Ryan Phillippe has recalled a “wild night” at the 2006 Oscars, when his film Crash won Best Picture shortly after his then-wife Reese Witherspoon was named Best Actress for Walk the Line.
Speaking on Wednesday’s episode of Live With Kelly and Mark, the 52-year-old 9-1-1: Nashville actor described the ceremony as an “out-of-body, out-of-mind experience”.
“It was a wild night altogether because my wife at the time, Reese Witherspoon, also won Best Actress,” Phillippe said. “While she was backstage giving her post-award interviews, they called Best Picture for Crash.”
Phillippe also remembered meeting Morgan Freeman, who presented the Best Picture award. He said he had “never met Morgan Freeman” and became overwhelmed when he encountered the actor on stage.
“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,” he said.
Witherspoon and Phillippe married in 1999 and divorced in 2008. They share two children, daughter Ava, 27, and son Deacon, 22.
Looking back on the celebrations after the ceremony, Phillippe said they partied “up until probably 5 or 6 in the morning”.
“We had such a fun after-party,” he added.
The former couple have remained close while co-parenting their children. Earlier this year, the family came together for Deacon’s graduation from New York University.
