Charles Melton | |
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![]() Melton in 2024 | |
Born | Charles Michael Melton (1991-01-04)January 4, 1991 (age 34) Juneau, Alaska, U.S. |
Alma mater | Kansas State University |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 2010–present |
Charles Michael Melton (born January 4, 1991)[1] is an American actor. After working as a fashion model, Melton ventured to acting with guest roles on the television seriesGlee (2014) andAmerican Horror Story: Hotel (2015–2016). Hisbreakthrough came with his portrayal ofReggie Mantle inthe CW seriesRiverdale (2017–2023).
Melton gained recognition for his leading role in the romance filmThe Sun Is Also a Star (2019). For his acclaimed portrayal of a young man married to a woman whoraped andgroomed him as a child in the drama filmMay December (2023), Melton earned nominations for aCritics' Choice Movie Award and aGolden Globe Award.
Charles Michael Melton was born on January 4, 1991, inJuneau, Alaska, to Sukyong and Phil Melton.[2] His father is an American with English ancestry;[3][4][5] his mother is aKorean immigrant who moved to the United States with Charles's father in 1990. Melton is the eldest child, having two younger sisters.[1] His family moved frequently because his father worked for the military.[6] At one point, the family lived inPyeongtaek,Gyeonggi, South Korea, for about five years.[1] They eventually settled down inManhattan, Kansas[4][5] where Melton graduated fromManhattan High School in 2009.[7][8] Melton studied at nearbyKansas State University, where he played as adefensive back on thefootball team under coachBill Snyder.[2][8] He dropped out of college at twenty to pursue acting and moved to Los Angeles, California, in 2012.[6]
He also previously worked as a dog walker on the appWag.[4]
He was first successful as a model, having booked gigs forDolce & Gabbana,Kenneth Cole andMAC.[4] His first acting roles included guest spots onGlee andAmerican Horror Story.[4]
Melton received mainstream attention in 2017 when he was cast asReggie Mantle in the second season of the CW seriesRiverdale. He replacedRoss Butler, who left the cast due to his commitment to13 Reasons Why.[9] After recurring during the second season, Melton officially became a series regular onRiverdale starting with the third season.[10] In 2019, he starred in his first feature film as Daniel Bae inThe Sun Is Also a Star, the film adaptation of the book of the same name byNicola Yoon.[11][12] Because of that movie, he is the firstKorean-American andAsian-American actor to lead a teenromance film from a major Hollywood studio.[13]
In 2023, he co-starred in theTodd Haynes directedNetflix drama filmMay December where he acted alongsideNatalie Portman andJulianne Moore.[14] Melton's performance received critical acclaim, winning Best Supporting Actor from theGotham Independent Film Awards,National Society of Film Critics Awards and theNew York Film Critics Awards.[15][16][17] He also received a nomination for theGolden Globe Award.[18]
He is set to star inLove Child withElizabeth Olsen with a release date to be announced.[19] He is also set to star inWarfare, anA24 war movie written and directed byAlex Garland and Ray Mendoza.[20] He will also star inBeef season 2 alongsideOscar Isaac,Carey Mulligan,Cailee Spaeny, andYuh-Jung Youn.[21]
His charity work includes serving as a Global Ambassador forSpecial Olympics International.[22]
Melton datedRiverdale co-starCamila Mendes from October 2018 to December 2019.[23][24] They dated again briefly in 2021. He datedChase Sui Wonders from early 2022 until that summer. He datedChloe Bennet in the spring/summer of 2023.[25]
Melton has two sisters, Patricia and Tammy.[26] Tammy works with him as his producing partner.[27]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | The Thinning: New World Order | Cage | Web film |
2019 | The Sun Is Also a Star | Daniel Bae | |
2020 | Bad Boys for Life | Rafe | |
Mainstream | Himself | Cameo | |
2021 | Heart of Champions | Chris Davenport | |
2022 | Secret Headquarters | Hawaii | |
2023 | May December | Joe Yoo | |
2025 | Warfare | Jake |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | Glee | Model | Episode: "New New York" |
2015–2016 | American Horror Story: Hotel | Mr. Wu | 2 episodes |
2017–2023 | Riverdale | Reggie Mantle | Recurring (season 2); main (seasons 3–7) |
2021 | American Horror Stories | Wyatt | Episode: "The Naughty List" |
2023 | Poker Face | Davis McDowell | Episode: "The Future of the Sport" |
History of the World, Part II | Joshy Mudman | 3 episodes |
Year | Title | Artist(s) |
---|---|---|
2016 | "Save My Soul" | JoJo |
2019 | "Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored" | Ariana Grande |
