Meet Reacher star Alan Ritchson's show-stopping wife and three lookalike sons


The popular actor shares his children with his high school sweetheart


Alan Ritchson attends the premiere of "Motor City" at Museum of Modern © Getty Images
Hannah Hargrave
Hannah HargraveUS Deputy Editor
Updated: 4 hours ago

Alan Ritchson is best known for playing Reacher's titular tough guy but away from the small screen his focus is his family.

The towering star of the Amazon show is married to the love of his life, Catherine Ritchson, who he shares his three sons with.

While their initial meeting was "super awkward," their relationship blossomed into something magical. Here's what we know about the star's private life.

Doting dad

Alan Ritchson, wearing a green suit, poses with his family at a Motor City event.© Getty Images
Alan and his family are incredibly close

Alan and Catherine share three sons. Calem was born in 2012, followed by Edan a year later. Amory was welcomed in 2015.

They previously lived "on the road" after they sold their Florida home so that they could all be together when he's filming. However, it appears they've since ditched their nomadic lifestyle with Alan's career gaining steam.

Alan and Catherine posing with three sons while on vacation
Alan and Catherine enjoying a vacation with their three sons

He has tattoos to honor each of his kids; a sword and shield crest for Amory, an abstract flame for Edan and a dove for his firstborn. 

Who is Alan Ritchson's wife?

Alan Ritchson with his wife Catherine hold hands looking glam
They've had their ups and downs

The pair are high school sweethearts and met when they were students in Florida. Catherine was 16 and Alan was 17 years old at the time.

Their connection didn't happen in the classroom however. Alan and Catherine crossed paths in ballet lessons. 

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It took Alan months before he had the courage to speak to her. After finding out from a friend that she liked ice skating, he approached her. 

He told Men's Health of the moment: "After the millionth time of us sitting next to each other, inches away, tying our shoes, so now it's super awkward, I was like, 'So I heard you ice-skate.'" Alan added: "She was like the sweetest thing in the world."

It was love at first sight for the happy couple 

Alan Ritchson and his wife Catherine younger hugging© Instagram
They met when they were teenagers

It was love at first sight for Catherine too, who remembers seeing him for the first time in class. 

"I'll never forget seeing him for the first time in the studio," she said during an appearance on The Road to Wisdom. "I turned to my friend Miriam and I said, 'Who is that?'" she reminisced. "He, at some point, came up to me and we just got chatting."

The high school sweethearts broke up 

Reacher star Alan Ritchson with his wife Catherine hugging sunshine© Instagram
Alan and Catherine met in ballet lessons

Alan ended the romance at the end of their first summer together with Catherine claiming he called their relationship "just a fling."

But they reconnected when she started her studies at the University of Florida. 

They weren't fellow students, but Alan visited Miami for a modeling shoot and they were reunited via a mutual friend.

He confesses their life has been a rollercoaster ride

Alan and Catherine pose with their boys in a wooded area while on vacation © Instagram
They're a family full of adventure

Alan and Catherine tied the knot in 2006. On their 15th wedding anniversary Alan shared a sweet post on Instagram celebrating their life together. 

"15 years ago today two kids got married," he wrote. "They had no idea what splendid and terrible things lie ahead of them when they made that vow to remain each other's partner in life, come what may."

He added: "Despite the precarious highs and suffocating lows, they're still holding hands."

Alan says his wife is his rock 

Alan Ritchson with his wife and their three sons
Alan with his wife and their three sons

Alan has been open about his battle with bipolar and is forever grateful for the support of his wife throughout.

"Thank GOD for someone with the unspeakable strength, persistence, resilience, patience, grace, love, compassion and forgiveness to suffer through the valleys with me," he said in another tribute to Catherine. 

Some of Alan's tattoos are dedicated to his kids© Instagram
Alan with his wife and kids

"And I am eternally grateful that God knew well enough to gift me a life with her."


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