Author Lee Child’s physically commanding and muscular protagonist Jack Reacher has been one of the most popular characters in fiction. The books that were adapted into a successful television series, saw former model-turned-actor Alan Ritchson literally stepping into Reacher’s big shoes. The actor’s physical stature matched perfectly with Child’s vision of the protagonist and made him extremely popular among fans.
Before his marquee gig though, Ritchson had carved a very different career path for himself in the entertainment business. Beginning his stint as a model, the celebrity went on to pursue his dream of becoming a singer by auditioning for American Idol. Though he did not make it very far, the competition served as a stepping stone for him to get into Hollywood.
Alan Ritchson’s Failed American Idol Stint Gave Him His Hollywood Break
Reacher star Alan Ritchson is synonymous with the titular protagonist in the hit show based on Lee Child’s novels. The actor who began his Hollywood career with roles in shows like Smallville, Titans, and other films, became a household name after being cast as Jack Reacher in the blockbuster action series. Despite his current superstardom, Ritchson’s first choice of career was not acting.
The towering celebrity initially ventured into modeling in Miami. After being dissatisfied with the profession, he went on to pursue his dream of becoming a singer by auditioning for American Idol in the third season. While Ritchson’s voice got him a ticket into the California rounds, he did not go much further in the competition.
But as the saying goes, failure is a stepping stone to success, and the Fast X star experienced this firsthand. His rejection from American Idol directed him towards opportunities in the acting field that ultimately became a successful career shift for the star. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Ritchson recalled his turn of fate and said,
“I made it to the second round in Los Angeles. Even though I was cut, I was enamored of the passion people had there for their art. I decided to stay, and landed TV commercials and auditions.”
Ritchson’s bad luck with a singing career ended up being a blessing in disguise for the actor who is well on his way to becoming a big-league Hollywood star.
Alan Ritchson On His Relationship with Jack Reacher
Alan Ritchson’s hulking physicality and arresting personality made him the perfect candidate to play author Lee Child’s titular protagonist on screen. The muscular star is currently enjoying the fruits of his labor with Reacher season 2 streaming successfully. Ritchson in an interview with Screen Rant, spoke about his relationship with his character and the comfort level that he now enjoyed while portraying Jack Reacher for a third season.
“It’s gotten much easier to slip into character. I still wonder to myself, out loud… We just had this long strike, and coming out of the strike, I was like, “How do I, what do I do, how do I do Reacher? What do I do?” And then I get on set and instantly, I’m like, “Oh, no, I know exactly what I need to do.” It’s always there and I can slip into it. I’ve gotten better about that over the years.”
The Smallville star went on to add that despite being completely at ease on set, he was wary of complacency and over-confidence setting in at any time. This cautioned him to always be vigilant to instruction and advice from his directors on set.
