Alan Ritchson

Alan Michael Ritchson (born November 28, 1982) is an American actor. He made his acting debut as Aquaman / Arthur Curry on The CW superhero series ''Smallville'' (2005–2010), where he appeared as a guest star between the fifth and 10th seasons. Ritchson had a starring role in the Spike TV sitcom '' Blue Mountain State'' (2010–2012), a role he reprised in the 2016 film sequel. He also headlined the SyFy action series '' Blood Drive'' (2017), and returned to superhero television as Hank Hall / Hawk on the DC Universe / HBO Max series ''Titans'' from 2018 to 2021. He gained wider recognition for portraying the title character in the ongoing Amazon Prime Video action thriller series '' Reacher'' since 2022.

Outside television, Ritchson played Raphael in the 2014 ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' reboot and its 2016 sequel, along with appearances in '' The Hunger Games: Catching Fire'' (2013), ''Lazer Team'' (2015), and ''Fast X'' (2023). He made his directorial debut and co-starred in the action-comedy '' Dark Web: Cicada 3301'' (2021).

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. When he was 10, Ritchson's father was transferred to Eglin Air Force Base and the family lived in Niceville, Florida, which is nearby. 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. While he was still in high school, he started taking college-level music theater and dance classes. From 1999 to 2001, he was a dual enrollment student at the high school and Okaloosa Walton Community College, now Northwest Florida State College in Niceville. 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 edidn'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 Arthur Curry, a.k.a. Aquaman, 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''. His role in Smallville marked the first time an actor portrayed Aquaman in an officially licensed live-action production. His ''Smallville'' co-star, Justin Hartley, has since portrayed Aquaman in an unaired pilot of the same name. Ritchson reprised his role as Aquaman in the final season. 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.

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.

He supports the development of Christian films in Hollywood.

Personal life

Ritchson first met his wife, Catherine, while he was taking a dance class at a college and they married in 2006. 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. He is a Christian and frequently discusses the significance of his Christian faith. He started the YouTube channel InstaChurch, in January 2022, where he discusses his Christian convictions. 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 a February 2025 interview with '' GQ'', Ritchson indicated that former congressman Matt Gaetz had been a classmate of his. Ritchson called Gaetz an "adversary" and "not a good dude".

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

* '' Beowulf: The Game'' (2007), as Beowulf (character model)

Discography

Albums
* ''This Is Next Time'' (2006)

Notes

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ritchson, Alan
21st-century American male actors
American Idol participants
American male film actors
Male models from North Dakota
American male singers
American male television actors
American male voice actors
Songwriters from North Dakota
Aquaman
1982 births
Living people
American Christians
Male actors from Florida
Male actors from North Dakota
People from Rantoul, Illinois
People from Grand Forks, North Dakota
People from Niceville, Florida
People with bipolar disorder