Actor Ryan Reynolds has paid an emotional tribute to his late fan and "great friend", 13-year-old Connor McGrath, who recently died after a battle with cancer here.

The "Deadpool" actor first met McGrath and his family through the Make-A-Wish foundation three years ago and the pair became close friends before he tragically passed away earlier this week, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Paying tribute to his "great friend", Reynolds wrote on Facebook: "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.

"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 you see in great performers or comedy writers. A running commentary/observational skill people are just lucky to be born with". 

"He went way too early and it's impossible to reconcile. 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," he added. 

Reynolds also revealed that McGrath was the first person to see "Deadpool" after he surprised him with a rough cut of the movie before its release and the actor believes his late friend embodied all of the best parts of the hilarious comic book character.