When people search for Reese Witherspoon son, they often expect one simple answer—but there is an important detail that can make the results confusing. Reese Witherspoon has two sons, not one: Deacon Phillippe, her son with actor Ryan Phillippe, and Tennessee James Toth, her youngest son with talent agent Jim Toth.
The confusion becomes even greater because searches about Tennessee’s age, Jim Toth, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Never Have I Ever sometimes get mixed together. In reality, those searches refer to different members of the family.
This guide separates the facts clearly. You will learn how old Tennessee is, who his father is, why Deacon—not Tennessee—appeared in Never Have I Ever, and where the Leonardo DiCaprio comparison comes from. It also explains Reese’s family structure after her divorce from Jim Toth, while keeping the focus on information that is publicly documented rather than speculation about a child who has largely grown up away from Hollywood’s spotlight.
How many sons does Reese Witherspoon have?
Reese Witherspoon has two sons: Deacon Phillippe and Tennessee James Toth.
She also has a daughter, Ava Phillippe. Her three children come from two different relationships:
- Ava Phillippe — daughter of Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe
- Deacon Phillippe — son of Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe
- Tennessee James Toth — son of Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth
That distinction is the easiest way to understand most searches surrounding Reese Witherspoon’s children.
Deacon is the older son and was born in 2003. Tennessee is the younger son and was born in 2012.
The two brothers therefore belong to noticeably different generations. Deacon was already an adult when Tennessee was entering his teenage years.
Why people sometimes confuse the two
The confusion largely comes from the fact that both boys are associated with Reese Witherspoon, while Deacon has become much more visible publicly because he has pursued music and acting.
Tennessee, by contrast, has generally had a much lower public profile.
That difference matters when reading celebrity-family articles. A headline saying “Reese Witherspoon’s son” does not necessarily mean Tennessee. In many entertainment stories, it refers to Deacon.
How old is Reese Witherspoon’s son Tennessee?
Tennessee James Toth was born on September 27, 2012, in Los Angeles.
As of August 11, 2026, Tennessee is 13 years old. He will turn 14 on September 27, 2026.
His age can easily become outdated in articles because celebrity biographies are frequently copied and republished without updating the number. The most reliable approach is to use his birth date rather than relying on an article that simply describes him as “12” or “13.”
Tennessee’s age at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Tennessee James Toth |
| Birth date | September 27, 2012 |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California |
| Age on August 11, 2026 | 13 |
| Mother | Reese Witherspoon |
| Father | Jim Toth |
| Older siblings | Ava Phillippe and Deacon Phillippe |
Tennessee was Reese’s third child and her first child with Jim Toth. When he was born in 2012, Reese was 36 years old.
One interesting detail is that Tennessee’s unusual first name is not simply a celebrity-style choice detached from Reese’s background. Reese has strong Southern roots, and the name fits the broader Southern identity she has incorporated into parts of her public life and business career.
Who is the husband Reese Witherspoon had with Tennessee?
Tennessee’s father is Jim Toth, a former talent agent who married Reese Witherspoon in March 2011.
The couple had one child together, Tennessee. Reese had already become a mother to Ava and Deacon during her previous marriage to Ryan Phillippe.
Reese and Jim announced their divorce in March 2023 after more than a decade of marriage. In their announcement, they emphasized that their son and their family remained their biggest priority.
This is an important distinction when searching for “husband Reese Witherspoon son.”
Jim Toth is Tennessee’s father, but he is no longer Reese Witherspoon’s husband.
The former couple’s relationship changed, but Tennessee remains their shared child.
Reese’s family timeline
A simple timeline makes the family structure much easier to understand:
- Reese married Ryan Phillippe in 1999.
- They welcomed daughter Ava in 1999.
- They welcomed son Deacon in 2003.
- Reese and Ryan divorced in 2008.
- Reese married Jim Toth in 2011.
- Reese and Jim welcomed Tennessee in 2012.
- Reese and Jim announced their divorce in 2023.
This explains why older articles may describe Jim as Reese’s “husband,” while newer stories refer to him as her ex-husband.
Was Reese Witherspoon’s son in Never Have I Ever?
Yes—but it was Deacon Phillippe, not Tennessee James Toth.
