How tall is Jack Reacher?

While Reacher fans patiently wait for Season 3 of the action series, here’s details of how tall Jack Reacher is in the books, plus how that compares with the actors who played him.

Jack Reacher first appeared in the novel Killing Floor by Lee Childs in 1997. A former soldier who now drifts from town-to-town getting himself in trouble, the character is something of a giant on the page. But was then played by Tom Cruise in two movies; an actor who very much isn’t a giant.

Amazon then acquired the rights to multiple Reacher books, and set about adapting them for Prime Video. Season 1 – again based on Killing Floor – dropped in February of 2022. While Season 2 – adapted from Bad Luck and Trouble – released in December of 2023.

Blue Mountain State star – and American Idol dropout – Alan Ritchson plays Jack Reacher in both seasons, so here’s how his stature compares with the book version, as well as his predecessor.

How tall is Jack Reacher?

Lee Child’s books describe Jack Reacher as being 6 feet 5 inches tall.

Child also notes Reacher as having blonde hair and weighing roughly 250 pounds. Many fans therefore argue Cruise wasn’t the best choice to portray the character, as he stands at 5 feet 7 inches and has dark hair.

By contrast, when Amazon Studios announced Ritchson would lead the rebooted series, the casting decision was met with praise. Ritchson stands at 6 feet 2 inches, just a few inches shy of the book character. He also happens to be naturally blonde.

According to Looper, Ritchson gained roughly 30 pounds for Season 1. “I had an assistant whose only job was to bring me food. It was like a conveyor belt of smoothies and protein,” he said. In an interview with Men’s Journal, the actor said his normal and comfortable weight sits at 205 lbs, but he had to go even higher for the series.

Seeing as some time passed leading into Reacher Season 2, Ritchson is bigger than ever before and has gained more mass, making his overall height seem more intimidating. According to The Hindustan Times, Child felt Ritchson “commanded” a room better because of his stature and physique.

Reacher Season 2 is on Prime Video, which you can sign up for here. Or click here for details of more shows new to streaming.

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