You might have heard about Ryan Phillippe’s two children from his marriage to Reese Witherspoon, but did you know the actor also has a third daughter, Kai Knapp?
Kai is the 12-year-old daughter of Alexis Knapp and Ryan Phillippe. The pair share custody of their daughter. However, they kept her away from the public eye.
So, keep reading this article to learn all about Kai Knapp, Ryan Phillippe’s mini-me!
Kai Knapp Biography
Kai Knapp was born on July 1, 2011. Though she’s only 12, she has been famous since her birth.
The reason is that Knapp is considered to be Hollywood royalty, as her parents are none other than Alexis Knapp and Ryan Phillippe.
Kai first made headlines before she was even born. When Alexis Knapp announced her pregnancy from Ryan Phillippe, everyone was shocked, including Phillippe!
Knapp and Phillippe had actually been separated for a few months. Yet, Knapp stated that Phillippe was the father of her unborn child.
That said, Knapp didn’t ask Phillippe for any financial or emotional support. Phillippe, on the other hand, wanted to ensure he was the father of Knapp’s child and asked for a paternity test.
He stated that he would “take responsibility if it’s true”.
With much media speculation and millions of eyes on the pair and their daughter, Knapp and Phillippe kept matters as private as possible. They never shared whether they had a paternity test, nor the results of the said test.
Still, Phillippe was present during the birth of Kai, proving he is, indeed, the father. Additionally, while Kai goes by her mother’s last name, the name registered on her birth certificate is Kailani Merizalde Philippe-Knapp.
Since Kai is a minor, little information is available on her education, and everyday life. Additionally, her parents take extra measures to ensure the safety and privacy of their young daughter.
Kai Knapp Family
While Kai’s parents are estranged, she’s blessed with a rather large family. Her mother’s side of the family includes her grandmother Marjorie Elwood, her aunt Rio, and her two uncles, Zach and Joseph Elias.
As for her father’s side, her grandparents are Susan and Richard Phillippe, and her aunts are Lindsay, Kirsten, and Katelyn Phillippe.
Kai also has two half-siblings from her father’s side, who are Deacon and Ava Phillippe.
Here’s a detailed look into Kai’s relationship with her family members:
Alexis Knapp
Alexis Knapp is an American actress and singer. She rose to prominence due to her role as Stacie Konrad in the comedy-classic movie franchise, Pitch Perfect.
Since then, Knapp has had a few roles in numerous TV films and shows. Most notably, she appeared on the ABC series Super Fun Night, which was written by her Pitch Perfect co-star Rebel Wilson.
Alexis, who’s currently 34, had Kai when she was just 23, long before starring in these films. Back then, Knapp was a model and background film actress.
Knapp has primary custody of Kai, both residing in Los Angeles. As evident by the starlet’s Instagram, the mother-daughter duo are exceptionally close.
Kai even starred alongside her mother in a couple of movie scenes. However, since Knapp’s family is incredibly protective, these roles are background and uncredited.
Other than Kai, Alexis doesn’t have any children. She’s also dedicated all her time to raising and caring for her daughter and advancing her career. Accordingly, her dating history is minimal, with no significant relationship other than her 2010 fling with Ryan Phillippe.
Ryan Phillippe
Kai’s father is American-French actor Ryan Phillippe. Phillippe has had a splendid acting career in Hollywood since the 90s.
The star has conquered all aspects of Hollywood, from TV to music. For starters, he broke records by starring as the first gay man in American soap opera history. He played Billy Douglas on the ABC opera One Life to Live.
However, Phillippe rose to prominence when he was cast as one of the leading roles in the box-office hit I Know What You Did Last Summer.
Ryan’s career only got up from there. In 1999, he earned his heartthrob status when he starred in Dangerous Liaisons along with his ex-wife Reese Witherspoon.
The couple got married a year after filming and got divorced in 2007. Then, only three years later, Ryan Phillippe met Alexis Knapp and was blessed with Kai.
Sadly, Phillippe and Knapp broke up before knowing about the pregnancy. In fact, Phillippe heard that he was Kai’s father through mutual friends.
While Kai is absent from the star’s Instagram, he frequently spends time with his daughter. Yet, he prefers to keep her life private.
Ava and Deacon Phillippe
Kai also has two half-siblings from her father’s side, Ava and Deacon Phillippe.
Ava, born on September 9, 1999, to Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, is a model. She made her modeling debut in 2018. Since then, she has posed for lookbooks, online stores, and even her mother’s clothing collection.
Yet, what put Ava on the map is her uncanny resemblance to her mother. Whenever the young model appears on red carpets, many reporters mistake her for a young Witherspoon.
As for Deacon, he’s eight years older than Kai, being born on October 20, 2003. While Ava takes after her mom, Deacon could be his father’s twin. Additionally, many fans have commented that Deacon and Kai look incredibly alike.
Deakon is an actress and musician. He has had a supporting role in the Netflix hit series Never Have I Ever. Moreover, he has been making music since 2020, collaborating with music stars like Loren Gray and Nina Nesbitt.
Since Kai’s personal life has been kept rather private, there’s no information on whether she has a relationship with her half-siblings. She seems to be absent from their Instagram. Yet, the siblings have definitely met, as Ryan shares custody over his daughter.
Conclusion
Kai Knapp might be out of the spotlight, but her birth gained plenty of media attention.
Not only is Kai the daughter of Hollywood actors, Alexis Knapp and Ryan Phillippe, but she was also born after her parents broke up.
Still, Kai has had a pretty normal childhood surrounded by the attention and care of her loving parents.