This is probably the single most important correction for people searching “Reese Witherspoon son Never Have I Ever.”
Deacon made his acting debut in season 3 of Netflix’s Never Have I Ever in 2022. He played Parker, a student connected to Devi’s school and debate storyline. He appeared as a guest performer rather than becoming one of the show’s principal characters.
At the time, Deacon was 18.
Mindy Kaling, one of the show’s creators, explained that the role seemed like a good fit for Deacon after Reese had mentioned that her son was interested in acting.
So the correct answer is:
Reese Witherspoon’s son in Never Have I Ever is Deacon Phillippe. Tennessee was not the actor in the series.
Who did Deacon play?
Deacon played Parker, a private-school student and debate competitor.
His appearance was relatively small, which is another reason some viewers may remember seeing “Reese Witherspoon’s son” connected with the series without remembering his character.
The role was significant for another reason: it represented Deacon’s first credited acting job.
What does Leonardo DiCaprio have to do with Reese Witherspoon’s son?
This search query can be particularly misleading.
Leonardo DiCaprio is not the father of Reese Witherspoon’s son.
There is no credible basis for identifying Leonardo DiCaprio as the father of either Deacon or Tennessee.
The Leonardo DiCaprio connection largely comes from Deacon’s appearance. Entertainment coverage has noted that some people think Deacon resembles the actor, and there has even been a widely circulated anecdote involving Diane Keaton mistaking or jokingly comparing Deacon’s appearance with DiCaprio’s.
This is therefore a lookalike/appearance comparison, not a family relationship.
That distinction is worth making because celebrity search results can turn an innocent resemblance story into something that looks like a relationship claim when taken out of context.
Why does Deacon sometimes get compared with Leonardo DiCaprio?
Deacon inherited noticeable features from both of his famous parents, Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe. His youthful appearance has also led entertainment publications and social-media users to compare him with other actors.
Leonardo DiCaprio is one of those comparisons.
But resemblance is subjective. Two people sharing facial characteristics does not establish a biological or personal connection.
Deacon Phillippe and Tennessee Toth are very different public figures
The easiest way to avoid confusion is to compare the brothers.
Deacon Phillippe
Deacon was born on October 23, 2003, making him 22 as of August 2026.
He has explored both music and acting. His acting credits include Never Have I Ever, and he later appeared alongside his father, Ryan Phillippe, in the series Motorheads.
Music has also been a major part of his creative identity. He released music as a young artist and developed an interest in production and songwriting.
Tennessee James Toth
Tennessee, born in 2012, is significantly younger and has not developed the same public entertainment career.
That distinction is particularly important when an article or social-media post simply says “Reese Witherspoon’s son.” The name can refer to either boy, but the story may concern completely different circumstances.
A useful clue: Reese has kept Tennessee comparatively private
One of the less obvious aspects of Reese Witherspoon’s family is the contrast between the public visibility of her older children and the relatively limited information available about Tennessee.
Deacon entered entertainment professionally as an adult. Tennessee has remained much more protected from that level of attention.
That means there is a temptation online to fill gaps with assumptions about his schooling, personality, ambitions, or future career. Those assumptions should be treated carefully.
A lack of public information is not evidence that something is happening behind the scenes. It simply means the family has not chosen to make every aspect of his life public.
That is particularly relevant because Tennessee was still a minor for most of the period in which online interest in Reese’s family grew dramatically.
Reese Witherspoon’s relationship with her children
Reese has frequently spoken publicly about motherhood, and her social-media posts have occasionally included family moments.
In 2025, for example, she revealed an amusing detail about Tennessee: he calls her “Morty.” She said she had no idea why he came up with the nickname.
That small detail is more revealing than many celebrity headlines. It shows the difference between a public image and ordinary family life.
Reese may be one of Hollywood’s most recognizable actresses, but inside the family she can simply be “Mom”—or, in Tennessee’s case, “Morty.”
She has also shared moments involving her sons together. In 2023, she posted about spending time with both Tennessee and Deacon during the summer. At the time, Tennessee was 10 and Deacon was 19.
What is Tennessee doing now?
Because Tennessee is still a teenager, there is relatively little verified information about his private day-to-day life.
