'He built worlds from scratch': Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman mourn 'Deadpool and Wolverine' art director Ray Chan's death at 56

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, the stars of 'Deadpool' and 'Wolverine', have expressed their deep sorrow over the passing of Marvel Studios’ art director Ray Chan at 56.

The duo took to social media on April 26 to share their heartfelt tributes, lauding Chan’s "unusual artistry" and his magical creations.

They both worked closely with Chan on 'Deadpool' and 'Wolverine' and were devastated by the loss of such a talented individual. Chan also worked on ‘Avengers: Endgame’.

'Words are pretty inadequate in comparison to this loss', says Ryan Reynolds

Reynolds, 47, the 'Safe House' star began his tribute on X with "RIP Ray Chan", expressing that words fall short in expressing the magnitude of this loss.

He added, “There’s an incomparable reservoir of skill, tender grit, and talent no longer with us.”

Reynolds noted that the production designer Chan was a "creative" force on 'Deadpool' and 'Wolverine'. Marvel Studios confirmed Chan's death in a statement on April 24.

Reynolds acknowledged that while he didn’t know every aspect of Chan’s heart, he recognized the rarity of encountering someone with such a high level of artistry who also possessed "indelible humanity."

Chan is also credited for helping “imagine and design the Marvel Cinematic Universe” when he joined the studio on 'Thor: Dark World' (2013).

Ray Chan says 'There’s Nobody on Earth Like Him'

Reynolds commended Chan who also worked on ‘Avengers: Endgame’ for his significant contributions to building the Marvel universe, adding that Chan was “just awesome to be around” and “will be missed by everyone.”

He concluded his tribute by recalling his final moments with Chan during reshoots for 'Deadpool' and 'Wolverine' earlier in April, stating that one of the last things he said to Chan was that "he makes magic and there’s nobody on earth like him."

He also shared a fond memory of their good-natured banter, saying, "Generally, he and I gave each other a lot of good-natured s—. So … of all the final things you could say to someone you adore, that’s a little scrap of consolation I’ll hang onto forever.”

Hugh Jackman says Ray Chan created magic 

Jackman, 55, paid tribute to Chan on his Instagram Stories, expressing his admiration for Chan’s work and his love for his craft, People reported.

He shared that there was not a single day of shooting when he didn’t marvel at what Chan created.

“He created magic. There was this look in his eyes. The look of a man who loved his craft," Jackman continued. "I’ve had the pleasure of working with some of the best in the business. Ray was at the very top!” he added.

“We did a bit more shooting two weeks ago, For that I will be forever grateful,” he continued. 

"It not only gave us the opportunity to fine tune our film but it gave us the bonus of time with Ray. Time for him to finish the job he loves so much," he added.

"He told a great story. And man – I am so honored to have played a role.” Jackman said as he concluded his tribute by sharing his condolences with Chan’s family, saying, “Rest well, Ray Chen. Rest well.”

Chan is survived by his wife Lindsay and his children Caspar and Sebastian, according to Variety.