to Hollywood events. Donna was her son's date during the premiere night of "The Ides of March," and the two looked absolutely gorgeous as they brought a touch of glam to the red carpet.
Gosling is also very involved in his mother's life and attended her wedding in Italy to her groom, who was from Rome. The singer hilariously confessed that he got a lot of attention from women at the wedding due to the event's menu:
"There was a lot of these wonderful older Italian women just whispering to me about food at the service. At one point, this woman said, there's tortellini in the freezer!"
Actor Ryan Gosling (R) and mother Donna Gosling in Toronto, Canada on September 9, 2011 | Source: Getty Images
Two other Italian women also informed him of smoked mozzarella from Naples that was kept in the fridge. The actor appreciated these tips as he said he enjoyed eating the mozzarella.
The father of two also has some hilarious tales involving his mother, one of which he revealed during a guest spot on "The Graham Norton Show." He recalled taking Donna to the 2007 Oscars, where she donned a beehive hairstyle, which she and her friend thought would be fashionable. but was outdated as people were all about natural hairstyles.
However, she would soon realize her hairstyle wasn't only outdated and out of place at the event, but it was so high Gosling said it kept the people behind her from appreciating the show. Donna kept sinking in her chair, but her son, sensing her shame, came to her rescue and even sought the help of actress Meryl Streep.
Ryan Gosling (center) with sister Mandi Gosling (left) and mother Donna Gosling (right) in Los Angeles on February 25, 2007 | Source: Getty Images
To save her mother from further shame, the genius actor asked Streep to tell his mother that she liked her hair. The actress went along with his request and told Donna she was also going to do a beehive hairstyle and that she wished she had. That seemed to have done the trick, as Gosling said his mother was delighted after that.
Also present at "The Graham Norton Show," Gosling's "La La Land" co-star Emma Stone asked the actor if his mother already knew the story now that he had shared it. The singer quickly replied, "My mom? Oh, she doesn't watch this show."
Actor Ryan Gosling (R) and his mother Donna Gosling in Santa Monica, California on February 24, 2007 | Source: Getty Images
Raised by Women, Ryan Now Dotes on His Wife and Two Daughters
Gosling and Mendes have two daughters, Esmeralda, 8, and Amada, 7. The actor, who was raised by women, is very grateful to them. He loves his wife and kids as he takes care of them, which is evident in his actions, such as when he cooks for them.
The couple prefers keeping their family life private but has, on occasion, spoken about their kids. For instance, Gosling revealed how hard it was to keep their kids entertained during the coronavirus pandemic:
"Our kids were at a difficult age. They could not see other kids and interact with people, even though Eva and I did our best. We did more acting in quarantine than in our films. Tougher crowd, though."
Ryan Gosling and wife Eva Mendes in New York City on September 30, 2017 | Source: Getty Images
The father of two also said he was more aware of time than usual as he felt his kids were growing up so fast. On her side, Mendes noted that she tends to keep her kids from the limelight by not posting their pictures as much as she talks about them:
"I have always had a clear boundary regarding my man and my kids. My children are still so little. They don't understand what posting their image really means…I won't post their image until they're old enough to give me consent."
She also revealed Gosling does the cooking and she cleans. "I think that there's a really nice balance to you cook, I clean, it just works for us," she said.
Having grown up with women, Gosling is never afraid of letting his feminine side show, admitting he thinks like a girl. He noted that his feminine side could be 49 percent or 47 percent, depending on the day.
Michelle Williams, Derek Cianfrance and Ryan Gosling, with child actress Faith Wladyka in Cannes, France on May 23, 2010 | Source: Getty Images
The jazz guitarist also believes that women are better than men because they are stronger and more evolved, and he credits his mother for raising him to be supportive of women. He said:
"I have always liked women more. I was brought up by my mother and older sister. I found my way into dance class. My home life now is mostly women. They are better than us."
He defended his remarks by saying that he can tell women are better than men because he has daughters whose early stages' leaps and bounds surpassed those of boys immediately.
Actors Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling in Toronto, Canada on September 7, 2012 | Source: Getty Images
The singer also supports women's causes, understanding how women are often objectified in uncomfortable and unwanted ways. Gosling commented on objectification, saying that it was time men also went through the same ordeal:
"I grew up with women, so I've always been aware of it. When my mother and I walked to the grocery store, men would circle the block in cars. It was very scary, very predatory, a hunt."
Gosling, who takes good care of his wife and children, said that his life now mostly involves women who make him better.
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