Ryan Phillippe, also known as Matthew Ryan Phillippe, is an American actor who rose to fame with his role in the horror film ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer.’ Despite not having a background in the entertainment industry, he developed a passion for acting at a young age. His determination and talent led him to be cast as Billy Douglas in the television serial ‘One Life to Live,’ where he gained recognition for portraying a gay teenager. Throughout his career, he has received acclaim for his work on both the small and big screen, including his romantic pairings with Abbie Cornish and Amanda Seyfried. With his charm and good looks, he has garnered a large female fan base.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Matthew Ryan Phillippe
- Age: 49 Years, 49 Year Old Males
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Reese Witherspoon (m. 1999; div. 2007)
- Father: Richard Phillippe
- Mother: Susan Phillippe
- Siblings: Katelyn Phillippe, Kirsten Phillippe, Lindsay Phillippe
- Children: Ava Elizabeth Phillippe, Deacon Reese Phillippe, Kai Knapp
- Born Country: United States
- Actors
- American Men
- Height: 5’9″ (175 cm), 5’9″ Males
- U.S. State: Delaware
Childhood & Early Life
Matthew Ryan Phillippe was born on September 10, 1974, in New Castle, Delaware, the United States, to Susan and Richard Phillippe. He attended the local Baptist Academy and excelled in basketball, soccer, and Taekwondo. At the age of 15, he became interested in acting and was discovered by a casting agent while at a barbershop in Delaware. He moved to New York and started auditioning for roles, but when he didn’t find success, he took up modeling.
Career
After moving to New York, Ryan Phillippe signed with Cathy Parker Management and got a role in the soap opera ‘One Life to Live’ in 1992. He then moved to Los Angeles and appeared in small roles in television series and films like ‘Matlock’, ‘Due South’, ‘The Secrets of Lake Success’, ‘Crimson Tide’, and ‘White Squall’. In 1997, he was cast in the horror film ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’, which opened up new opportunities for him. He went on to star in films like ’54’, ‘Cruel Intentions’, ‘The Way of the Gun’, and ‘Antitrust’.
In 2006, he received critical acclaim for his performance in the war film ‘Flags of Our Fathers’. He has also worked on television shows like ‘Damages’ and directed his first film, ‘Catch Hell’, in 2014. He is currently involved in various future film projects.
Major Works
One of Ryan Phillippe’s major breakthroughs was his role in the 1997 horror film ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’, which gained him widespread recognition. He also received praise for his role as Greg Marinovich in the film ‘The Bang Bang Club’, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Personal Life
Ryan Phillippe met actress Reese Witherspoon in 1997, and they got married in 1999. They have two children together, Ava Elizabeth Phillippe and Deacon Reese Phillippe. The couple divorced in 2007. Ryan has since been in relationships with Abbie Cornish, Alexis Knapp, and Paulina Slagter. In 2017, he was sued by his ex-girlfriend, Elsie Hewitt, for assault and battery, but the criminal investigation against him was eventually closed.