He was heartthrob Calvin Valentine in Hollyoaks… but this is what buff actor Ricky Whittle is up to in America these days

IT'S been seven years since Hollyoaks hunk Calvin Valentine was shot dead by his baby mumma Theresa McQueen - leaving the soap for good.

Actor Ricky Whittle, from Oldham, Manchester, quit Hollyoaks for the bright lights of Hollywood - where his career's gone from strength to strength.

The actor has since appeared in American TV series Mistresses, as Daniel Zamora, and The CW's post-apocalyptic drama The 100, as Lincoln a 'Grounder'.

Ricky also had a recurring role in comedy drama series Single Ladies.

More recently he landed the lead role in US TV show American Gods, playing Shadow Moon, which he is currently filming.

American Gods is based on the novel of the same name by Neil Gaiman.

Shadow Moon is the main character, who is serving time in prison for assault.

He is released early after his wife dies, leading him to accept a job offer which throws him into a battle between old gods, who are hiding in plain sight as everyday people in America, and the new crew, who are growing in strength.

Ricky's rise to the top of US TV has had some twists and turns.

In 2009, the 34-year-old came second in Strictly Come Dancing - narrowly losing out to former BBC Breakfast sports correspondent and Watchdog presenter Chris Hollins.

The soap heartthrob shot to fame as a model for Reebok in the early 2000s, and joined Hollyoaks in 2006.

He was a keen sportsman and represented England and Team GB at youth level in football and athletics - but was forced to abandon his hopes of a professional career after breaking his leg in seven places.

Ricky took part in Strictly Come Dancing

But what has he been up to since?

After leaving Hollyoaks, the soap heartthrob moved to California, USA, to pursue an acting career.

Ricky has also been hitting the gym hard, and is now looking buffer than ever.

The hunk even dated Demi Moore and Bruce Willis' daughter Rumer for several months, between May and October last year.

Following the break-up, he tweeted: “It’s better to have your heart broken by walking away than to have it break daily waiting for things to get better.”

Ricky later told The Sun's TV Biz that it was a case of right girl, wrong time.

He added: “Last year I was seeing someone and I wasn’t ready to take the relationship to the next level.

“The person was incredible in every way – but I just wasn’t ready, I was focused on work.

“It’s never nice to tell a good person that you’re not ready yet. It’s one of those right person, wrong time kind of scenarios.”

Having recovered from his broken leg, Ricky now spends his spare time playing running back for the Manchester Titans American Football team.