Reese Witherspoon says son Deacon brings her 'joy, wisdom' as he turns 21
Reese Witherspoon is celebrating her son Deacon Phillippe’s milestone 21st birthday.
The "Legally Blonde" star took to Instagram on Wednesday to honor her elder son, sharing a pair of new and old photos of them together, along with a sweet tribute in the caption.
"Can't believe that this amazing young man is turning 21!!" Witherspoon wrote. "Happy birthday, @deaconphillippe 🤍You came into my life to bring me joy, wisdom, and so much love 🥰 you light up my life with your beautiful spirit! I love you so much. 💙."
Witherspoon may be best known to the public as an Academy Award-winning actress and business maven, but her most important role is that of mom to her three children.
In addition to Deacon Phillippe, Witherspoon also shares a daughter, Ava Phillippe, with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe. Witherspoon is also a mom to son Tennessee James, her youngest child, whom she shares with ex-husband Jim Toth.
Witherspoon has brought her children along with her to events and other public outings in the past. On Aug. 8, the actress brought Deacon Phillippe as her plus-one to the premiere of "Blink Twice" in Los Angeles.
Earlier this year, in January, Witherspoon also shared one-on-one time in Paris with her daughter, as the two attended fashion shows together.
During an appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show" in 2020, Witherspoon opened up about balancing her career as an actress and life as a mother of three.
"You take the food out of your mouth, the clothes off your back, the sleep out of your life -- but every bit of it, every bit of that sacrifice is truly worth it," Witherspoon said. "That's what makes me wake up on a Sunday. It's not movies or my job. It's my kids."
What to know about Reese Witherspoon's 3 kids
Ava Elizabeth Phillippe
Born Sept. 9, 1999, in Los Angeles, Ava Phillippe is Witherspoon's first child with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe.
When Ava Phillippe turned 25, Witherspoon took to Instagram to wish her daughter a happy birthday, writing, "Happy Birthday to my amazing daughter @avaphillippe who happens to be one of the most genuinely kind-hearted and wise people I know. I love you with all heart 💓Keep shining your beautiful light my sweet girl!"
Witherspoon and her eldest child have made numerous public appearances together, including their recent attendance at the Fendi Couture Spring/Summer 2024 show in Paris and the 2024 Critics Choice Awards.
The mother and daughter frequently post pictures with one another and tributes to each other on social media.
Celebrating Witherspoon's birthday last March, Ava Phillippe shared a photo of her mom on Instagram, penning a sweet note in the caption.
"HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to this ✨legendary lady✨ I’m lucky enough to call my mama!" she wrote. "She is truly a force of nature."
Ava Phillippe graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2022 and has pursued a career in modeling. She has worked for brands such as Pat McGrath, Rodarte, Beyonce's Ivy Park and Witherspoon's own line, Draper James.
In an interview with Us Weekly in 2016, Witherspoon gushed about her daughter's fashion sense and expertise.
"She's so much cooler than I am!" Witherspoon said at the time. "She's very cutting-edge, and she knows a lot about fashion, and she has her own sense of style, which is amazing."
Deacon Reese Phillippe
The second child of Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, Deacon Phillippe was born Oct. 23, 2003, in Los Angeles.
In January, Deacon Phillippe accompanied his mom to the 81st annual Golden Globes, wearing a tuxedo as he posed with his mom on the red carpet.
Following in his parents' footsteps, Deacon Phillippe is pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. In 2020, he released his first single, "Long Run" featuring Nina Nesbitt, as a music producer. He later made his acting debut in the third season of the hit Netflix show "Never Have I Ever," appearing in two episodes.
A music student at New York University, Deacon Phillippe released his debut album, "A New Earth," in April 2023.
He introduced his album on Instagram at the time, sharing what the record was about there as well.
"This is a story of my life, our lives, and of love and life in general; it carries thoughts and emotions that I've accumulated, felt, observed, bottled up, and dealt with through the last 19 years of my life," he wrote. "It's about learning to look through the lens of love. I've finally found a reason why people should listen, and it's bigger than me."
Tennessee James Toth
Tennessee James Toth is Witherspoon's youngest child, whom she shares with ex-husband Jim Toth. Tennessee was born Sept. 27, 2012, in Los Angeles.
Despite keeping her son away from the public spotlight, Witherspoon still shares occasional glimpses of him and pays tributes to him on Instagram.
To mark Tennessee's 11th birthday last September, Witherspoon posted a photo of her sweetly hugging him on Instagram.
"Happy 11th Birthday to my wonderful son, Tenn! 💫," she captioned the post at the time. "I love your curiosity, your endless energy and your playful sense of humor. Everyday you make me think more about the world around us and dream even bigger. I 💙you so much, Buddy!"
