Alan M. Ritchson, Hollywood film and TV actor (Hunger Games, Smallville, Blue Mountain State) and an alumnus (8/2003) of Northwest Florida State College* visited the Niceville campus May 13 to speak with students in the cast of the college’s summer musical SPAMALOT and theater students from Fort Walton Beach High School.
He discussed his career as a working actor, shared with students about how he moved from modeling to appearing in film and TV roles for major studios and networks, and discussed his outlook on how to stay grounded while working in Hollywood.
Ritchson attended the college between 1999 and 2003, first as a dual enrollment student from Niceville High School and later to complete his AA degree. He was a member of the Fine Arts Division’s Soundsations Showchoir and Madrigal Singers and also appeared in 4 college summer musicals (Guys & Dolls, Into The Woods, A Chorus Line and Crazy For You).
Ritchson was most recently seen as Gloss in 2013’s The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. He is also known for his modeling career (Abercrombie and Fitch) as well as his portrayals of the superhero Aquaman on The CW’s Smallville and Thad Castle on Spike TV’s Blue Mountain State. Ritchson will play Raphael in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to be released this summer.
Other film roles include The Butcher (2006), Fired Up! (2009),and Beowoulf (2007) when his facial image, physique and movement were used for actor Ray Winstone, the title character. Alan Ritchson first came to the attention of the public in 2004 when he appeared on American Idol as one of the top 87 contestants in the third season. His television acting credits also include Hawaii Five-0, work on the Hallmark Channel, Lifetime, CSI: Miami, 90210 and other roles.
See the video of the “Working ShowBiz” talk show with Alan Ritchson online at www.EmeraldCoastTV.com/wsb-2014-05-13-ritchson.
*at the time of his attendance, the college was named Okaloosa-Walton Community College (OWCC)
PHOTO: NWFSC theater students pose With Alan Ritchson.
