Alan Ritchson, star of “Reacher,” receives praise for his portrayal of Jack Reacher, an ex-U.S. Army MP and essentially a good-hearted action hero. The role combines intellect with physical strength. While Ritchson can effortlessly portray a sharp investigator reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes, convincing viewers of his muscular, imposing presence required dedication. Already at a notable height of 6’3″, he needed to bulk up for the part.

In an interview with GQ magazine, Ritchson shared his experience of gaining weight to embody Jack Reacher faithfully. “I was eating a lot,” he mentioned. “I didn’t resort to steroids or testosterone. The key was sheer hard work.” This intense transformation, however, took a toll on his health. “I really damaged my body,” he admitted.

The damage came from rigorous exercise sessions combined with a high-calorie intake. After wrapping up filming, it turned out that the physical demands of the role had significantly impacted his health. “I had a blood test done after Season 1 and found my testosterone levels were nonexistent,” he revealed.

Ritchson isn’t the first actor to portray Jack Reacher on screen; Tom Cruise played the character in two movies during the mid-2010s. Despite their success, fans of the original books felt Cruise’s portrayal lacked authenticity—not because of his acting, but due to his stature. Cruise, standing at 5’7″, didn’t match the imposing stature described in Lee Child’s novels. This is one reason why Ritchson’s portrayal, adhering closely to the source material, won fans over, showing Cruise’s version was less convincing.

Ritchson fully embraced the task of transforming for the role, reportedly needing to gain nearly 30 pounds as a condition for being considered. While acknowledging the importance of his physical appearance, Ritchson emphasized that it’s just one aspect. “People focus on his size, but the character is more than that,” he told GQ. Besides intelligence, Reacher’s character has—perhaps unexpectedly—a sardonic sense of humor.

“The essence of the character lies in his witty humor, which adds a lot of fun to the role,” Ritchson elaborated. “This underlying humor provides depth to him and keeps the audience engaged.” Although an Alan Ritchson-led Jack Reacher film is unlikely, fans look forward to his continued performance in the “Reacher” TV series for many seasons ahead.