Channing Tatum biography, girlfriend, age, net worth, height 2025

Channing Tatum's Biography

Channing Matthew Tatum is an American actor, producer, and model. He's best known for starring in "Step Up," "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," both "Magic Mike" films, "21 Jump Street," "The Vow," "Kingsman: The Golden Circle," and many more. He's won MTV Movie Awards and taken home four Teen Choice Awards.

Childhood and Adolescence

Channing Tatum was born on April 26, 1980, in Cullman, a small town in Alabama. His father, Glenn Tatum, was a builder, and his mother, Kay Tatum (née Faust), worked for an airline. Tatum keeps his family life pretty private: while some reports claim he's one of eight kids, what we know for sure is that he has a sister, Paige Tatum (a model and actress), and a stepbrother, Christopher Anderson (an actor and singer).

When Channing turned six, his family relocated to a suburb of Pascagoula – a Mississippi city on the Gulf Coast – where he grew up in the rural Mississippi River region. As a kid, he struggled with ADHD and dyslexia, making school a real challenge. He was put on medication to help with his studies, but it made him feel like he had "no soul." Tatum later said in an interview, "I would never do that to my own child."

Like many actors, Channing Tatum struggled with dyslexia in his childhood

To channel his hyperactivity, his parents got him into sports: football, baseball, track, and kung fu.

A few years later, the family moved again – this time to Tampa, Florida. There, Channing went to Gaither High School before his father gave him an ultimatum: military academy or private school. He picked private school, enrolling at a Catholic institution in Tampa, and graduated in 1998 as athlete of the year with a sports scholarship to Glenville State College in West Virginia. But college didn't stick – Channing quickly became disillusioned, dropped out, and headed home to figure out his next move through a series of odd jobs.

In under two years, he'd tried everything from roofing contractor to mortgage manager, veterinary assistant to clothing salesperson, before landing a gig as a stripper at a nightclub under the stage name Chan Crawford. From there, he pursued professional dancing and landed a spot in Ricky Martin's 2000 music video for "She Bangs."

In his youth, Channing Tatum worked as a stripper in a nightclub

Modeling Career

His breakout appearance in a music video caught the attention of fashion industry scouts, launching his modeling career with high-profile gigs for Giorgio Armani and Abercrombie & Fitch, plus shoots for Men's Health magazine.

Channing Tatum in Ricky Martin's music video

He then transitioned into television commercials, becoming especially recognizable through his work in Mountain Dew and Pepsi ad campaigns.

Pepsi commercial with Channing Tatum

In 2001, he landed on Tear Sheet magazine's "50 Most Beautiful Faces" list. Between 2000 and 2005, Channing worked on countless campaigns for major brands including Nautica watches, Dolce & Gabbana, American Eagle Outfitters, and Armani's Emporio line.

"When I started modeling, it significantly simplified life for both myself and my family. Before that, I had no idea what profession I wanted to choose, but now my family finally didn't have to worry about me anymore."

He appeared in magazines such as Vogue, Out, Elegance, and Citizen, and worked under contract with major modeling agencies in Miami, Milan, and New York.

Film Career

Channing Tatum made his screen debut in 2004 with a guest spot on the hit TV series "CSI: Miami." He then landed several small roles in movies such as "Coach Carter" (2005), "Supercross" (2005), and "Havoc" (2005).

Channing Tatum's very first role ('CSI: Miami')

Around this time, he got serious about acting and decided to leave his modeling career behind. The gamble paid off—he soon landed the male lead in the teen comedy "She's the Man" (2006), based on William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night."

But it was Tatum's role as a hip-hop dancer in the musical drama "Step Up" (2006) that became his true breakthrough and launched him to stardom. The film showcased Tatum's natural charm and impressive dance skills—plus his real-life chemistry with co-star Jenna Dewan was undeniable. Producers enthusiastically noted that Channing danced "fluidly like water" and called him "one of the best self-taught street dancers."

That same year, Tatum also appeared in the indie drama "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints," alongside Robert Downey Jr., Shia LaBeouf, and Dianne Wiest. The film was showcased at numerous film festivals, including the Sundance Film Festival, where it won a Special Jury Prize for its ensemble cast.

Step Up: Channing Tatum & Jenna Dewan

Tatum earned several awards and nominations for best supporting actor at various festivals. His next hit was the sequel "Step Up 2: The Streets" (2008), though his role was brief—his character from the original only appeared in one scene. He then took on a leading role in "Stop-Loss" (2008), but the film bombed at the box office despite positive reviews from critics, who called it "deep and sincere."

Channing Tatum in 'Stop-loss'

The drama "Fighting" (2009) fared better, with Tatum again taking the lead role. He then had a supporting role in the crime blockbuster "Public Enemies" (2009) starring Johnny Depp, with Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard.

