Charles Melton

Charles Melton Bio

Charles Michael Melton (born January 4, 1991) is an American actor whose career spans television and film. After an early run as a fashion model for brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Kenneth Cole, and MAC, Melton moved into acting with guest roles on Glee (2014) and American Horror Story: Hotel (2015–2016). He is best known for playing Reggie Mantle on the CW series Riverdale (2017–2023) and for his leading performance in the romance film The Sun Is Also a Star (2019).

Melton earned wide critical acclaim for his supporting role in the Netflix drama May December (2023), directed by Todd Haynes, which led to multiple Best Supporting Actor wins and a Golden Globe nomination. He continues to balance independent film work with high-profile studio projects and serves as a Global Ambassador for Special Olympics International.

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 Phil in 1990. As the eldest of three children, Melton grew up with two younger sisters, Patricia and Tammy.

Because his father worked for the military, the family relocated often, including a stay of about five years in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, South Korea. The Meltons eventually settled in Manhattan, Kansas, where Charles graduated from Manhattan High School in 2009. He then enrolled at Kansas State University, where he played as a defensive back on the football team under coach Bill Snyder.

At age 20, Melton left college to pursue a career in entertainment and moved to Los Angeles, California, in 2012. During that transitional period, he also worked as a dog walker on the app Wag to make ends meet.

Path to Acting

Melton first found steady work as a fashion model, booking campaigns for Dolce & Gabbana, Kenneth Cole, and MAC. The visibility of those campaigns helped him transition into television, where he secured small guest parts on established shows. His first credited acting appearances were on Glee in 2014 and on American Horror Story: Hotel during the 2015–2016 season.

Those early guest spots led to a recurring role on the CW drama Riverdale in its second season, after which he was promoted to a series regular in season three. The Riverdale arc gave Melton a long-running platform to develop his craft and introduced him to a broad young audience. By 2019, he was ready to carry his first feature film, The Sun Is Also a Star, becoming the first Korean-American and Asian-American actor to lead a teen romance from a major Hollywood studio.

Charles Melton Career

Early Career (2010–2016)

Melton’s early professional years were split between modeling and small acting gigs. He signed with agencies that placed him in campaigns for Dolce & Gabbana, Kenneth Cole, and MAC, work that taught him how to perform under direction and on camera. His first screen roles came on Glee (2014) and American Horror Story: Hotel (2015–2016), giving him a foothold in network and prestige television.

Those credits were modest in length but crucial in establishing his résumé, and they positioned him for a larger commitment on Riverdale in 2017.

Breakthrough (2017–2023)

Melton’s breakthrough arrived when he was cast as Reggie Mantle on the CW series Riverdale beginning in 2017, a role he held through 2023. The part transformed him from a model-turned-guest-star into a household name for younger audiences and ran for seven seasons. In 2019, he made his feature film debut as Daniel Bae in The Sun Is Also a Star, the adaptation of Nicola Yoon’s novel, further raising his profile.

In 2023, he co-starred with Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore in the Todd Haynes directed drama May December, a performance that drew some of the strongest reviews of his career. That same year, he also appeared in the A24 war film Warfare, written and directed by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza.

Notable Works and Milestones

Charles Melton’s signature projects include his long-running turn as Reggie Mantle on Riverdale (2017–2023), his leading role in The Sun Is Also a Star (2019), and his critically praised performance in May December (2023). His portrayal in May December earned Best Supporting Actor wins from the Gotham Independent Film Awards, the National Society of Film Critics Awards, and the New York Film Critics Awards, along with a Golden Globe nomination.

Charles Melton Award Nominations

Charles Melton has earned major industry recognition for his work on May December (2023). He received a Golden Globe Award nomination for his supporting performance, placing him among the year’s most recognized dramatic actors. That nomination, alongside his Best Supporting Actor wins from three prominent critics’ groups, marks his most decorated awards season to date.

Charles Melton Awards Won

Melton won the Best Supporting Actor award for May December (2023) from the Gotham Independent Film Awards, the National Society of Film Critics Awards, and the New York Film Critics Awards. These three honors, all earned in 2023, established him as one of the most awarded supporting actors of that awards season.

Charles Melton Family

Charles Melton was raised by his mother, Sukyong, and his father, Phil Melton, alongside his two younger sisters, Patricia and Tammy. His younger sister, Tammy, works with him as his producing partner, deepening the family’s involvement in his professional life. His multicultural background, with an English-American father and a Korean mother, has shaped much of his public identity as a Korean-American actor.

Personal Life

Melton dated his Riverdale co-star Camila Mendes from October 2018 to December 2019, and the two briefly reconnected in 2021. He was in a relationship with Chase Sui Wonders from early 2022 until that summer. In the spring and summer of 2023, he dated actress Chloe Bennet. Beyond his personal relationships, Melton devotes time to charity work as a Global Ambassador for Special Olympics International.