Biography of Ricky Whittle
Ricky Whittle is a British actor and model who gained fame in his home country for his roles in the TV series "Dream Team" and "Hollyoaks". He became internationally known after the premiere of the hit fantasy series "American Gods", which was released in 2017.
Childhood and Family
Ricky Whittle was born on December 31, 1981, in Oldham, United Kingdom. The son of Harry Whittle, a former Royal Air Force serviceman of Jamaican descent, and British Maggie Goodwin, Ricky traveled extensively with his family around the world, but sometimes felt uncomfortable at home.The actor shared that his family was one of the few Black families in the area, and he was the only Black child in his school, so the askance looks and whispers behind his back were just a small part of what Ricky had to endure in his childhood.
Instead, Whittle enrolled in the Criminology department at Southampton Solent University in England, where he continued to play football and rugby for the university teams. Ricky did not finish university, dedicating himself entirely to acting. Nevertheless, in his free time, Will spent time on the football field, playing as a running back for the American football team Manchester Titans.
Acting Career
In 2000, while still a university student, Ricky Whittle became the face of the Reebok campaign. After that, casting agents from the British entertainment channel Sky1 took notice of Ricky while they were searching for young talent for the TV series "Dream Team" – about events on and off the field of the fictional football club "Harchester United." Ultimately, the actor was cast as the athlete Ryan Naysmith.
In 2006, after a controversial guest role in the series "Holby City," Whittle was cast in the popular British soap opera "Hollyoaks." The role of the enigmatic Calvin Valentine became a significant milestone in the young actor's career, but in 2009, Whittle announced his departure from the show. Ricky's character was decided to be "killed off," and in May 2010, the actor completed his work on "Hollyoaks."
In 2012, Ricky appeared in eight episodes of the successful series "Single Ladies," and a year later, he landed his first, albeit small, role in an American project – a minor role in the series about the adventures of a team of professional special agents "NCIS: Los Angeles."
In 2016, Ricky was offered the lead role in the American fantasy series "American Gods," the first episode of which premiered on the HBO channel on April 30, 2017. The adaptation of Neil Gaiman's most "adult" novel became one of the most anticipated premieres of the year.
Whittle also starred with actors Maxim Roy and Simona-Elise Girard in the art-house film "Succulent & Savory," directed, written by, and starring Jasmine O'Donnell.
On Television
In January 2008, Ricky Whittle appeared on the famous TV show "The Weakest Link," reaching the final but losing to British "Crimewatch" star Rav Wilding.
Ricky Whittle's Personal Life
In 2007, Whittle started dating American actress Carley Stenson, his colleague from the "Hollyoaks" series. The relationship lasted for over three years. In 2011, the couple broke up when Whittle grew close to his dance show partner Natalie Lowe.
In 2014, Whittle dated actress Rumer Willis, the eldest daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, for three months. According to The Sun newspaper, the break-up was due to the actor's busy schedule – at that time, Ricky was working 12-15 hours a day on the set of the TV show "The 100".
Ricky Whittle Now
At the beginning of 2024, Ricky Whittle appeared in the feature-length action movie "Land of Bad" as Sergeant Bishop.
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