Ryan Reynolds lost one of his heroes this week.

To honor his fallen friend, the actor paid tribute to Deadpool's biggest fan Thursday. "For three straight years, my friend, Connor McGrath drop-kicked cancer... Not sure how... Maybe the cancer cheated... But the fight came to an end two nights ago," Reynolds revealed at the start of his lengthy, heartfelt Facebook tribute. "In my wildest dreams, I can't imagine how hard this is for his parents Kim and Gerald—along with his extended family in Newfoundland."

"Connor was 13. But this kid... He was smart. He was funny. And not just funny 'for a kid'—or funny 'for a person battling something awful'. He was unqualified funny. He had that... thing," Reynolds said of his late friend. "That thing you see in great performers or comedy writers. A running commentary/observational skill people are just lucky to be born with." McGrath's death came "way too early," Reynolds noted, adding that his death is "impossible to reconcile."

Reynolds also made sure to thank those who cared for McGrath throughout his cancer battle. "Connor was a great friend, a great son, and a light to the people lucky enough to know him. While repeatedly punching cancer in the balls, he made everyone laugh. Including the entire staff who cared for him at Edmonton's Stollery Children's Hospital," the actor wrote. "It was the Make-A-Wish Foundation that brought us together. I can't thank them enough. Seriously. Thank you. Because of his wish, Connor was the first person to see Deadpool. I traveled up to Edmonton, Alberta, to surprise him with a rough cut of the film. There were still huge sections with wires we hadn't yet painted out, jokes which weren't working (and still aren't) and green screens. Connor didn't seem to mind. And I'd never felt luckier to get to be Wade Wilson."

Yes, Reynolds showed a 13-year-old fan an R-rated movie, and no, he doesn't think it was inappropriate. "Please know this kid knew more swear words than a British chef," he explained.