Reese Witherspoon reunites with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe to celebrate son Deacon’s 17th birthday

Reese Witherspoon has long been divorced from Ryan Phillippe, with whom she shares two children.

But the Academy Award winner has mastered the art of co-parenting, as they continue to watch their kids grow up.

She reunited with her ex-husband Friday night to throw a small backyard party for their son Deacon’s 17th birthday with friends and family at her mansion in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The 44-year-old carried out a cake topped with sparklers, as they sang Happy Birthday to Deacon.

Although Ryan, 46, didn’t appear in the video, he appeared to be in attendance, as he posted the clip to his Instagram Story.

He also posted a series of sweet childhood throwbacks of his only son, writing: ‘Happy birthday to my extraordinary [sun emoji]… You’re the coolest… Happy 17th, my man!!’ 

Reese shared a touching birthday tribute to Instagram too, writing: ‘Happy Birthday to my wonderful son @deaconphillippe! My bright light/ hardworking / fun-loving / music making / deeply kind son, who always finds the good in everyone and everything. 

‘What a pleasure to watch you grow into an amazing young man who is always curious and endlessly creative. Can’t wait to celebrate! I love you so much #17’

She and Ryan were married from 1999 to 2008, and they share son Deacon Reese, 17, and daughter Ava Elizabeth, 21.

They met when their onscreen romance in the hit 1999 teen film Cruel Intentions led to a real-life relationship.

The Big Little Lies star later tied the knot with Jim Toth, 50, in March of 2011, and they share son Tennessee James, eight. 

She recently joined a virtual Legally Blonde reunion, reuniting with her co-stars from the 2001 comedy for a YouTube special, moderated by Saturday Night Live star Chloe Fineman.   

Reese said: ‘I don’t think any of us knew what this film was going to turn out to be or how it would inspire young women and young people across the world.

‘I’ve traveled the entire world and always, always the movie that people stop me about is Legally Blonde.’

The reunion also featured virtual appearances from Luke Wilson, Jennifer Coolidge, Selma Blair, Holland Taylor, Alanna Ubach, Jessica Cauffiel, Ali Larter and Matthew Davis.

It was revealed back in June of 2018 that Reese is returning for a third installment, which was supposed to premiere this February.

MGM announced the new premiere date for Wednesday on Twitter: ‘Elle Woods is back! Legally Blonde 3 coming May 2022. We rest our case.’

It comes after Reese’s Wrinkle in Time co-star Mindy Kaling and Parks and Recreation writer Dan Goor signed on to write a new script for the film back in May.

Kaling teased what’s to come earlier this month on Good Morning America: ‘I was nervous because the movie is so iconic. But then I thought, “It’d be really fun to see that character in her 40s. What is Elle Woods dealing with as a 41-year-old woman?”

‘And it’s been really funny to write. And I’m working on it with my friend Dan, and I think it’s going to be a great movie for Reese and people are going to love to see her in this part.’