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Matthew Ryan Phillippe was born in 1974 in New Castle, Delaware. New Castle would
be home to Ryan throughout childhood. His father was a chemist and his mother operated
a day care out of the family home. Ryan grew up as the only boy in four children, having
sisters Kirsten, Lindsay, and Katelyn. And it was while getting his hair cut at a barbershop
in NewCastle that Ryan was discovered. A man approached Ryan and encouraged him to act;
saying that his looks could probably land him at the top of the heap in Hollywood. In fact,
he was so convinced that young Ryan was destined for stardom that he took him under
his own wing, offering to work with the actor-to-be until he was ready for the big time.
Just seven months after being spotted at the barber's, 17 year old Philippe had his first job.
His first crack at the industry brought him into soap operas, as many big stars before him
had done as well. His character on "One Life to Live," however was a groundbreaking character
as Douglass, he, Billy became the first gay teenager on any soap. But, as with any soap
opera, unless your Susan Lucci, you're probably not going to be remembered for that.
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So, Ryan decide to try film. His first film role came in "Crimson Tide," which was quickly
followed by interesting but not star making roles in "Invader", "White Squall", and "Nowhere."
His biggest break came with the release of 54, a film that came at the height of the resurgence
of the infamous Studio 54's popularity. Prior to this, Phillippe had worked on "I Know What You
Did Last Summer," but he and fellow actor Freddie Prinze, Jr. took a backseat to the lovely
leading lady, Ms. Jennifer Love Hewitt. So, 54 gave Ryan a chance to shine all on his own, and
shine he did. The film garnered critical praises as well as a decent receipt at the box office. But
everyone and anyone who left the theatre after seeing the film was wondering, "Who is that guy?"
Ryan would follow 54 with the smart, sassy, and amazingly well performed "Cruel Intentions." The
film would be well received by audiences and establish Phillippe as a bona fide star. He bounced
from the set of "Cruel Intentions" straight into the arms of Angelina Jolie in "Playing By Heart,"
an incredible film that featured some of Hollywood's best.
Off the screen, Ryan is happily married to wife and actress Reese Witherspoon. The two have
one child together. In his spare time, Ryan likes kicking some ass - he's a black belt in Tae
Kwon Do. He is also the owner of a production company, along with Breckin Meyer and Seth
Green, fellow actors and friends of Phillippe.
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