Alan Ritchson and I manage to beat the lunch rush at Peter Luger, a Brooklyn institution that has been serving New Yorkers since 1887. The walls of this historic steakhouse could tell tales of old-time gangsters, Wall Street power players, and celebrities enjoying dry-aged beef and classic cocktails. While high-profile athletes regularly visit, today’s guest stands out in a different way. As he orders a rib eye, creamed spinach, and a crab cake—while enthusiastically encouraging me to add a shrimp cocktail—one thing is clear: Alan Ritchson is larger than life.
A Towering Presence
Ritchson, the 42-year-old star of Amazon Prime Video’s Reacher, commands attention in any room. Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing around 230 pounds of pure muscle, he turns heads effortlessly. Dressed in a black Stone Island baseball cap and exuding a rugged yet approachable charisma, he embodies the very essence of Jack Reacher, the ex-military police major he portrays.
“Yeah, it’s hard to hide,” he admits with a chuckle. Much like his on-screen counterpart, trouble—and attention—always seems to find him. The success of Reacher, which has amassed a massive fan base since its 2022 debut, has made him instantly recognizable. “A hundred percent,” he says when asked if he relates to his character’s knack for attracting chaos.
He shares a personal anecdote about catching a thief red-handed at a park while working out. “I saw a guy eyeing my stuff—my keys, wallet, phone. He grabbed them and ran. So, I just finished my sprint into the back of his head,” he says, demonstrating the kind of forearm shiver the NFL has long outlawed.
The Reacher Phenomenon
The Reacher series, based on Lee Child’s bestselling novels, has captivated audiences across political and demographic lines. Unlike the two Jack Reacher films starring Tom Cruise—who notably did not match the books’ description of Reacher’s hulking physique—Ritchson embodies the character to a T. Even Child himself was impressed. “I wasn’t interested in his dialogue or anything like that. I just wanted to see if he had it when he walked on screen. He nailed it,” the author says.
The show is a high-octane spectacle of action-packed sequences, including underwater gunfights, brutal takedowns, and impossible stunts. Reacher is a one-man wrecking crew, delivering justice with bone-crushing efficiency. And yet, despite the show’s hyper-masculine, gun-heavy nature, its audience is a near 50-50 split between men and women.
More Than Just Muscle
While Reacher has cemented Ritchson’s place as a modern-day action hero, his off-screen persona reveals depth and introspection. Unlike his stoic character, Ritchson is engaging, curious, and even self-deprecating. He sprinkles in humor, compliments my jacket, and effortlessly steers the conversation in unexpected directions.
His past is marked by both resilience and reinvention. Raised in a military family, he moved frequently before settling in Niceville, Florida—where he was classmates with controversial politician Matt Gaetz. “That motherf****r. We are adversaries,” he says bluntly, railing against Gaetz’s political track record.
Beyond politics, Ritchson is candid about his struggles. He openly discusses mental health, his past suicide attempt, and the transformative impact of therapy—including the use of MDMA. “It was like, Well, I could kill myself at any point, so I might as well try everything,” he recalls. “Truly, I felt a light switch come on. It was wildly healing.”
The Future of Reacher—and Beyond
Despite his action-star status, Ritchson resists being boxed into a single genre. “Absolutely not,” he says when asked if he fears being typecast. “It’s my bread and butter now, it’s fun, and I do think I’m one of the best at it.”
He insists on doing as many of his own stunts as possible, driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence. He recounts a frustration from Season 2 when a scene used a stunt double for a running sequence. Online trolls mocked his supposed lack of agility. “People equated my gain in size with the fact that I can’t move. I’m like, No, I’m a super-athletic dude! Race me right now, dude!”
As Reacher gears up for its third season and beyond, Ritchson remains committed to pushing the show—and himself—to new heights. “I want Season 10 to be the best season we’ve ever had,” he declares.
With his blend of action-star bravado, self-awareness, and heartfelt honesty, Alan Ritchson has already proven he’s more than just a muscular powerhouse. Whether battling villains on screen or confronting real-life challenges, he continues to embrace the journey with unwavering determination. And, if his track record is any indication, this is just the beginning.
