Alan Ritchson

Alan Michael Ritchson (born November 28, 1982) (Though some sources state he was born in 1984, this might be because Ritchson's age was given as 20 when he auditioned for American Idols third season in early 2004.) But the show was filmed several months prior, with auditions being held in August and September 2003. Ritchson states he was 39 years old in a February 2022 interview with Michael Rosenbaum, he graduated in 2001, and several sources confirm the November 28, 1982, birth date. 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 one older brother and one younger brother, and was raised Catholic. The family moved around for his father's work. When he was two, his family moved from Guam to Rantoul, Illinois. At Niceville High School, Ritchson became interested in performing; he performed in school musicals and regarded Jim Carrey as his idol.

After graduating from high school, he received a full scholarship to study music and theater at Okaloosa Walton, where 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.

Television

Ritchson 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 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 starring role as an army officer in the Hallmark Channel movie Though None Go with Me (2006) alongside Cheryl Ladd, and the role of Lucian Manet in the Lifetime film Nora Roberts' Midnight Bayou (2009). 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 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. 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.

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.

In March 2026, Ritchson was involved in a physical altercation with neighbor Ronnie Taylor in Brentwood, Tennessee; while Ritchson rode his motorcycle through the neighborhood, Taylor stepped in front of Ritchson, blocking his path and chastising Ritchson for this being a danger to children playing in the area. Taylor then initiated a physical confrontation and Ritchson acted in self-defense. The police were called, but Ritchson declined to pursue charges.

Religious and political views Ritchson is a practicing Christian. He frequently discusses the significance of his faith, 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." 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 the same interview, he expressed admiration for US senator Bernie Sanders, calling him a "hero". Supergirl

Episode: "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part One" 2020 Legends of Tomorrow Episode: "Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part 5" 2022–present Reacher

Lead role, also executive producer 2026 Guest star role

Video games Beowulf: The Game (2007), as Beowulf (character model)

Discography Albums This Is Next Time (2006)