Charles Melton is an American actor best known for playing Reggie Mantle in the CW teen drama Riverdale before earning critical acclaim for his leading role in the 2023 Todd Haynes film May December.
He started his career as a fashion model in 2012 and transitioned into acting through guest spots on Glee and American Horror Story before landing the role that made him a household name.
Who is Charles Melton?
Charles Michael Melton is an American actor and former professional model whose career spans television, film, and prestige drama.
He first gained widespread attention as Reggie Mantle on Riverdale, the CW series where he appeared across seven seasons from 2017 to 2023.
His film work grew steadily alongside that television run. He appeared in Bad Boys for Life (2020), headlined the romance The Sun Is Also a Star (2019), and then earned Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Award nominations for his portrayal of Joe Yoo in May December (2023).
That performance, opposite Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman, moved him firmly into the prestige film conversation.
By 2026, Melton had starred in the second season of Netflix’s Beef alongside Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, and Cailee Spaeny, earning his first Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor.
Early Life of Charles Melton
Melton was born in Juneau, Alaska, and spent his childhood moving frequently because his father, Phil, served in the United States Army.
The family lived in multiple states and also spent around five years in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Phil had met Melton’s mother, Sukyong, while stationed in Korea, and the two married before settling in the United States.
Melton grew up as the eldest of three siblings. He has two younger sisters, Patricia and Tammy.
His connection to his Korean heritage deepened during the years the family lived abroad, and he has spoken publicly about navigating questions of identity as a biracial person.
The family eventually settled in Manhattan, Kansas, which Melton considers his true home.
Charles Melton Age / Birthday
Charles Melton is 35 years old as of 2026, born on January 4, 1991. His zodiac sign is Capricorn, a sign often linked with discipline, ambition, and a strong work ethic.
As of 2026, he is at one of the most active points of his career, with a Primetime Emmy nomination and several upcoming film projects in development.
Charles Melton Ethnicity and Nationality
Melton holds American nationality and grew up across multiple states and countries due to his family’s military life.
His ethnic background is mixed: his father is of English and Cherokee descent, and his mother is a Korean immigrant who moved to the United States in 1990.
Melton has spoken openly about his Korean heritage and his pride in representing Asian-American stories on screen, and he made history in 2026 as the first mixed-race Korean American nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series at the Emmy Awards.
Charles Melton Height and Weight
Charles Melton stands at 5 feet 11 inches tall, which is approximately 180 centimeters.
His listed weight is around 73 kg, or 161 lbs, though he has spoken publicly about gaining close to 40 pounds for his role as Joe Yoo in May December, a physical transformation he undertook to embody the character fully.
His athletic background from college football gives him a naturally strong, lean build.
Charles Melton Education
Melton completed high school at Manhattan High School in Manhattan, Kansas. He then attended Kansas State University, where he played Division I football as a defensive back for the Wildcats.
He was also twice named to the Academic All-Big Ten team for strong classroom performance during his time at Penn State, per the old article data.
Charles left Kansas State after roughly two years without completing his degree, choosing instead to move to Los Angeles and pursue acting full-time.
His parents supported the decision, and his father in particular had played a central role in shaping his love of film by taking him to the movies regularly throughout his childhood.
Charles Melton Career
Melton’s path to acting ran through modeling first. In 2012, he walked for VLOVNew and Park & Ronen at New York Fashion Week, marking his professional debut in the fashion industry.
That same period brought him work in the Dolce & Gabbana lookbook and the cover of Prestige magazine, along with campaigns for brands including Armani, Old Navy, and MAC Cosmetics.
Early Acting Work (2014–2016)
His first acting credit came in 2014 with a guest role on Glee, where he appeared in the episode “New New York.” He returned the following year for the episode “Be Our Guest.”
In 2015, he played Mr. Wu in two episodes of American Horror Story: Hotel, the fifth season of the anthology franchise.
He also appeared in several short films during this period, including Faces Without Eyes (2015) and Bad Friend (2015).
By 2016, Melton was building steadily toward a larger break. He had relocated to Los Angeles with $500 and a month’s worth of food his mother had packed for him, and he worked modeling jobs while auditioning consistently.
Breakthrough Role: Riverdale (2017–2023)
In 2017, Melton joined the cast of Riverdale on the CW, taking over the role of Reggie Mantle from Ross Butler, who had scheduling conflicts with 13 Reasons Why.
He appeared in 20 episodes during the second season as a recurring character, then became a main cast member from season three onward, accumulating over 100 episodes across the show’s full seven-season run through 2023.
The role made him a recognizable face to a generation of teen drama viewers. His physical presence and natural screen charisma made Reggie one of the show’s most consistent presences outside the main four leads.
During the Riverdale years, he also moved into film work. In 2019, he starred opposite Yara Shahidi in The Sun Is Also a Star, playing Daniel Bae, a Korean-American romantic lead.
That role made him the first Korean-American and Asian-American actor to lead a major Hollywood studio teen romance film.
In 2020, he appeared in Bad Boys for Life alongside Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, a film that grossed $426.5 million worldwide at the box office.
