Biography
Who is Charles Melton?
Early life and education
Charles Melton Michael Melton was born in Juneau, Alaska, on January 4, 1991. His parents are Sukyong and Phil Melton. His mother is a Korean immigrant, while his father has English ancestry. Because his father served in the military, the family relocated frequently during his childhood. They spent five years living in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, South Korea. The family eventually moved to Manhattan, Kansas, where he graduated from Manhattan High School in 2009.
After high school, he enrolled at Kansas State University. During his college years, he played as a defensive back for the university football team under coach Bill Snyder. He decided to leave his studies at age 20 to pursue a career in acting. He relocated to Los Angeles, California, in 2012 to start this new path. Before finding fame in acting, he held various jobs, including working as a dog walker on the mobile application Wag.
Early career and modeling
Before his acting career took off, he experienced success as a fashion model. He booked various modeling gigs for major brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Kenneth Cole, and MAC. He transitioned into acting by securing guest roles on popular television shows. His initial credits included appearances on Glee and American Horror Story: Hotel.
Breakthrough in television and film
His acting career reached a turning point in 2017 when he joined the cast of the CW series Riverdale. He portrayed the character Reggie Mantle, replacing Ross Butler in the role. He started as a recurring character in the second season before becoming a series regular for the third season. He continued with the show until 2023.
In 2019, he starred in his first feature film, The Sun Is Also a Star, based on the book by Nicola Yoon. This role marked him as the first Korean-American and Asian-American actor to lead a teen romance film for a major Hollywood studio. He later starred in the 2023 Netflix drama May December alongside Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore. His work in that film earned him a Golden Globe nomination and wins for Best Supporting Actor from the Gotham Independent Film Awards and the New York Film Critics Awards. In 2026, he produced and appeared in the second season of the Netflix anthology series Beef, receiving Emmy nominations for his performance.
Personal life and family
Charles has two sisters named Patricia and Tammy. His sister Tammy often works alongside him as his producing partner. He has been involved in several high-profile relationships throughout his career. He dated his Riverdale co-star Camila Mendes between 2018 and 2019, with a brief reconnection in 2021. He also had relationships with Chase Sui Wonders in 2022 and Chloe Bennet in 2023.
He is currently married to director Camille Summers-Valli, a union reported in August 2026. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, in March 2026. Beyond his film work, he serves as a Global Ambassador for Special Olympics International.
Birthday and age
Charles Melton was born on January 4, 1991, which makes Charles 35 years old today. That birthday falls under the Capricorn sign. Charles shares the date with 30 other famous people.
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