Apr 26, 2011 08:08 GMT  ·  By

Actor Ryan Phillippe is only 36 years old but he’s already been in the spotlight for nearly two decades, at times more for his personal life than for his acting credits. Because he no longer wants this kind of life, Ryan has announced his retirement.

The paparazzi and the tabloid media make life in Los Angeles quite unbearable, Ryan says in a brief interview for PageSix, meant to promote his latest film, “The Bang Bang Club.”

Not only do these paint a picture of him that is not true, but they also make it impossible for him to have a proper life.

Consequently, Ryan has decided to move out of LA and put his acting career behind him. He doesn’t say what the future may hold for him in terms of a stable job.

“It’s so hard to go out in LA. I’m going to move. I’m going to spend a third of my year in New York,” Ryan reveals for the aforementioned publication.

As for what he may do about his acting career if he plans to spend so much time away from Tinseltown, the star admits he’s happy to retire at his young age, an age when other men only get their first shot in the industry.

To prove that he’s determined to change his life, Ryan also says that he’s already looking at places in SoHo in the hope that he may move out of LA soon.

“I think I’m going to end my acting career. I’m so introverted. I’m ready to be behind the scenes. I’m 36, but I’ve been doing this for 20 years,” he says.

There’s also the question of how much attention he’s been getting for his personal life, which has become quite troubling.

“I’m a good guy,” he says, in a bid to convince the interviewer he’s not the man fans read about in tabloids. “I’m not that guy you read about,” he insists.