Ryan Phillippe Shares Fears From Breakout Role On ‘One Life To Live’

“One Life to Live” star Ryan Phillippe reflects on his breakout role as Billy Douglas, the first gay teen character on daytime television. Speaking to PEOPLE, the 50-year-old actor admitted that portraying the controversial role has been a “really profound experience.”

Phillippe, who played Billy from 1992 to 1993, explained that portraying a gay character at the time was especially intimidating, in part because he was young and “it was such a different time.”

Ryan Phillippe Shares The Challenges Of Playing Billy Douglas

Phillippe also revealed that some people close to him disapproved of his character on “One Life to Live,” discouraging him from taking the role out of fear it could negatively impact his life and career.

I think there were some fears associated with the point in time that we were at and it being before so many walls and ceilings have been broken in that regard. But I know that any fears that anyone had about me doing it immediately went away once I saw the reaction that it got from the people who viewed it.

Phillippe’s portrayal ultimately struck a chord with fans, many of whom connected with the character on a personal level. He recalled receiving heartfelt letters from kids saying, “I’ve never seen someone represent me in any entertainment before in my life,” as well as from parents who, through his character, finally found a way to connect with their LGBTQ child.

Phillippe’s portrayal of Billy on “One Life to Live” helped him shape his perspective on both his craft and its potential impact.

As that job progressed, I realized how important it was to some people. And I was only 17 years old, so you don’t really have a sense of that. It was such a different time, but I very much matured through having had that experience and seeing the impact that it had for others.

Currently, Phillippe stars alongside his son, Deacon, in the new drama series “Motorheads.”

In Other News

Meanwhile, Phillippe is being sued by a woman who claims her hair caught on fire at the actor’s restaurant, The Hideaway. According to Us Weekly, court documents revealed Jody Sanders is suing Phillippe and his business partner, Jeffrey Best, for general negligence.

The document noted that Sanders was sitting at the bar on April 6, 2024, when her hair allegedly “burned by an unattended wax candle burning” on the surface of the bar. The complainant is seeking an unspecified amount in damages, per the outlet.