Ryan Phillippe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ryan Phillippe
Phillippe in 2011
Born	Matthew Ryan Phillippe (1974-09-10) September 10, 1974 (age 50) New Castle, Delaware, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1992–present
Spouse(s)	Reese Witherspoon ​ ​ (m. 1999; div. 2007)​
Children	3

Matthew Ryan Phillippe (born September 10, 1974) is an American actor. He became well-known in the late 1990s. He starred in popular movies like I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) and Cruel Intentions (1999).

Later, Phillippe took on many different roles. These included films such as Crash (2004) and Flags of Our Fathers (2006). He also played the main character, Bob Lee Swagger, in the TV series Shooter from 2016 to 2018.

About Ryan Phillippe's Early Life

Ryan Phillippe was born in New Castle, Delaware. His mother, Susan, ran a day care center. His father, Richard, was a chemist. Ryan has three sisters.

When he was young, Phillippe earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He finished school at Barbizon in Wilmington, Delaware.

Ryan Phillippe's Acting Career

Starting His Acting Journey (1990s)

Ryan Phillippe began his acting career in the early 1990s. He first appeared on the TV show One Life to Live from 1992 to 1993. He played Billy Douglas, who was the first openly gay teenager on a daytime soap opera.

After this, Phillippe moved to Los Angeles. He got small roles in TV shows like Matlock. He also appeared in movies such as Crimson Tide (1995) and White Squall (1996).

Becoming Well-Known (1997–2001)

Phillippe gained more fame in 1997. He starred in the horror film I Know What You Did Last Summer. This movie was very successful. It helped him get roles in other big films.

In 1998, he appeared in 54 and Playing by Heart. In 1999, he starred in Cruel Intentions. This movie was a modern version of an old novel. He acted alongside Reese Witherspoon, who later became his wife.

He also appeared in the music video for "Comin' Up From Behind" by Marcy Playground. Later, he was in the crime drama The Way of the Gun (2000). He played a software engineer in the thriller Antitrust (2001). He also co-starred in Gosford Park (2001), which was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture.

Big Roles and Important Movies (2002–2011)

Phillippe had supporting roles in Igby Goes Down (2002) and Crash (2005). Crash won the Best Picture Oscar. His 2003 film The I Inside was shown on cable TV.

Phillippe at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival

In 2006, Phillippe played a real-life Navy medic, John Bradley. This was in the war film Flags of Our Fathers. Clint Eastwood directed the movie. Phillippe said this film was his "best experience" because it meant a lot to him. Both of his grandfathers fought in World War II.

His next role was in the thriller Breach. He played an FBI investigator named Eric O'Neill. He then starred in Stop-Loss, a film about the Iraq war.

Phillippe also took on a funny role as Lt. Dixon Piper in MacGruber (2010). This movie was based on a skit from Saturday Night Live. To promote the film, Phillippe hosted Saturday Night Live and co-hosted WWE Raw.

In 2010, Phillippe starred in The Bang-Bang Club. This movie told the true story of four South African photographers. They documented the end of apartheid. Phillippe played Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Greg Marinovich. He said filming in South Africa affected him deeply.

In 2011, he was in The Lincoln Lawyer. He also filmed the action movie Setup. This movie was released straight to DVD. Phillippe then worked on the dark comedy Revenge for Jolly! and the drama Straight A's.

Return to Television and New Projects (2012–Present)

From 2011, Phillippe filmed for the TV show Damages. He played Channing McClaren, a character similar to Julian Assange. This was his first regular TV role since One Life to Live.

In 2012, Phillippe directed his first movie, Catch Hell. It's an indie thriller where he also stars. He co-wrote the script. The movie was released in 2014.

In 2013, Phillippe filmed the action thriller Reclaim in Puerto Rico. He played an American man whose adopted child disappears. Reclaim was released in 2014.

In 2015, ABC picked up the TV series Secrets and Lies. Phillippe played a family man who becomes a suspect in a murder.

Phillippe, along with Breckin Meyer, Seth Green, and David E. Siegal, runs a production company called Lucid Films. He also worked as an executive producer and narrator for the documentary Isolated.

In 2015, Phillippe was cast as the lead character, Bob Lee Swagger, in the USA Network series Shooter. It premiered in 2016. In 2020, he was announced for the ABC crime drama Big Sky. In 2021, he starred in the action thriller film One Shot.

Ryan Phillippe's Personal Life

Ryan Phillippe met actress Reese Witherspoon in 1997. They starred together in Cruel Intentions. They married on June 5, 1999. Their daughter was born in 1999, and their son was born in 2003.

Phillippe and Witherspoon announced their separation in 2006. Their marriage officially ended in 2007. They share joint custody of their children.

Phillippe also has another daughter, born in 2011, with model and actress Alexis Knapp. He was engaged to law student Paulina Slagter in 2015, but they ended their relationship in 2016.

Ryan Phillippe's Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

Music Videos