Alan Ritchson

Early life and education

Ritchson was born on November 28, 1982, in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He is the son of Vickie Ritchson, a high school teacher, and David Ritchson, a retired U.S. Air Force chief master sergeant. He has an older and younger brother. The family moved around due to his father's work. They lived in Guam and when he was two, his family moved to Rantoul, Illinois. He went to Niceville High School graduating in 2001. He was raised Catholic.

While at school, Ritchson was interested in acting and performed in school musicals. He regarded Jim Carrey as his idol. After graduating from high school, he received a full scholarship to study music and theater at the college. He was a member of the Fine Arts Division's Soundsations and Madrigal Singers. However, Ritchson dropped out after two years "because [he] didn't feel fulfilled". He worked at a gas station for a short time before signing with Next Management in Miami Beach, Florida to work as a model for a few years.

Career

Modeling

During his modeling career, Ritchson worked with Bruce Weber, a photographer, for Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue in addition to being an underwear and runway model.

Television

Ritchson first gained celebrity status in 2004 when he appeared on American Idol as one of the top 87 contestants in the third season before being cut during the Hollywood round. His appearance on the show was noted for his striptease in one episode in which he charmed judge Paula Abdul during his audition. He decided to stay in Los Angeles and pursue an acting career.

His television acting credits include a recurring guest star role on the television series Smallville as superhero Arthur Curry / Aquaman. His role in Smallville marked the first time Aquaman was portrayed by an actor in an officially licensed live-action production. His future Smallville co-star, Justin Hartley, later portrayed Aquaman in an unaired pilot of the same name before joining the cast of Smallville as another character. Ritchson reprised his role as Aquaman in the final season.

Ritchson had a small role as an army officer in the 2006 Hallmark Channel movie Though None Go with Me alongside Cheryl Ladd, and the role of Lucian Manet in the 2009 Lifetime original film Nora Roberts' Midnight Bayou. In 2009, he appeared on a third-season episode of Starz's Head Case in which he played a stripper. Ritchson also appeared on CSI: Miami, in which he played a dead victim in episode 19 of season 8. In 2011, he appeared in an episode of season 3 of 90210 as a love interest for main character Teddy Montgomery (Trevor Donovan).

In 2010, he started playing the main role of Thad Castle, the captain of a college football team, in Spike TV's Blue Mountain State. He stayed on the show until it was cancelled after its third season in February 2012. He also appeared in several television shows, including Hawaii Five-0. In 2015, Ritchson became a regular on the NBC variety show I Can Do That (based on the Israeli variety show) alongside Nicole Scherzinger, Ciara, Joe Jonas, Cheryl Burke and Jeff Dye, and hosted by Marlon Wayans. In 2016, he appeared in "Nosedive", an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror.

In 2017, he played the main character in the Syfy series Blood Drive. In 2018, Ritchson played the recurring role of Hank Hall / Hawk in the DC Universe series Titans. His initial deal was for just two episodes but he was promoted to a series regular for the second season. Producers decided to reduce the number of characters and Ritchson was written out of the series.

In 2020, it was announced that Ritchson would play the role of Jack Reacher in an eponymous series on Amazon Prime.

Films

His movie credits include a role in the 2006 film The Butcher, as well as a minor role in 2009's Fired Up! In 2007, director Robert Zemeckis used Ritchson for his facial image, physique, and in movement for actor Ray Winstone of the title character of Beowulf.

Ritchson portrayed Gloss, a tribute in the 75th Hunger Games, in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013). Ritchson also portrayed Raphael in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a reboot to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film series after the four previous films. Ritchson would later criticize producers of the new TMNT live-action films, claiming they mistreated him and other actors portraying the turtles during and after filming. He returned to the role of Thad Castle in the Blue Mountain State movie, Blue Mountain State: The Rise of Thadland. Ritchson co-starred in Rooster Teeth Production's first feature-length movie—the science fiction comedy Lazer Team in January 2016. He also played a medium role in The Wedding Ringer.

