On his 43rd birthday, we honor our favorite Ken by looking back at young Ryan Gosling photos from his early career days.

It's safe to say that <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/ryan-gosling-cast-as-ken-margot-robbie-barbie-movie" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ryan Gosling</a> has long been a movie-star heartthrob. While he has been in the industry since his Disney days as a young Ryan Gosling in The Mickey Mouse Club,&nbsp;it was his role as Noah Calhoun in the passionate romance movie, The Notebook, in 2004 that brought him into the spotlight as a critically acclaimed actor and irresistible love interest (we're looking at you, MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss with Rachel McAdams.)&nbsp;
From there, Gosling flexed his skills beyond romance to drama and comedy, from a troubled middle school teacher in Half Nelson (2006) to the carefree womanizer in Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011). What soon became clear was his knack for playing everyone's favorite boyfriends, with his role as struggling musician Sebastian in La La Land even earning him a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination in 2017.
Now, as his most recent film, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/barbie-premiere-red-carpet-los-angeles-margot-robbie-best-dressed-celebrity-looks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Barbie</a>, plays on repeat in our living rooms we can't help but feel envious of Barbie's dreamy boyfriend. While we may not be able to call <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/ryan-gosling-bts-jimin-outfit-barbie-movie-twinning-permission-to-dance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gosling</a> ours, we do have 26 must-see photos of young Ryan Gosling to fuel all those crushes. In honor of his birthday, we look back at his young early career days.

Young Ryan Gosling in a portrait for Sundance, 2001

Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams at the Movieline Young Hollywood Awards in Hollywood, 2004

Ryan Gosling signing autographs at the premiere of 'The Notebook,' 2004

Young Portaits of Ryan Gosling for 'The United States of Leland' at the Deauville Film Festival in France, 2003

Ryan Gosling holding a dog at a charity event for Animal Avengers

Ryan Gosling leaving the 'Murder by Numbers' after party, 2002

Ryan Gosling at a movie screening in Los Angeles posing with actress Summer Phoenix, 2001

Young Ryan Gosling at the premiere for 'The Believer' in Los Angeles, 2001

Ryan Gosling at the IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards, 2002

Ryan Gosling at the 'Murder By Numbers' premiere, a psychological thriller he starred in with Sandra Bullock and Ben Chaplin, 2002

Young Ryan Gosling at the premiere party for 'Murder by Numbers,' 2002

Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams at the Scientific and Technical Awards in Los Angeles, 2006

Ryan Gosling and Sandra Bullock at Cannes for the screening of 'Murder by Numbers,' 2002

Young Ryan Gosling posing in portraits at the Sundance Film Festival for his film, 'United States of Leland,' 2003

Ryan Gosling at the premiere of 'The Notebook,' 2004

Ryan Gosling at the Deauville Film Festival, 2003

Young Ryan Gosling at the New York premiere of 'The United States of Leland,' 2004

Ryan Gosling for 'Murder by Numbers' at Cannes, 2002

Ryan Gosling performing at a charity event, 2001

Young Ryan Gosling in a portrait at the Deauville Film Festival for 'The United States of Leland'

Ryan Gosling looking lovingly at Rachel McAdams with their shared award for Best Kiss for 'The Notebook' at the MTV Movie Awards, 2005

Ryan Gosling at the Teen Choice Awards, 2005

Young Ryan Gosling at the 9th Annual Hollywood Film Festival Awards Gala Ceremony, 2005

Ryan Gosling at the 13th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards red carpet, 2007

Ryan Gosling at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City, 2005

Young Ryan Gosling at the Los Angeles premiere of 'The New World,' 2005

All photos via Getty Images

Young Ryan Gosling Photos to Feed Your 2000s Nostalgia

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Young Ryan Gosling Photos to Feed Your 2000s Nostalgia

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