Since Prime Video’s Reacher became the undeniable hit that it is, star Alan Ritchson‘s skill as the intimidating and dangerous title character is impossible to ignore. The series follows Ritchson’s Jack Reacher, a former U.S. Army military police major, as he gets involved in new investigations, much like Lee Child‘s books, which provide the basis for the show. Throughout Reacher‘s three seasons, Ritchson’s character has already pursued everything from a small-town murder to much larger conspiracies, but, fortunately, he always seems to have the unique skills required to solve each case.
As the lead, Ritchson carries the series, emphasizing the strength, intelligence, and experience that make Jack Reacher a compelling character, but the show is likely best known for its action sequences. The extensive stunts never fail to make the viewer grateful that Reacher is one of the good guys. Though there is always a lot going on during these intense moments, it’s easy to see how perfect Ritchson is for them. His tall, sizable frame makes him instantly formidable, but recently, the actor proved that there’s more behind the show’s believability by taking Reacher-like action in his own life.
Alan Ritchson Is a Hero Beyond ‘Reacher’
While Reacher always shows Ritchson in the middle of the action, most actors would leave that behind when the cameras aren’t rolling. However, Ritchson recounted a thrilling anecdote on The View that proved he is more like Jack Reacher than anticipated. While on a romantic date with his wife, Catherine, the actor witnessed a crime playing out in real time. “My wife noticed some feet dangling out of a vehicle. She said, ‘I think that dude’s breaking into the car.’ And he ran off with a ton of bags,” Richson explained. Unfortunately for the thief, Ritchson was in the right place at the right time, and despite his wife’s protests, chose to pursue the criminal. According to Ritchson, he chased the man down, losing sight when he turned a corner, but the actor didn’t give up. An onlooker helped Ritchson out, telling him the man was hiding under a van, which allowed him to continue his pursuit.
After all of his experience on Reacher, it’s not exactly surprising that Ritchson eventually managed to catch up with the thief, who, at this point, was low on options. Acknowledging that he and the thief had taken things too far to turn back by this point, Ritchson admits that the situation became physical, saying, “He goes to put his hands on me. He’s running, but he’s got his fists up. I was like, ‘Don’t do this, dude.'” The thief shoved Ritchson, giving him no choice but to take action, though he didn’t escalate the situation to the same violence that Reacher might have. As Ritchson told Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, “I gently take him like a shotput discus and I twirl him right into the building, and he just slides down like a cartoon character.” With that, Ritchson caught the thief, who, if his French translation is correct, was the most prolific car burglar in Old Montreal. In this unexpected situation, Ritchson proved that his heroics aren’t just limited to the screen.
The 10 Most Brutal Deaths in ‘Reacher,’ Ranked
Expect nothing less from a guy who’s not afraid of death.
Alan Ritchson’s Real-Life ‘Reacher’ Moment Proves He’s Perfect for the Role
The fact that Alan Ritchson turned a romantic date night into a Reacher-like chase scene is more than just a funny story because it demonstrates why he is so convincing as the character. Reacher does what is right, even when it requires great personal risk, which is exactly what Ritchson did. He even showed a similar respect for others by trying to avoid hurting the man, though Reacher is admittedly more prone to violence when dealing with criminals. This anecdote, while hilarious to recount, just further emphasizes why Ritchson has so perfectly embodied the character going on three seasons and keeps viewers coming back for more. Luckily, with Season 4 on the way, Ritchson’s time as Reacher is far from over — though, hopefully, his heroics don’t spill over into real life again, if only for his wife’s sake.
Reacher is streaming on Prime Video in the U.S.
- Release Date
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February 3, 2022
- Network
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Prime Video
- Showrunner
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Nick Santora
- Directors
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Omar Madha, Carol Banker, Julian Holmes, Lin Oeding, M.J. Bassett, Norberto Barba, Stephen Surjik, Thomas Vincent
- Writers
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Cait Duffy
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