'Fighting': Channing Tatum as Sean MacArthur

Another breakthrough for Tatum was the lead male role in the action film "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" (2009), where he starred alongside the fiery Sienna Miller. The film was a box office hit, grossing over $300 million, although many film journalists were critical:

The characters all seem plastic like dolls... and Tatum is downright wooden

One critic noted that Tatum's character "seems more alive in shots with computer graphics than in those played by Tatum himself." (However, it's not entirely clear whether he meant to criticize the actor or, conversely, praise the film's special effects.)

'G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra' – one of the most famous films with Channing Tatum

Tatum won the Teen Choice Award for Best Actor in an Action Movie for this role, and "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" received three more Teen Choice Award nominations and six Razzie Award nominations, winning one. The sequel "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" (2013) featured Tatum in a supporting role, with Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis in the lead roles.

Channing Tatum's 'G.I.Joe: Retaliation' Interview

In 2010, Tatum starred alongside Amanda Seyfried in the romantic drama "Dear John." The heartfelt story of a young soldier and enduring love struck a chord with audiences, earning nearly $115 million worldwide. Tatum was nominated for MTV Movie Awards and Teen Choice Awards. The actor credits this film with sparking his passion for dramatic acting, leading him to prioritize it over dancing, action sequences, and other "ways of showing off his body."

Between 2011 and 2012, Tatum appeared in several films that received mixed reviews: "The Dilemma" (2011), "The Son of No One" (2011, featuring Al Pacino, Tracy Morgan, Juliette Binoche, and Katie Holmes), "The Eagle" (2011), and "Haywire" (2012, featuring Michael Fassbender and Ewan McGregor).

But during this same stretch, he delivered standout performances in the romantic drama "10 Years" (2011) alongside Jenna Dewan and the box office hit "The Vow" (2012) with Rachel McAdams. Critics praised Tatum's "surprisingly heartfelt" performance in "The Vow," which earned him nominations at the MTV Movie Awards, Teen Choice Awards, and People's Choice Awards.

Channing Tatum in the Pink music video 'Beautiful Trauma' (2017)

In his next film, the comedy "21 Jump Street" (2012), Tatum played one of the two main roles (the "macho," with the "nerd" played by Jonah Hill) and tried his hand as a producer.

'21 Jump Street': Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill

The film was a hit with both audiences and critics, earning over $200 million and praise as "a smart and engaging satire with nostalgia for the 80s and parody of youth cinema."

A scene from '21 Jump Street'

Capitalizing on that success, the sequel "22 Jump Street" hit theaters in 2014 and grossed $331 million. Critics found the sequel "not as energetic as the first, but definitely smarter and more heartfelt."

In 2012, Tatum released what would become his signature film – the stripper comedy "Magic Mike." Tatum shone as both the lead actor and producer. The film also featured actors such as Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, and Cody Horn.

The project held special meaning for Tatum, since the plot drew from his own experience as a strip club dancer. Audiences praised the film's "sensual direction, subtle script, and strong acting performance." Three years later, the sequel "Magic Mike XXL" (2015) hit theaters and performed well at the box office, though it didn't quite match the original's success.

A scene from 'Magic Mike XXL'

While Tatum's career was on the rise, the following years brought a mix of smaller projects, such as the psychological thriller "Side Effects" (2013, featuring Jude Law and Catherine Zeta-Jones), the comedy "Don Jon" (2013, a small role, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore), the sports drama "Foxcatcher" (2014, with Steve Carell, Sienna Miller, and Mark Ruffalo), the comedy "Hail, Caesar!" (2016, featuring Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Scarlett Johansson, Dolph Lundgren, and others), and the comedy "Logan Lucky" (2017, Tatum played the lead role and produced).

During this time, Tatum also lent his voice to animated films "The Lego Movie" (2014, as Superman), "The Lego Batman Movie" (2016), and "The Book of Life" (2014, as Joaquin Mondragon).

Channing Tatum Takes a Lie Detector Test

Another standout was his lead role in the action thriller "White House Down" (2013), which earned mixed reviews from critics who wrote: "While the film benefits from the energy and chemistry between its leads, director Roland Emmerich undermines it with narrative clichés and choppy action sequences."

Another memorable work was the sci-fi action film by Lana and Lilly Wachowski "Jupiter Ascending" (2015), in which Channing Tatum starred alongside the charming Mila Kunis. While critics weren't impressed with this space opera, younger audiences embraced the flying hero with pointed ears. As a result, the actor received nominations at the Kids' Choice Awards, Teen Choice Awards, and the Razzie Awards.

