Charles Melton Bio
Charles Michael Melton (born January 4, 1991) is an American actor. After working as a fashion model, he moved into acting with guest roles on the television series Glee (2014) and American Horror Story: Hotel (2015–2016). His breakthrough came with his portrayal of Reggie Mantle on the CW series Riverdale (2017–2023), and he later earned wide acclaim for his leading role in the drama film May December (2023). Over the course of his career, he has become one of the most recognizable young actors in Hollywood, balancing television work with film roles that have drawn awards attention.
Beyond his on-screen work, Charles Melton is also a Global Ambassador for Special Olympics International. He continues to balance mainstream studio projects with independent films, building a résumé that spans teen drama, romance, and prestige drama.
Early Life and Background
Charles Michael Melton was born on January 4, 1991, in Juneau, Alaska, to Sukyong and Phil Melton. His father is an American of English ancestry, and his mother is a Korean immigrant who moved to the United States with Charles’s father in 1990. He is the eldest of three children, with two younger sisters, Patricia and Tammy. The family moved frequently because his father worked for the military, and at one point they lived in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, South Korea, for about five years.
The family eventually settled in Manhattan, Kansas, where Charles Melton graduated from Manhattan High School in 2009. He went on to study at nearby Kansas State University, where he played as a defensive back on the football team under coach Bill Snyder. While still in college, he also worked as a dog walker on the app Wag. At the age of 20, he made the decision to drop out of college and pursue acting full-time.
Path to Acting
Charles Melton’s first taste of professional success came through modeling. He booked campaigns for brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Kenneth Cole, and MAC, and his striking features quickly made him a familiar face in the fashion world. The visibility he gained through modeling helped him pivot toward on-camera work, and he soon transitioned to acting auditions in Los Angeles after moving there in 2012.
His earliest acting credits were guest spots on Glee in 2014 and American Horror Story: Hotel in 2015–2016. These small but noticeable roles introduced him to television audiences and helped him develop the screen presence that would later land him a major network part.
Charles Melton Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
Charles Melton made his television debut in 2014 with a guest role on the musical series Glee. The following year, he appeared in the anthology horror series American Horror Story: Hotel, gaining exposure within the industry. These early roles, though brief, laid the groundwork for the casting directors who would later consider him for larger parts.
While building his résumé, he continued to model and to support himself with odd jobs, including dog walking. The combination of on-set experience and persistence helped him land the opportunity that would change his career trajectory.
Breakthrough (2017–2023)
Charles Melton received mainstream attention in 2017 when he was cast as Reggie Mantle in the second season of the CW series Riverdale. He replaced Ross Butler, who had departed the cast to commit to 13 Reasons Why. After recurring through the second season, Melton was promoted to a series regular starting with the third season, and he would remain with the show until 2023. His performance as the sensitive, athletic Reggie Mantle turned him into a fan favorite and helped establish a broad, young audience for his work.
In 2019, Charles Melton made his feature film debut as Daniel Bae in The Sun Is Also a Star, the film adaptation of Nicola Yoon’s novel of the same name. With that role, he became the first Korean-American and Asian-American actor to lead a teen romance film from a major Hollywood studio. The film cemented his reputation as a leading man and brought him increased industry attention.
In 2023, he co-starred in the Todd Haynes–directed Netflix drama May December alongside Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore. His portrayal of a young husband at the center of a tabloid scandal earned widespread critical praise and signaled his arrival as a serious dramatic actor. He also appeared in the A24 war film Warfare, written and directed by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza.
Notable Works and Milestones
His signature works include his long-running stint as Reggie Mantle on Riverdale (2017–2023), the romance The Sun Is Also a Star (2019), and the awards-recognized drama May December (2023). He is set to star in Love Child with Elizabeth Olsen, though the release date has not been announced. He has also starred in the second season of the Netflix anthology series Beef alongside Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Cailee Spaeny, and Yuh-Jung Youn, as well as in Her Private Hell with Sophie Thatcher and Havana Rose Liu.
Charles Melton Award Nominations
Charles Melton has earned nominations from major awards bodies for his dramatic work, particularly for his performance in May December (2023). In 2023, he received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award in connection with the film. He has also been recognized by critics’ groups for his supporting role in the Todd Haynes drama, reflecting the wide respect his performance earned across the industry.
Charles Melton Awards Won
Charles Melton won three high-profile critics’ prizes in 2023 for his supporting performance in May December, marking his arrival as a major dramatic talent. He took home Best Supporting Actor honors from the Gotham Independent Film Awards, the National Society of Film Critics Awards, and the New York Film Critics Awards. These wins cemented his transition from television heartthrob to a serious film actor with major institutional backing.
| Award | Wins | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Gotham Independent Film Awards – Best Supporting Actor | 1 | 2023 |
| National Society of Film Critics Awards – Best Supporting Actor | 1 | 2023 |
| New York Film Critics Awards – Best Supporting Actor | 1 | 2023 |
Charles Melton Family
Charles Melton was raised in a close-knit family shaped by his parents, Sukyong and Phil Melton. His father’s career in the military caused the family to move frequently, including a roughly five-year stretch in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, South Korea, before they eventually settled in Manhattan, Kansas. He is the eldest of three siblings, and he has two younger sisters, Patricia and Tammy. His sister Tammy works with him as his producing partner, giving the actor a long-standing family collaborator within his professional life.
Personal Life
Charles Melton has been in several public relationships over the years. He dated his Riverdale co-star Camila Mendes from October 2018 to December 2019, and they briefly dated again in 2021. He was in a relationship with Chase Sui Wonders in early 2022, and he dated Chloe Bennet in the spring and summer of 2023. He is currently in a relationship with director Camille Summers-Valli. In January 2026, it was announced that Summers-Valli was pregnant with their first child, and on March 9, 2026, Melton confirmed the birth of their daughter via Instagram.