In 2018, Ritchson was announced as the director, co-writer, and producer of Dark Web: Cicada 3301, a comedy-thriller film inspired by the eponymous organization. He also co-starred in it as an NSA agent. The film is the first original project of Phreaker Films, a film fund run by Ritchson. The rights for Dark Web: Cicada 3301 were acquired by Lionsgate in 2020, who released the film digitally on March 12, 2021. In 2022, he joined the cast of Fast X.

In 2024, Ritchson appeared in Jon Gunn's drama movie Ordinary Angels, written by Meg Tilly and Kelly Fremon Craig, as well as in Guy Ritchie's The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, an action comedy film. In 2025 he starred in the buddy action comedy film Playdate.

Other work

Other projects include an independent album called This Is Next Time, released in late 2005, and appearing in a Russian commercial for Orbit gum. Ritchson appears in a web series titled Enormous Friends with his Blue Mountain State co-star, Rob Ramsay.

Personal life

Ritchson met his wife, Catherine, while he was taking a dance class at a college They lived with their three sons in Florida for years. In 2023, the couple decided to sell their home and live on the road allowing Ritchson to spend more time with his family. The family stays in Airbnbs and hotels; Catherine, a financial analyst, homeschools their sons.

Ritchson has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has spoken openly about his struggles with the condition.

Religious and political views

Ritchson is a practicing Christian. He frequently discusses the significance of his faith, and has expressed a desire to support the development of Christian films in Hollywood. He started the YouTube channel InstaChurch, in January 2022, where he discusses his convictions. Though raised Catholic, he does not consider himself as such, stating "I can’t for one second support the Catholic Church while there are still cardinals, bishops and priests being passed around with known pedophilic tendencies."

On April 3, 2024, The Hollywood Reporter published an interview of Ritchson in which he says that he had once been sexually assaulted by a "very famous photographer" and for this reason, he left his modeling career. He described the modeling industry as "legalized sex trafficking" for photographers. In the same interview, Ritchson also criticized Christian supporters of Donald Trump, saying: "Trump is a rapist and a con man, and yet the entire Christian church seems to treat him like he's their poster child and it's unreal. I don't understand it."

In a February 2025 interview with GQ, Ritchson indicated that former congressman Matt Gaetz had been a classmate of his. Ritchson called Gaetz a "motherfucker", an "adversary" and "not a good dude". In the same interview, he expressed admiration for US senator Bernie Sanders, calling him a "hero."

Ritchson has expressed support for psychedelic therapy, and credits MDMA with treating his suicidal ideation.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

• Beowulf: The Game (2007), as Beowulf (character model)

Discography

Albums

• This Is Next Time (2006)