2025 | "Love Hangover" | Jennie |
Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alliance of Women Film Journalists | 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | May December | Nominated | |
Astra Film Awards | 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
Austin Film Critics Association | 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
Boston Online Film Critics Association | 2023 | Best Supporting Actor | Won | ||
Boston Society of Film Critics | 2023 | Best Supporting Actor | Runner-up[a] | [28] | |
Celebration of Cinema and Television | 2023 | Breakthrough Performance Award | Won | [29] | |
Chicago Film Critics Association | 2023 | Best Supporting Actor | Won | [30] | |
Most Promising Performer | Won | ||||
Chicago Indie Critics | 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
Breakout Artist | Nominated | ||||
Columbus Film Critics Association | 2024 | Best Supporting Performance | Nominated | ||
Breakthrough Film Artist | Nominated | ||||
Critics' Choice Movie Awards | 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association | 2023 | Best Supporting Actor | Runner-up | ||
Denver Film Critics Society | 2024 | Best Supporting Performance by an Actor, Male | Nominated | ||
DiscussingFilm Critic Awards | 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | Won | ||
Best Breakthrough Performance | Won | ||||
Dublin Film Critics Circle | 2023 | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
Florida Film Critics Circle | 2023 | Best Supporting Actor | Won | ||
Breakout Award | Nominated | ||||
Georgia Film Critics Association | 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | Runner-up | ||
Breakthrough Award | Runner-up[b] | ||||
Golden Globe Awards | 2024 | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Nominated | ||
Gotham Awards | 2023 | Outstanding Supporting Performance | Won | [31] | |
Greater Western New York Film Critics Association | 2023 | Best Supporting Actor | Won | ||
Breakthrough Performance | Won | ||||
Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards | 2023 | Best Supporting Performance | Nominated | ||
Breakout of the Year | Runner-up | ||||
Independent Spirit Awards | 2024 | Best Supporting Performance | Nominated | ||
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards | 2023 | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | [32] | |
London Film Critics' Circle | 2024 | Supporting Actor of the Year | Won | ||
MTV Movie & TV Awards | 2019 | Best Kiss | Riverdale | Nominated[c] | |
Music City Film Critics Association | 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | May December | Pending | |
National Society of Film Critics | 2023 | Best Supporting Actor | Won | ||
New York Film Critics Circle Awards | 2023 | Best Supporting Actor | Won | [17] | |
New York Film Critics Online Awards | 2023 | Breakthrough Performer | Won | ||
North Carolina Film Critics Association | 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
Best Breakthrough Performance | Nominated | ||||
North Dakota Film Society | 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | Pending | ||
North Texas Film Critics Association Awards | 2023 | Best Newcomer | Nominated | ||
Online Association of Female Film Critics | 2023 | Best Supporting Actor | Won[d] | ||
Breakthrough Performance | Won | ||||
Philadelphia Film Critics Circle | 2023 | Best Supporting Actor | Runner-up | ||
Best Breakthrough Performance | Won | ||||
San Diego Film Critics Society | 2023 | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle | 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
Santa Barbara International Film Festival | 2024 | Virtuoso Award | Won | ||
Satellite Awards | 2024 | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Nominated | ||
Seattle Film Critics Society | 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | Won | ||
St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards | 2023 | Best Supporting Actor | Runner-up[e] | ||
Teen Choice Awards | 2019 | Choice Summer Movie Actor | The Sun is Also a Star | Nominated | |
Toronto Film Critics Association | 2023 | Best Supporting Performance | May December | Runner-up[f] | |
Best Breakthrough Performance | Runner-up[d] | ||||
UK Film Critics Association | 2023 | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
Utah Film Critics Association | 2024 | Best Supporting Performance, Male | Runner-up | ||
Variety &Golden Globe's Breakthrough Artist Awards | 2023 | Breakthrough Artist Award | Honoree | [33] | |
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | 2023 | Best Supporting Actor | Won | [34] | |
Women Film Critics Circle | 2023 | Best Actor | Runner-up[g] |