He began his modeling career in the Abercrombie and Fitch catalogue; he also modeled underwear for the men's online underwear store internationaljock.com.

In 2008, he was signed to L.A. agency Vision Model Management and appeared on N2N Bodywear. By early 2009, Ritchson made his final appearance in his modelling career for Abercrombie and Fitch.

He appeared on American Idol in 2004, where he was one of the top 87 contestants in the third season before being cut in Hollywood. He was remembered primarily for his striptease in one episode in which he wooed judge Paula Abdul.

His television acting credits include a recurring guest star role on the TV series Smallville as Arthur Curry, a.k.a. Aquaman, a small role as an army officer in the 2006 Hallmark Channel movie Though None Go with Me alongside Cheryl Ladd, and the role of Lucian Manet in the 2009 Lifetime Original Movie, Nora Roberts' Midnight Bayou. His role in Smallville marked the first time that an actor portrayed Aquaman in an officially licensed live-action production.

His Smallville co-star, Justin Hartley, has since portrayed Aquaman in an unaired pilot. Ritchson reprised his role as Aquaman for a cameo appearance in the animated film: Justice League: The New Frontier, and the final season of Smallville.

In 2009, he appeared on a third season episode of Starz's Head Case in which he played a male stripper. Ritchson also made an appearance on CSI: Miami, in which he played a dead victim in episode 19 of Season 8. He also appeared in Season 3 of 90210 as a love interest for a main character, Teddy.

He played Thad Castle in Spike TV's Blue Mountain State as a senior captain on a college football team, until the show was cancelled in February 2012, after its third season.

Movie credits include a role in the 2006 movie The Butcher, as well as in 2008's Spring Break '83 and a minor role in 2009's Fired Up! In 2007, director Robert Zemeckis used Ritchson for his facial image, physique and movement for actor Ray Winstone of the title character of Beowulf.

Ritchson portrayed Gloss, a tribute in the 75th Hunger Games, in Catching Fire. He also played Raphael in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a reboot to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film series after the four previous films.

Other projects include an independent album called This is Next Time, released in late 2005 and appearing in a Russian commercial for Orbit gum.

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