Notes

References

References

1. "Ritchson, Alan, 1984-".
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4. Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum. (February 8, 2022). "Reacher's ALAN RITCHSON: Finding Your Identity".
5. (November 28, 2021). "UPI Almanac for Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021". [[United Press International.
6. Ricketts, Dusty. (April 14, 2013). "Niceville's Alan Ritchson to appear on 'Hawaii Five-0'". [[Northwest Florida Daily News]].
7. "Rising Star Alan Ritchson: From Abercrombie to Aquaman".
8. "Alan Ritchson News & Biography - Empire".
9. (2024-04-11). "'Reacher' star talks faith — and frustration with fellow Christians — in new interview".
10. (May 13, 2014). "Working ShowBiz - Featuring Alan Ritchson".
11. Delgado, Lauren. (May 14, 2014). "'Hunger Games' actor tells NWFSC students: 'We are our own personal marketing force'". Northwest Florida Daily News.
12. (May 15, 2014). "Actor Alan Ritchson, College Alum, Visits Campus".
13. Liem, Ronald. (December 1, 2013). "Exclusive Cover Story: Alan Ritchson". Da Man.
14. Oldenburg, Ann. (August 9, 2012). "'Hunger Games' casts hunky Alan Ritchson for Gloss role". USA Today.
15. Byrne, Craig. (October 20, 2005). "American Tidal: KryptonSite Speaks With Alan Ritchson (Aquaman)".
16. (May 1, 2009). "Aquaman (TV 1984)".
17. Abrams, Natalie. (September 7, 2010). "Aquaman Returns to Smallville".
18. Mitovich, Matt Webb. (January 13, 2011). "''90210'' Exclusive: Teddy Hooks Up With Aquaman!".
19. (June 12, 2009). "Sam Jones and Alan Ritchson will be on Spike this summer in new college football comedy".
20. Vlessing, Etan. (February 21, 2012). "Lionsgate's 'Blue Mountain State' Cancelled by Spike".
21. Rice, Lynette. (March 3, 2015). "Ciara, Nicole Scherzinger, Joe Jonas, Cheryl Burke Join NBC Variety Show". People.
22. Roxborough, Scott. (May 26, 2015). "Armoza Betting on Game Show/Variety Revival With NBC's 'I Can Do That!'". The Hollywood Reporter.
23. Steinberg, Jessica. (April 8, 2015). "NBC to air 'I Can Do That' in late May". The Times of Israel.
24. Sokol, Tony. (June 12, 2017). "Syfy's Blood Drive: Star Alan Ritchson On Stunt Driving and Outlandish Grindhouse". Den of Geek!.
25. Drum, Nicole. (October 8, 2018). "'Titans' Alan Ritchson Says It Takes Eight People to Get Him in Hawk Costume". Comicbook.
26. (September 23, 2021). "Titans star on character's 'beautiful' exit: 'The decision was made for me, and it was for the best'".
27. Andreeva, Nellie. (September 4, 2020). "'Jack Reacher': Alan Ritchson Cast As Title Character In Amazon TV Series".
28. Fernández, Alexia. (November 18, 2019). "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Actor Says Making Reboots Was 'the Worst Production Experience'".
29. Fleming, Mike Jr.. (March 22, 2013). "'Hunger Games 2's Alan Ritchson To Play Raphael In 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'". Deadline.
30. Collider Podcasts. (November 14, 2019). "Why Alan Ritchson HATED Filming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles".
31. (March 16, 2015). "Crowd-Funded 'Lazer Team' May Sneak Up and Zap You (Exclusive Trailer)".
32. (March 6, 2018). "Phreaker Films Launches With Silicon Valley VC Cash; Alan Ritchson To Run It".
33. (September 10, 2020). "Grindstone Acquires Alan Ritchson's Comedy-Thriller 'Cicada 3301'".
34. (January 13, 2021). "Dark Web: Cicada 3301 Red-Band Trailer Recruits Titans Stars (Exclusive)".
35. (January 14, 2021). "'Dark Web: Cicada 3301' - Cyber-Thriller Starring Alan Ritchson Hits Digital and On Demand March 12!".
36. Kroll, Justin. (2022-05-13). "'Fast X': 'Jack Reacher' Star Alan Ritchson Joins Next Installment In 'Fast & Furious' Franchise".
37. D'Alessandro, Anthony. (February 21, 2024). "'Bob Marley: One Love' To Stay High As A Kite At Box Office Until 'Dune' Gang Arrives – Preview".
38. Wiseman, Andreas. (28 October 2022). "Henry Cavill & Eiza González To Lead Guy Ritchie WWII Action Spy Pic 'The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare' For Jerry Bruckheimer & Black Bear International — AFM Hot Pic".
39. Crowley, Liam. (2025-11-12). "Playdate's Alan Ritchson Explains The "Necessary Ingredients For Good Comedy" In His Prime Video Movie".
40. Alan and Rob. "Enormous Friends".
41. Myers, Marc. (December 26, 2023). "Getting Cut From 'American Idol' Was the Best Thing to Happen to Alan Ritchson's Acting Career". Wall Street Journal.
42. {{YouTube. s_ePmDsZp8g. Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum
43. "'Reacher' Actor Alan Ritchson Wants the 'Name of Christ in Movie Theaters'".
44. Warren, Steve. (April 18, 2023). "'Reacher', 'Hunger Games' Actor Alan Ritchson Stands for Movies That Honor 'the Name of Christ'".
45. (April 3, 2024). "The High Highs and Low Lows of Alan Ritchson". The Hollywood Reporter.
46. Roberson, Matthew. (February 19, 2025). "Can Reacher's Alan Ritchson Get Any Bigger?". [[GQ]].
47. Arens, Brynna. (2024-03-06). "Alan Ritchson's Weirdest Pre-Reacher Roles".