Ricky Whittle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ricky Whittle
Whittle in 2017
Born	(1979-12-31) 31 December 1979 (age 45) Oldham, Greater Manchester, England
Alma mater	Southampton Solent University
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2002–present
Agent	Gersh
Known for	Hollyoaks Single Ladies Mistresses The 100 American Gods Dream Team

Richard George Whittle (born 31 December 1979) is a British actor. He first became known as a model for the brand Reebok in the early 2000s. In the United Kingdom, many people know him for playing Calvin Valentine in the popular TV show Hollyoaks.

In 2009, he was the runner-up in the BBC dancing competition Strictly Come Dancing. Whittle later moved to the United States to act in American shows. He had roles in Single Ladies and Mistresses. From 2014 to 2016, he played Lincoln in the science fiction show The 100. He also starred as the main character, Shadow Moon, in the TV series American Gods.

Early Life and School

Ricky Whittle was born in Oldham, England. His mother is from England and his father is from Jamaica. His father was in the Royal Air Force, so the family moved to new countries every few years.

Whittle grew up mostly in Northern Ireland. He has said that he was bullied as a child for being the only black kid at his school. This was very difficult for him.

He later studied law at Southampton Solent University and was the captain of the football team. To earn money for his school books, he began working as a model. He left the university shortly before he was due to graduate to focus on his career.

Acting Career

Starting in the UK

While in college, Whittle started modeling and became the face of Reebok in 2000. His first acting job was in 2002 on the TV show Dream Team. He said it was a "dream job" for a new actor.

In 2006, he joined the cast of the popular British show Hollyoaks as Calvin Valentine. He decided to leave the show in 2010 to try acting in the United States.

In 2009, Whittle competed on the TV show Strictly Come Dancing. He and his professional dance partner, Natalie Lowe, came in second place. After the show, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his acting goals.

Success in American TV

When Whittle arrived in the U.S., he quickly found an agent and began auditioning for roles. He was cast in the movie Austenland with actors like Keri Russell and Jane Seymour.

At first, he had some trouble with paperwork for his work visa, which meant he couldn't take every job he was offered. After sorting this out, he was able to get his green card, which allowed him to work freely in the U.S.

In 2012, he got a role in the TV show Single Ladies. He was only supposed to be in a few episodes, but the producers liked him so much that they wrote his character into the rest of the season.

The 100 and Other Roles

In 2014, Whittle joined the cast of the science fiction show The 100 as a character named Lincoln. He became a main character in the second season. At the same time, he also had a role on the show Mistresses.

Whittle decided to leave The 100 in 2016. He said that he had disagreements with the show's creator about how his character was being treated. He felt his character was not being used enough in the story. After he spoke up, he was allowed to look for other acting jobs.

American Gods and Recent Work

In 2016, Whittle was cast in the lead role of Shadow Moon for the TV series American Gods. The show is based on a famous book by Neil Gaiman. Getting the part was a long process. Over 2,000 actors auditioned, and Whittle sent in 16 audition tapes over five months before he was chosen.

In 2018, he starred in the Netflix movie Nappily Ever After. He continues to work in both film and television.

Personal Life

Whittle was in a relationship with his Hollyoaks co-star Carley Stenson from 2007 to 2009. They have stayed good friends.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations