Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe’s Son Deacon, 22, Is Following in Their Footsteps With Career Move

Lara WalshSun, September 6, 2026 at 4:14 PM UTC

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Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon at ‘Flags of Our Fathers’ screening on October 16, 2006Credit: Getty ImagesThe Gist -

Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe’s son revealed he’s making his rom-com debut.

Deacon Phillippe, 22, recently graduated from New York University with both of his parents in attendance.

Witherspoon and Phillippe, who finalized their divorce in 2008, also share daughter Ava, 26.

Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe’s son Deacon doesn’t just look like the spitting image of his parents—he’s also following in their acting footsteps with a major career move. Just months after his graduation from NYU, the 22-year-old revealed that he’s making his rom-com debut.

Deacon Reese Phillippe at the Fendi flagship store in Midtown on May 19, 2026 in New York City.Credit: Getty Images

On September 3, Netflix announced that Deacon will be starring alongside Judy Greer, Luke Kirby, Nicole Bruner, and David Iacono in Better Than the Movies, which is based on the YA New York Times bestseller by Lynn Painter. According to the Daily Mail, Deacon—who will embrace his heartthrob status as Michael Young, the longtime crush of protagonist Liz Buxbaum—also celebrated the news on his Instagram Stories, revealing that he is “beyond grateful” for the project.

Ryan Phillippe and Deacon Phillippe attend ‘Motorheads’ screening on May 13, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.Credit: Getty Images

While the nepo baby has previously dabbled in music producing, songwriting, and modeling, he’s entered his Hollywood era in recent years with an acting debut in 2022’s series Never Have I Ever. Deacon also joined his dad in 2025’s Prime Video series Motorheads, in which he played a younger version of Phillippe’s on-screen brother.

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Reese Witherspoon and Deacon Phillippe attend the ‘Elle’ premiere at SVA Theater on June 23, 2026 in New York City.Credit: Getty Images

Witherspoon and Phillippe—who also share lookalike daughter Ava, 26—recently had a rare public reunion at their son’s graduation from Tisch School of the Arts on May 15. The exes—who were one of the It couples of the Noughties before they finalized their divorce in 2008—showed off their friendly co-parenting relationship as they supported Deacon at Radio City Music Hall. Witherspoon’s ex-husband Jim Toth and her 13-year-old son Tennessee also made an appearance.

Deacon recently had fans doing a double take as he joined his mom at the premiere of Prime Video’s Elle on June 23. Witherspoon took inspiration from her beloved Legally Blonde character Elle Woods with a semi-sheer pink lace off-the-shoulder midi-length dress as she posed with her mini-me son. Meanwhile, Deacon paid tribute to his dad by pairing a black suit and white dress shirt with a hot pink tie à la Phillippe’s look at the 2001 Legally Blonde premiere.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”