Ryan Phillippe recalls 'wild night' with ex-wife Reese Witherspoon as he makes rare comments about past marriage

Ryan Phillippe made rare comments about his past marriage to ex-wife Reese Witherspoon as he recalled a 'wild night' with the actress. 

The 52-year-old actor, who reunited with the Legally Blonde star in May, got candid about the topic during an appearance on Live With Kelly And Mark on Wednesday. 

The night out took place following the 2006 Oscars where his movie Crash won Best Picture, and Witherspoon had won Best Actress for her performance in Walk The Line. 

'It was a wild night altogether because my wife at the time, Reese Witherspoon, also won Best Actress,' Phillippe explained. 

'And then, moments later, while she was backstage giving her post award interviews, they called Best Picture for Crash.' 

The crime drama had also starred Sandra Bullock, Matt Dillon, Don Cheadle, Jennifer Esposito and Brendan Fraser. 

Phillippe remembered that stepping onto the stage following the Best Picture win had been 'an out-of-body, out-of-mind experience.' 

'Morgan Freeman was the presenter of the Best Picture and I had never met Morgan Freeman so I fanned out on stage at the Oscars,' the actor said. 

'I'm like, "I've always wanted to meet you, sir." And this is while the producer is accepting the award, kind of a funny moment.' 

At the time, both he and Witherspoon had celebrated the big night by attending an after-party. 

'We were up until probably 5 or 6 in the morning,' he further recalled during his appearance on the daytime talk show.

The Daily Mail has reached out to reps of Phillippe for comment, but has yet to hear back. 

Phillippe and Witherspoon first crossed paths at her 21st birthday party back in 1997. The following year, the pair became engaged. 

They also co-starred in the 1999 film Cruel Intentions alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar and Selma Blair. 

The former couple said 'I do' in June 1999 during a ceremony in Charleston, South Carolina, when she was pregnant with their daughter. 

During the course of their marriage, Phillippe and Witherspoon welcomed Ava, 27, and son Deacon, 22. 

In October 2006, the Hollywood stars announced their separation. The divorce was legally finalized the following year. In 2008, the pair reached financial and custody settlements. 

The Morning Show actress previously discussed getting married in her early 20s. 

'I got married when I was 23, and I had two kids by the time I was 27,' she said during an appearance on ITV's Lorraine back in 2017. 'So, I think, I don't know. Sometimes it's good to know yourself.' 

Witherspoon continued, 'I would never change anything. I said to my daughter, 25 you start to know yourself a little bit better.' 

Phillippe had also talked about how 'age' had been why the marriage came to an end. 

'When we got together we were so young,' the actor said during a previous interview with Larry King in 2015, per People. 

'I think it can create issues with two people in this industry because there's so much noise that goes along with it.' 

Following the divorce, Phillippe and Witherspoon maintained a positive co-parenting relationship for their children. 

Earlier this year in May, the former couple reunited for son Deacon's graduation from NYU at Radio City Music Hall. 

The two stars were spotted proudly taking photos of their son with other family members for the special occasion. 

Deacon has been following in his parents' entertainment footsteps, pursuing both his passion for singing and acting. 

He has taken on roles in projects such as Never Have I Ever and Motorheads.

Ava has also starred in shows such as Doctor Odyssey and Ransom Canyon. She appeared in Ella Langley's music video for her track Choosin' Texas earlier this year.

Witherspoon later married Jim Toth in 2011 and the pair welcomed son Tennessee, 14. The former couple announced their split in 2023. 

The actress has since been romantically linked to German financier boyfriend Oliver Haarmann. 

The pair made a rare appearance together back in June of this year at the premiere of Elle in New York City. 

Phillippe has also been romantically linked to Alexis Knapp, and the former couple are parents to daughter Khai, 15. He was also linked to Paulina Slagter and Elsie Hewitt.