During his childhood, Ritchson's family relocated several times due to his father's military career. They lived in Rantoul, Illinois before settling in Niceville, Florida when Alan was 10 years old. He attended Niceville High School and graduated in 2001. From 1999 to 2003, he was a dual-enrollment student at Okaloosa-Walton Community College (now known as Northwest Florida State College), where he earned an Associate of Arts degree on a full music scholarship. While there, he was active in the Fine Arts division, participating in groups like the Madrigal Singers and Soundsations.

Modeling Career

Alan Ritchson began his professional career as a model. He appeared in the Abercrombie & Fitch catalog and worked as an underwear model for the online retailer International Jock. In 2008, he signed with Vision Model Management in Los Angeles and did promotional work for N2N Bodywear. By 2009, Ritchson concluded his modeling career, with one of his final projects being a campaign for Abercrombie & Fitch.

Television and Film Breakthrough

Ritchson's first television appearance came during the third season of American Idol, where he was one of the top 87 contestants to reach Hollywood. His audition gained attention for a playful striptease in front of judge Paula Abdul. This exposure helped launch his acting career.

He gained wider recognition after being cast as Arthur Curry (Aquaman) on The CW’s series Smallville, becoming the first actor to portray the superhero in a live-action television series. He continued his rise by starring as Thad Castle in the comedy series Blue Mountain State, which aired on Spike TV and developed a cult fan base.