Instagram
Alan Ritchson is back in action as Reacher returns for Season 3 on Prime Video, thrilling fans with his portrayal of the iconic character from Lee Child’s novels. But while audiences may know him for his roles in Smallville, Blue Mountain State, Fast X, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, not everyone is familiar with the actor’s personal life.
Beyond his Hollywood success, Alan is a dedicated family man, happily married to his wife, Catherine Ritchson, for nearly two decades. The couple shares three sons and has built a life together that’s as inspiring as Alan’s on-screen heroics.
Who is Alan Ritchson’s wife, Catherine Ritchson?
Catherine Ritchson has been by Alan’s side since their teenage years. The couple first met in high school during a ballet class in Florida, where Alan—pursuing a musical theatre degree—was required to take dance lessons. Catherine was immediately intrigued by him, telling a friend, “Who is that?”
Their romance had a few twists and turns. After dating briefly, they broke up when Catherine left for the University of Florida. However, fate brought them back together in 2004 when Alan was in Miami for a modelling job. The connection was undeniable, and two years later, on May 12, 2006, they tied the knot.
Alan frequently praises Catherine in interviews, expressing his deep admiration for her. During a 2025 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, he joked, “I don’t know why she sticks around, dude. She deserves better.”
He has also shared fond memories of their early days together, including how Catherine won him over by bringing him cookies backstage during a production of Guys and Dolls.
Catherine, in turn, has been Alan’s biggest cheerleader. She shared an emotional Instagram post recalling the moment Alan found out he landed the role of Reacher. “He came into our bedroom and stared at me as if he had seen a ghost; no words. I gasped, ‘You got Reacher?!!??’ And he nodded with a smile. We jumped and screamed and jumped and screamed. Actually, I did all the jumping and screaming, but it was all directly in his ear, so it was a fully immersive experience for us both.”
What does Catherine Ritchson do?
Catherine is more than just the wife of a Hollywood star. She earned a degree in Finance and Russian from the University of Florida and has built an impressive career.
She has worked as a financial analyst and was previously with International Creative Management, a prominent talent agency. She’s also dabbled in the entertainment industry, serving as an executive producer for Alan’s 2017 short film Treehouse Time Machine.
Alan and Catherine’s family life
The Ritchsons are proud parents to three boys: Calem (born in 2012), Edan (born in 2013), and Amory (born in 2015). Alan has spoken about the challenges of balancing work and family life, revealing that they sold their Florida home so the family could travel together while he films on location.
“Being away from my family for long stretches on location was hard on them and me. So Cat and I recently sold our Florida house, and we now live in Airbnbs and hotels while I’m on set,” Alan told The Wall Street Journal in 2023.
Stream Reacher now on Prime Video from $6.58/month with a 30-day free trial. Subscribe here
