Ava Phillippe Makes Acting Debut in New ABC Drama Episode

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Ava Phillippe, daughter of Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon and actor Ryan Phillippe, is set to make her acting debut in the upcoming episode of ABC’s drama series, Doctor Odyssey, titled “Spring Break.” The episode will air on Thursday at 9 PM Pacific Time.

Ava, 24, will portray a college-aged character described as a “vixen” who sets her sights on Dr. Max. She is joined by fellow guest stars Paris Jackson, daughter of the late Michael Jackson, and model-turned-actress, Sydney Lawrence. Both Jackson and Lawrence bring their own Hollywood pedigrees, making this episode a notable gathering of star offspring.

According to ABC’s episode description, “Spring Break hits The Odyssey as three college ‘vixens’ set their sights on Max. Meanwhile, Tristan faces his drinking problem while other passengers’ struggles keep the medical team on their toes.” The premise hints at the blend of drama and humor that has defined the show since its inception.

Ava Phillippe is currently an undergraduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, and has previously appeared as herself in various on-camera roles. In 2022, her younger brother, Deacon Reese Phillippe, made his acting debut in Netflix’s series, Never Have I Ever.

Reese Witherspoon has another son, Tennessee James, from her marriage to Jim Toth, while Ryan Phillippe shares a daughter, Kai, with actress Alexis Knapp.

Paris Jackson is not new to the screen; she previously appeared in the series American Horror Story in 2021 and was featured in Prime Video’s Emmy-nominated series Swarm. Lawrence, who also pursues a career in music and modeling, starred in her father’s Apple TV+ series Bad Monkey, which premiered in 2024.

Preview photos from the episode show Ava, Jackson, Lawrence, and actress Kathryn Newton aboard The Odyssey, enjoying the sun on the pool deck, with TikTok star Noah Beck and Dr. Max making an appearance. Notably, one image of Ava features her dressed in a pink sparkly bikini and a high ponytail, reminiscent of her mother’s iconic Elle Woods look from Legally Blonde.

Despite only airing 13 episodes, Doctor Odyssey has attracted a star-studded guest list, including Angela Bassett, John Stamos, and Shania Twain, among others. The series is yet to be renewed for a second season but has five episodes remaining after the airing of “Spring Break.”

New episodes of Doctor Odyssey air weekly on Thursdays and are available for streaming on Hulu the following day.