Reese Witherspoon, 50, shares rare photos with son Deacon as he turns 23

Reese Witherspoon has delighted fans with a series of rare photographs of her lookalike son Deacon Phillippe as she celebrated his 23rd birthday on Friday, October 23 2026.

The Legally Blonde actress, 50, took to Instagram to mark her son's special day, sharing a collection of beautiful mother-son pictures that highlighted just how much he has grown up – and his striking resemblance to his famous parents.

In the first photograph, Reese could be seen leaning affectionately against Deacon's shoulder as the pair posed together on a beach, both smiling for the camera.

The proud mother also included a sweet throwback selfie from when Deacon was younger, along with a more recent holiday snap in which her son sported sunglasses and a backwards baseball cap while Reese wore a wide-brimmed straw hat.

Alongside the photographs, the Oscar-winning actress shared a moving tribute, reflecting on the extraordinary circumstances surrounding her son's birth in 2003.

Recalling the devastating wildfires that swept through Los Angeles that year, Reese explained that the experience had become a powerful symbol of Deacon's character.

"Somehow that fire forged you," she wrote, describing how her son had brought light into the lives of those around him.

"I love you so much, so lucky to be your mom," she added.

The photographs also highlighted the remarkable family resemblance, with Deacon inheriting his mother's bright smile and blonde hair, as well as the features of his father, actor Ryan Phillippe.

Reese shares Deacon and his older sister Ava, 27, with Ryan, whom she married in 1999 before their divorce in 2008. She is also mother to 14-year-old Tennessee, whom she shares with her second husband, Jim Toth.

Deacon has been carving out a career in the entertainment industry, following in his famous parents' footsteps while pursuing his own passion for music.

The budding actor and musician made his acting debut in the Netflix series Never Have I Ever in 2022 and later appeared in the Prime Video drama Motorheads.

Earlier this year, he graduated from New York University's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts, with both Reese and Ryan proudly coming together to celebrate the milestone. 

In September, Netflix announced that Deacon had landed a role in the upcoming romantic comedy Better Than the Movies, based on the bestselling novel by Lynn Painter.

He will play Michael Young alongside a cast that includes Judy Greer, Luke Kirby and David Iacono.

The birthday tribute attracted messages from several of Reese's famous friends, including Gwyneth Paltrow and Mindy Kaling, who joined the celebrations in the comments.

For Reese, however, the occasion was simply another opportunity to celebrate the young man her son has become.