Actor and former model Alan Ritchson (41) says in a new interview that he attempted suicide in 2019. Everything happened quickly, as he explains to the industry magazine “The Hollywood Reporter”, but today the star of the Amazon series “Reacher” has apparently overcome this dark phase in his life.
At that time, during the incident, he had a kind of divine inspiration. He saw his three young sons, now eleven, ten and eight years old, in their thirties. “They calmly asked me not to do it, telling me they wanted me to be here, alive and part of their lives,” Ritchson says. The actor visited a doctor immediately after the incident. “Immediately afterwards I was diagnosed as bipolar,” explains the now 41-year-old. He had to process the whole thing, but with it he also had an explanation for certain manic phases and the highs and lows. At the age of 40, he was also diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
“Okay, if I decide to live here […], what do I do? Why am I here?” he later asked himself. His personal response: “As someone who believes that there is a Creator and that we are created beings, I have always returned to the meaning and purpose of life, which is to improve the world and serve others . That’s what life is all about.”
Today Ritchson is known as an actor, but he started his career as a model – a somewhat dark time in his life. “There are very few positives to working in this industry. Let’s face it, it’s like legalized sex trafficking.” He can no longer count on two hands the number of times he has gotten into “terrible situations.” You’re constantly walking a fine line: “How do I keep the job without offending the photographer, the agent or whoever set it up, and how do I not get raped?” He can understand how difficult such situations are, especially for women. The well-trained Ritchson could at least free himself in a physical altercation if it came to that. “Most women don’t have this option. Imagine how scary that must be.”
It was precisely such a situation that led to him giving up modeling. Ritchson was promised a hugely lucrative campaign for a magazine and clothing line if he did a nude shoot in a hotel room for a “very famous photographer.” There was a sexual assault “by this guy” and Ritchson left. He drove to his agency, stormed in and shouted at his agent: “F*** you for sending me there. You knew what was going to happen and you did it anyway.”
He ultimately told his agency to never call him again. “I got out of the industry and it was the last photo shoot I ever did,” Ritchson says. “Those pictures were never seen or published. That’s it. I swore off the industry and thankfully acting found me right around that time so I was able to pursue a new career. But it left some scars .”
The telephone counseling service offers help with depression and suicidal thoughts on the free number: 0800/111 0 111.