That is actually useful to remember when reading celebrity profiles.
There is no need to interpret the absence of entertainment credits as evidence that he intends to avoid Hollywood permanently. At 13, he has plenty of time before making professional decisions about acting, music, education, or any other career.
His older brother provides an interesting contrast. Deacon began exploring entertainment professionally around adulthood, while Tennessee has so far had much less public involvement.
The two siblings therefore demonstrate something easy to overlook in famous families: being raised around entertainment does not automatically mean every child follows exactly the same path.
Three details that are easy to miss
1. Tennessee is Reese’s youngest child
People sometimes describe Tennessee as Reese’s “only son,” but that is incorrect.
He is her youngest child and younger son. Deacon is her older son.
2. Jim Toth is Tennessee’s father, not Deacon’s
This is another common mix-up.
- Deacon’s father is Ryan Phillippe.
- Tennessee’s father is Jim Toth.
The different fathers explain why searching for “Reese Witherspoon husband son” can produce seemingly contradictory results.
3. The Never Have I Ever connection belongs to Deacon
If you remember Reese’s son appearing on Netflix, you are remembering Deacon, who played Parker.
Tennessee did not play that role.
This is perhaps the most useful fact to remember when navigating the many similar celebrity-family search results.
Common mistakes when researching Reese Witherspoon’s sons
Celebrity family information is surprisingly easy to mix up. Here are the biggest mistakes to avoid:
Mistake 1: Calling Jim Toth Deacon’s father.
Jim is Tennessee’s father. Deacon is Reese’s son with Ryan Phillippe.
Mistake 2: Saying Tennessee appeared in Never Have I Ever.
The actor was Deacon Phillippe.
Mistake 3: Treating Leonardo DiCaprio as a family connection.
The DiCaprio reference concerns resemblance and celebrity comparisons, not parentage.
Mistake 4: Using an old age without checking the birth date.
Tennessee was born September 27, 2012, so his age changes every September.
Mistake 5: Assuming every detail about Tennessee is public.
He has maintained a considerably lower profile than his older siblings, and speculation should not be presented as fact.
FAQ
How old is Reese Witherspoon’s son Tennessee?
Tennessee James Toth was born on September 27, 2012. As of August 11, 2026, he is 13 years old and will turn 14 in September 2026.
Who is the father of Reese Witherspoon’s son Tennessee?
Tennessee’s father is Jim Toth, whom Reese Witherspoon married in 2011. They welcomed Tennessee in September 2012 and later announced their divorce in 2023.
Is Leonardo DiCaprio the father of Reese Witherspoon’s son?
No. Leonardo DiCaprio has no parental relationship with Reese Witherspoon’s children. The connection comes from comparisons between DiCaprio’s appearance and that of Reese’s older son, Deacon Phillippe.
Which Reese Witherspoon son was in Never Have I Ever?
Deacon Phillippe, Reese’s son with Ryan Phillippe, appeared in season 3 of Never Have I Ever. He played Parker and made his acting debut on the series in 2022.
Does Reese Witherspoon have two sons?
Yes. Reese has two sons: Deacon Phillippe, born in 2003, and Tennessee James Toth, born in 2012. She also has a daughter, Ava Phillippe.
Is Tennessee Toth an actor like his mother?
There is no comparable public acting career for Tennessee at this point. His older brother Deacon has pursued both acting and music, including Never Have I Ever and Motorheads, while Tennessee has remained considerably more private.
Conclusion
The phrase “Reese Witherspoon son” can refer to two different people, which explains much of the confusion surrounding online searches.
Tennessee James Toth is Reese Witherspoon’s youngest son. Born on September 27, 2012, he is 13 years old as of August 2026 and is the son Reese shares with her former husband Jim Toth.
Deacon Phillippe is her older son with Ryan Phillippe. He is the Reese Witherspoon son who appeared in Never Have I Ever, playing Parker in season 3. He is also the son sometimes compared in appearance with Leonardo DiCaprio.
Once those two brothers are separated, the rest of the search questions become much easier to understand. And perhaps the most useful takeaway is that Reese’s children have followed different paths: one has stepped into entertainment, while the younger one has so far enjoyed a much quieter childhood outside the professional spotlight.




