Deacon Phillippe may be the son of two famous actors, Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, but he is carving out a name for himself with his music career.
The Never Have I Ever actor was born on Oct. 23, 2003, in Los Angeles. His parents split when he was 3 years old but he has maintained a close relationship with both, as well as with his siblings Ava and Tennessee.
Deacon is now a student at New York University and has been focusing on making music. In April 2023, his family came out to support him at the release party for his debut album A New Earth.
“All I can say is that it came from pure love, for what I do and for the people that listen,” the musician wrote on Instagram when announcing his album. “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. This project was created in my dorm, made by three college kids with big dreams and bigger hearts.”
From his career ambitions to his relationship with his family, here’s everything to know about Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe’s son, Deacon Phillippe.
He is a student at New York University
After graduating from high school in 2022, Deacon started at New York University. Reese moved her son into his dorm at the start of his freshman year and, months later, reflected on the moment with PEOPLE.
“It means you did your job right,” the Your Place or Mine actress said in February 2023. “And I’m so proud of my kids. They’re thriving in the world and I’m so happy for them.”
Deacon, for his part, has been enjoying his time at college and even spent part of his freshman year making music in his dorm room alongside his friends.
He lives in the West Village
Caleb Simpson/TikTok
In his second year at NYU, Deacon has moved off campus into his own apartment in New York City’s West Village — and let fans have a sneak peek of his crib in a TikTok video.
When TikToker Caleb Simpson, who is known for interviewing high-profile subjects about their homes, stopped Deacon on the street, the young musician let him into his West Village abode, which boasted two floors and a spiral staircase.
Deacon went on to show Simpson his “vinyl wall,” a plant he named Daryl and a sneak peek of his room, which he also uses as a studio.
“Studio setup. I sing and play a little bit of keyboard but I mostly make music on my computer,” Deacon explained before playing a short sample for the TikToker.
When Simpson asked Deacon how much he pays for rent, the star cheekily replied, “West Village prices, man.”
He appeared in Netflix’s Never Have I Ever
Lara Solanki/Netflix
In July 2022, Netflix announced that Deacon was joining the third season of Never Have I Ever, where he played Parker, a member of lead Devi Vishwakumar’s (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) rival debate team.
“Reese had told me that he was interested in performing … and I only had this role that seemed really good for him,” show creator Mindy Kaling told Entertainment Tonight the following month. “He’s so super talented, obviously really handsome, but here’s this kid who’s been raised by two very successful actors and he wanted to learn.”
Deacon’s actor parents were thrilled for him as he began to follow in their footsteps, with Ryan telling ET in August 2022 that he was “so proud” of his son.
“I am so proud,” Ryan said. “He’s about to go to college for music. That’s his primary focus. The acting thing he likes to do, and he will do according to what his appetite for it is, but his focus is primarily music.”
He is a musician
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Three years before the debut of his album, the singer started playing around with production from the comfort of his own home during the COVID-19 pandemic, he told Interview magazine in December 2020.
“All the music I’ve made this summer has been done digitally, for the most part,” he said. “As things open up, I’m looking forward to collaborating with people I haven’t met yet. I feel like the best records are made in person.”
He also told the outlet that his love for making music was actually inspired by his father, who taught him the ropes of production.
“When I was listening to the radio in the car with my dad, something just clicked,” Deacon said. “I realized there’s more to making music than just being a vocalist, and that a lot of times it’s the production that makes me feel something. I asked my dad about how it works, and he taught me all the stuff he knew, and then I started watching YouTube videos.”
He and Ryan like to work out and enjoy music together
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Ryan has been open about his close bond with Deacon as the two of them share mutual interests like working out and making music.
In 2021, Ryan told PEOPLE that he and his son enjoy hikes in L.A. and hitting the gym together, though he joked, “We’ll do the same workout, and the way he looks after compared to the way I look is really defeating.”
The two also share a passion for not only making music, but also studying and listening to it. On a road trip to Yellowstone in 2018, Ryan and Deacon spent the journey listening to the then-newly released Astroworld by Travis Scott, which they had both been “really anticipating.”
“So our first listen was on this road trip as we’re passing the most beautiful, enormous mountains on our way into Yellowstone,” he reminisced on Live with Kelly and Ryan in November 2020. “And that’s something that I won’t forget.”
Reese has called him her “ray of sunshine”
Stefanie Keenan/Getty
The Little Fires Everywhere actress has been open about her pride and love for her son, calling him her “ray of sunshine” on his 20th birthday in October 2023.
“Deacon, you are such a ray of sunshine, love and positivity in this world,” she wrote in the caption of her post. “Keep shining that wonderful light on us all! I 💗you !”
Now that both he and Ava are fully adults, Reese shared with Interview in June 2021 how her relationship with them has only gotten stronger.
“That makes me want to cry, the idea of having a long relationship with adult children,” Reese said. “I never expected the kind of relationship that I have with them, but it’s so rewarding to be able to have kids that you can process life with a little bit, and they help me understand the complexities of what it means to be a human now.”
He has a unique personal style
Madison Voelkel/BFA.com
Deacon may be passionate about music and acting, but he also has an eye for fashion. The “Long Run” singer opened up to PEOPLE in November 2023 at an H&M x Rabanne party about his style and how he dresses himself.
“Usually I like to wear stuff that’s comfortable, that I can do my job in, which is to make music and perform,” he said.
He added that his proclivity for dressing well started when he was young, and even at an early age, he would pick out clothes that would make him feel his best.
“As a kid, I always loved dressing up and I loved getting ready for going to church,” he said. “I liked the feeling of getting dressed up. I feel like you’ve got to look your best to feel your best.”
Now that he bounces between L.A., N.Y.C. and Nashville, Deacon said his vibe changes based on where he is.
“Just like everything, your life is an amalgamation of all the places you’ve lived,” he said. “Same with my style. I like to incorporate a little bit of that country western vibe with a street vibe.”
He has some famous friends
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Though he is just a regular student at NYU, as a child of two major celebrities, Deacon has amassed some famous friends — including Will Ferrell’s eldest son Magnus Ferrell. The two enjoyed a night out at celebrity hotspot Craig’s in L.A. in October 2023.
The outing came a day after the duo celebrated the release of Magnus’ new single, “Drinks on Me,” during a show at The Vermont Hollywood where Deacon was the opening act.
