At the start of his writing career, his wife told him, if it didn’t work out, at 6’4″, he could be a reacher in a supermarket

On Monday, April 28, 2025, Jeopardy! closed the game with a clever clue under the category Contemporary Authors. The clue read: “At the start of his writing career, his wife told him, if it didn’t work out, at 6’4″, he could be a reacher in a supermarket.” This clue hinted at both a physical description and a play on words, pointing to a major figure in modern popular fiction.

Who is Lee Child?

Lee Child, the pen name of James Dover Grant, is best known as the creator of Jack Reacher, a fictional former U.S. Army military policeman who wanders the United States solving dangerous problems. The clue cleverly tied into Child’s towering height and the origin of his character’s memorable surname.

The Real-Life Inspiration Behind Jack Reacher

Lee Child began his writing career after being laid off from his job at Granada Television in 1995. When discussing his future, his wife humorously remarked that if his new career as a novelist failed, his height would make him ideal for a job helping customers reach items on high shelves in supermarkets. From that conversation, the name “Reacher” stuck and became the surname for his now-famous protagonist.

The Jack Reacher series debuted in 1997 with the novel Killing Floor, which went on to win the Anthony Award for Best First Novel. Child’s ability to create a strong, silent hero with a keen sense of justice quickly resonated with readers. Over the years, Reacher evolved into one of the most recognizable characters in contemporary thriller fiction, with books translated into dozens of languages and millions of copies sold worldwide.

Lee Child’s Rise to International Fame

Following the success of Killing Floor, Lee Child established a steady rhythm of publishing a new Jack Reacher novel nearly every year. His books consistently landed on bestseller lists, building a loyal fanbase and earning praise for their tight plotting and clear prose. Child’s commitment to maintaining a consistent voice and structure in his novels played a major role in his sustained popularity.

Child’s impact extended beyond literature. In 2012 and 2016, Hollywood adapted two of his novels into films starring Tom Cruise. Although Cruise’s physical appearance differed greatly from the towering Reacher described in the books, the films brought additional attention to the character and the series. Later, a more faithful adaptation appeared in 2022 when Amazon Prime debuted the Reacher television series starring Alan Ritchson.

A Retirement and a Legacy Continued

In 2020, Lee Child announced he would be stepping back from writing the Reacher novels and handing the series over to his younger brother, Andrew Grant, who adopted the pen name Andrew Child. Together, they co-authored several Reacher novels to ease the transition, with Andrew eventually taking over the series entirely. Lee Child remains closely associated with the Jack Reacher brand and continues to oversee its creative direction.

The Final Jeopardy clue highlighted not just a witty moment in Lee Child’s personal life but also the remarkable way a casual comment helped shape one of the most successful thriller franchises of the past few decades. His story serves as a reminder of how unexpected beginnings can lead to extraordinary outcomes.