Actor Alan Ritchson, who currently stars in the Prime Video action series Reacher, competed on the third season of American Idol in 2004 before launching his Hollywood acting career.
The 20-year-old former model advanced past his initial audition in front of judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Paula Abdul, reaching the top 87 contestants before being eliminated during Hollywood Week.
Ritchson has emerged alongside Glen Powell as one of the most recognizable figures in a new generation of action heroes. His television work includes playing Arthur Curry, also known as Aquaman, in the superhero series Smallville, prior to leading Reacher, which recently launched a new season and has been renewed for further installments.
Before his television debut, Ritchson worked as a model for brands including Abercrombie & Fitch. He first tried out for season two of American Idol, the long-running singing competition series, but failed to pass the audition round.
Audition performance for the judges
Ritchson returned for season three, which aired in 2004 after auditions were filmed several months earlier. He performed the Stevie Wonder hit song You Are the Sunshine of My Life to showcase his singing ability.
During the audition, Ritchson created visible chemistry with judge Paula Abdul. Cowell and Jackson decided to step aside so that Ritchson could perform the song directly to Abdul, giving what was described as an especially provocative performance dedicated to her.
Abdul did not hide her interest in the contestant and later acknowledged the 20-year-old singer's attractiveness. All three judges voted in favor of sending Ritchson to the next round, allowing him to advance to Hollywood Week as a contestant aiming for the televised finals.
Hollywood Week and eventual elimination
His time on the show proved short-lived. During the Hollywood phase, Ritchson sang again and formed part of a group competing to move forward in the contest.
Producers eliminated Ritchson before the final phase of the competition. Although he made it into the group of 87 participants continuing in the show, he failed to secure a spot among the 32 contestants who advanced to the televised semifinals.
Career shift and reflection on the show
Ritchson later stated that the elimination was one of the best outcomes that could have happened to him. He explained that the experience helped him discover his desire to work in show business, even if not primarily as a singer.
He has also criticized how American Idol presented his time on the program. Ritchson stated that the edited television broadcast did not accurately reflect what he actually experienced during filming.