Prestige Film Work and Recent Projects (2023–2026)
Melton’s career shifted significantly in 2023 with May December, directed by Todd Haynes.
To play Joe Yoo, a man whose young marriage to an older woman echoed the Mary Kay Letourneau scandal, Melton gained close to 40 pounds and delivered what critics described as the film’s emotional core.
The film premiered at Cannes and was acquired by Netflix.
His performance earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, a Critics’ Choice Movie Award nomination, an Independent Spirit Award nomination, and a win at the Gotham Awards for Outstanding Supporting Performance.
In 2025, he appeared in Warfare, an Alex Garland war drama, and won a British Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Performance alongside that cast.
By 2026, he starred as Austin, a biracial Gen-Z personal trainer, in the second season of Netflix’s Beef, created and written by Lee Sung Jin.
The role brought him a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, and he made history as the first mixed-race Korean American nominated in that category.
His co-stars in the season included Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Cailee Spaeny, Youn Yuh-jung, and Song Kang-ho.
Further projects confirmed as of 2026 include a role in the live-action Naruto adaptation, where he plays Kakashi Hatake, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, plus an upcoming Universal feature opposite Matt Damon.
Charles Melton Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Glee | Guest role | TV series |
| 2015–2016 | American Horror Story: Hotel | Mr. Wu | TV series |
| 2017–2023 | Riverdale | Reggie Mantle | CW / 100+ episodes |
| 2019 | The Sun Is Also a Star | Daniel Bae | Film |
| 2020 | Bad Boys for Life | Film | Grossed $426.5M worldwide |
| 2021 | Heart of Champions | Film | |
| 2023 | May December | Joe Yoo | Golden Globe nomination |
| 2025 | Warfare | Jake | Film |
| 2026 | Beef (Season 2) | Austin | Netflix / Emmy nomination |
Charles Melton Awards and Recognition
- Golden Globe Award nomination, Best Supporting Actor: May December (2024)
- Critics’ Choice Movie Award nomination, Best Supporting Actor: May December (2024)
- Gotham Award win, Outstanding Supporting Performance: May December (2024)
- Independent Spirit Award nomination: May December (2024)
- British Independent Film Award win, Best Ensemble: Warfare (2025)
- Primetime Emmy Award nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series: Beef Season 2 (2026)
Melton also received recognition from Variety as one of its Actors to Watch for 2023 and from The Hollywood Reporter’s Next Gen Talent list in 2024.
Charles Melton Wife
Charles Melton married Camille Summers-Valli in 2026. In August 2026, he referred to her as his wife in an interview with People, confirming the marriage without sharing details about the ceremony.
Earlier that year, in May, he had publicly acknowledged her during his Gold Gala acceptance speech, calling her “my partner, my fiancée, my wife, my girlfriend, the love of my life.”
Summers-Valli works as a filmmaker, photographer, and director. Her credits include directing the music video for Haim’s 2025 single “Relationships” and an ad campaign for Coach.
The couple kept their relationship largely out of the public eye before the pregnancy announcement in January 2026.
Before that relationship, Melton dated Riverdale co-star Camila Mendes from October 2018 to December 2019, with a brief reconnection in 2021.
He was also linked to Chase Sui Wonders in early 2022 and to Chloe Bennet in 2023.
Charles Melton Children
Charles Melton and Summers-Valli welcomed their first child, a baby girl, in March 2026. He confirmed the birth on March 9, 2026, via Instagram, sharing a carousel of photos and captioning them “Our family.”
The couple has not publicly shared their daughter’s name.
During his Gold Gala speech in May 2026, Melton dedicated his honor to her, saying he wanted to help make “the world a better place for my baby girl.”
Charles Melton Net Worth
Charles Melton’s estimated net worth is $7 million as of 2026. His wealth comes primarily from seven seasons on Riverdale, his modeling career, and growing film fees following his critical breakthrough in May December.
His Riverdale run across more than 100 episodes formed the financial foundation of his career. Film work added to that base, including his appearance in Bad Boys for Life, which became one of the highest-grossing films of early 2020.
His profile and likely contract values have risen sharply since the May December awards campaign in 2023 and the Beef Season 2 Emmy nomination in 2026.
Before landing in Hollywood, Melton worked as a model for brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, and MAC Cosmetics.
Those earlier contracts contributed to his early financial stability when he was still building his acting career.
Melton also serves as a Special Olympics Global Ambassador, a role he has held since 2021.
His advocacy work, while not a direct income source, reflects his public commitments outside of entertainment.
Charles Melton Social Media
Melton is active on Instagram under the handle @melton. He posts career updates, personal milestones, and content related to his advocacy work.
His Instagram bio and posts confirmed both the pregnancy announcement in January 2026 and the birth of his daughter in March 2026.
He does not maintain an active public presence on Twitter or X.
Summary
Charles Melton moved from fashion runways to CW teen drama to prestige film nominations in the span of a decade, building one of the more unlikely career trajectories in contemporary Hollywood.
His 2026 Emmy nomination for Beef Season 2 and confirmed role in the live-action Naruto film mark the start of what looks like the most ambitious phase of his career yet.
