Legally Mom! All About Reese Witherspoon's 3 Kids and Their Fathers

Reese Witherspoon is not only an incredibly accomplished actor, producer, entrepreneur and the ultimate Southern belle fashionista—she's also a proud mom of three. Balancing her multifaceted career and motherhood has certainly come with sacrifices, but Witherspoon herself has said it's "truly worth it." 

On The Drew Barrymore Show, Witherspoon told bestie Drew, "You feel like, That's what makes me wake up on a Sunday. It's not movies or my job, it's my kids.” She continued: "Being a mom is really great, it's a big part of my life. I would say it's the biggest part of my life."

Read on for more about Reese Witherspoon’s family, and how the superstar mom has raised a trio of fantastic kiddos.

How many kids does Reese Witherspoon have?

Witherspoon has three children: daughter Ava Phillippe, 24, and son Deacon Phillippe, 20, with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe, and son Tennessee James Toth, 11, with ex-husband Jim Toth.

Who are the fathers of Reese Witherspoon's kids?

Ryan Phillippe

Witherspoon shares her two oldest children, Ava and Deacon, with actor Ryan Phillippe. The former couple were married from 1999 to 2007.

While many believe they met on the set of 1999 movie Cruel Intentions, Witherspoon said on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in 2015 that they had been “living together for about a year-and-a-half” when they made the movie.

In 2014, Witherspoon went on 60 Minutes and talked about how the 2007 split affected her. "I spent a few years just trying to feel better,” she said. “You know, you can't really be very creative when you feel like your brain is scrambled eggs. I was just kind of floundering career-wise 'cause I wasn't making things I was passionate about, I was just kinda working. It was really clear the audiences weren't responding to anything I was putting out there."

Related: From 'Legally Blonde' to 'Walk the Line', These Are the 25 Best Reese Witherspoon Movies, Ranked

Jim Toth

In 2011, Witherspoon married talent agent Jim Toth. They were engaged less than a year after meeting at a mutual friend’s party in 2010.

​​In a 2012 Elle interview, Reese said she never thought she’d get married again. She shared, "Jim said, 'I'm gonna show you every day what a good partner is, what a good person is. I'm going to take care of you. I'm gonna do this so much that you're gonna get used to it.' I was, like, 'What are you talking about?' I've never had anybody like that in my life."

Witherspoon and Toth announced their divorce in March 2023 after nearly 12 years of marriage. In their joint statement, the duo said they came to the "difficult decision" after "a great deal of care and consideration."

Reese talked with Harper’s Bazaar about the differences between her first and second divorce. "It’s interesting what happened to me,” she said. “When I was divorced before, the tabloid media got to tell people how I was feeling or how I was processing, and it felt very out of control.”

She continued: "To be able to talk to people directly about what’s going on in my life and just share it in the way that I share great professional experiences or personal experiences, it feels much more authentic to be able to say things in my own voice and not let somebody else control what’s happening," she shared. "Then, of course, there’s speculation, but I can’t control that. All I can do is be my most honest, forthright self and be vulnerable."

The couple has one son together, Tennessee.

Related: Reese Witherspoon's Rep Addresses Kevin Costner Romance Rumors

How old was Reese Witherspoon when she had Ava?

Witherspoon gave birth to her first child, Ava, when she was 23 years old. "I got pregnant when I was 22 years old, and I didn’t know how to balance work and motherhood. You just do it ... I was just like every other mom and dad trying to figure it out," the actress told Drew Barrymore.

Who are Reese Witherspoon's children?

Ava Elizabeth Phillippe

Witherspoon's oldest child, Ava, was born on Sept. 9, 1999. Now 24, the model and UC Berkeley graduate looks uncannily like her famous mom (and also, let's face it, like her dad). 

The mother-daughter duo share a passion for fashion and beauty. “My first memories of makeup are of [watching] my grandmother and the way she does her lipstick and her blush and her eyeliner. And the way my mom would get glammed up for events,” Ava told PEOPLE.

In October 2022, Witherspoon visited Today with Hoda & Jenna and when she showed hosts Hoda and Jenna a photo of Ava, Jenna remarked, "Wait, y'all are twins!" to which Reese responded, "She and I don't see it that much."

On Ava’s 24th birthday, her mom posted a sweet tribute to her on Instagram, writing: “Happy Birthday to my glorious girl @avaphillippe ! 💞🎂🥳 It's the joy of my life to watch you grow and become the most inspiring, thoughtful, creative, dynamic, funny woman. I have learned so much from being your mom. How lucky is that ??!! I love you to the stars and back! 💫💗”

Deacon Reese Phillippe

Deacon, Witherspoon's second child, was born on Oct. 23, 2003, making him 20 at the time of this writing in December 2023. He recently graduated high school and is attending New York University.

Following in his parents' creative footsteps, 20-year-old Deacon is pursuing music. He released his first single in 2020 and debuted an album, A New Earth, in April 2023.

On his 18th birthday, Ava posted to Instagram about her brother: "I cannot believe the first baby I ever held is now 18 years old … D, you're simply the best. Funny, loyal, intelligent, genuine, kind, passionate, creative…and the list goes on. You light up rooms and always look for the best in people. Watching you grow into who you're meant to be is such a joy, and I'm eternally grateful to be your big sister."

Tennessee James Toth

Witherspoon welcomed her third child, Tennessee, on Sept. 27, 2012 with then-husband Toth. Now 11, Tennessee appears pretty frequently on his mom's social media, most recently when she posted a tribute to him on his birthday.

“Happy 11th Birthday to my wonderful son, Tenn!,” she wrote. “ 💫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!”

Are Reese Witherspoon's kids actors?

Reese’s daughter Ava is pursuing modeling, and has worked gigs with Pat McGrath, Beyoncé's Ivy Park line and her mom’s brand, Draper James.

However, Reese’s son Deacon made his acting debut in Season 3 of the hit Netflix series Never Have I Ever, playing Parker, a member of Devi’s rival debate team and a friend of her love interest Des (Anirudh Pisharody).

"We wanted Des' character to go to a swanky private school, and we had written this character of Parker and we just were like, 'Deacon would be great at this,'" Never Have I Ever co-creator Lang Fisher shared with EW. "So he joined the cast and he was such a nice kid, which is funny, because the character's really unlikeable."

She continued: "This is his first acting gig, but he just was great. He showed up like a real pro. He was really, really professional on set. He was just a joy to work with."

Are Reese Witherspoon's kids in college?

Witherspoon's oldest children, Ava and Deacon, both attended or are attending college. Ava graduated from UC Berkeley, while Deacon goes to New York University.

Recently, TikTok personality Caleb Wilson toured Deacon’s college apartment—which, to be honest, are extremely nice digs for a 20-year-old.

The budding musician caught a little "nepo baby" flack for the video, but surely his mom had his back. 

Next, Hello Sunshine Indeed! Reese Witherspoon's Net Worth In 2023 and How She Made It