'Jupiter Ascending' was met with a cool reception

In December 2015, Quentin Tarantino's detective western "The Hateful Eight" was released, starring Tatum alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Kurt Russell. Tatum campaigned hard for the role, spending a month sending emails to Tarantino and jokingly threatening to beat up any other actors in contention. Quentin joked that he would soon lock Tatum and the other contenders in a room, and the role would go to the only one who walked out alive.

The Hateful Eight - Channing Tatum Death Scene

Among all his film roles, this movie earned the most prestigious accolades, including an Oscar and Golden Globe for Ennio Morricone's haunting score.

Channing Tatum in Quentin Tarantino's 'The Hateful Eight'

Tatum's role in the spy action sequel "Kingsman: The Golden Circle" (2017) proved a major win, joining an stellar ensemble cast featuring Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Halle Berry, and Jeff Bridges. The film raked in over $400 million worldwide, with critics actually rating it higher than the original "Kingsman: The Secret Service" (2015).

In 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle,' Tatum played the head of the American secret service

In the late 2000s, Channing Tatum launched his production company "33andOut Productions," which released the powerful 2010 documentary "Earth Made of Glass" about the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and made a powerful impact on audiences.

In January 2018, Harper's Bazaar included Channing Tatum in its list of "50 Sexiest Men of All Time."

The highly anticipated "Gambit" – a superhero film based on Marvel's X-Men universe – was set for a 2019 release, with Channing locked in to play the mutant gambler. But the project got axed when Disney acquired 21st Century Fox. While the film could still happen, it'll probably be without Tatum. That year also saw the release of "The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part," in which Tatum voiced Superman.

Channing Tatum was supposed to play Gambit from 'X-Men'

In 2021, Channing appeared in the comedy "Free Guy" with Ryan Reynolds. His role was small – the avatar of one of the top players in the online game Free City – but self-ironic: Tatum parodied his character from "Step Up" and danced a dance from Fortnite.

Channing Tatum cameo in 'Free Guy'

In 2022, the family comedy "Dog" hit theaters, where a German Shepherd named Lulu completely stole the show from Channing himself. Tatum's character has to get her to California, but the unlikely pair face plenty of obstacles along the journey. Notably, this film marked Channing Tatum's directorial debut.

Channing Tatum's Personal Life

During the filming of his breakout movie "Step Up," Channing Tatum started dating his co-star Jenna Dewan (born December 3, 1980). Early in their relationship, Channing was upfront about not wanting to commit to anything serious, to which Jenna responded, "If you want to date others and be free, that's totally fine, but then we won't spend time together, watch movies and so on." After three days of freedom, Channing came back to her and confessed, "You know, I tried to be free, but I couldn't stop thinking about you all the time."

Channing Tatum and his former wife Jenna Dewan

On July 11, 2009, after three blissful years together, the couple tied the knot in a stunning Malibu ceremony. In summer 2017, when a journalist asked Channing about the secret to his and Jenna's lasting love, he shared, "Relationships are always changing... One year you need one thing, and the next you need something else... Things aren't perfect all the time, but you have to want to keep working on that equation."

On May 31, 2013, the family welcomed their daughter, Everly Elizabeth Maiselle Tatum. Days later, Channing shared a sweet photo of Jenna napping with their daughter on his blog, writing, "Watching her become a mother in these first few days has changed my life. She remains the same beautiful, sexy, funny, and incredible girl I fell in love with. But something shifted, and I saw her in a completely new light I'd never seen before – the light of a mother's love."

The couple raising their daughter Everly

Their marriage seemed picture-perfect, but in April 2018, news broke that Channing and Jenna were divorcing. "We still love each other, but love is a beautiful adventure that's currently taking us down different paths," Jenna posted a joint statement on her Instagram.

Six months after the divorce, Channing started dating singer Jessie J (known for the hit "Price Tag"). Things got serious when the actor introduced his new girlfriend to his daughter – and they hit it off beautifully.

A year later, the couple called it quits due to the constant long-distance struggle. Both had busy schedules, and Tatum couldn't stay away from Los Angeles for long because his daughter lived there, while Jessie preferred rainy London to sunny California. However, in January 2020, they were spotted together again on LA streets, holding hands and deep in conversation.

But in summer 2021, word got out that Channing Tatum was dating Zoe Kravitz, the actress and daughter of musician Lenny Kravitz. They met on the set of the film "Pussy Island" (or "Blink Twice"): Zoe was the director, and Channing played the lead role. Only time will tell where their romance leads, but in fall 2023, it was revealed that the actor had popped the question.

Channing Tatum Now

Channing Tatum has been keeping a lower profile on screen lately. He's got his sights set on stepping behind the camera. He doesn't want to be remembered as just another action star.

Fans are still waiting for the third "21 Jump Street" comedy. Early on, Tatum had his doubts about whether it would work: "I'm not sure if the same joke will work a third time, but we'll see."

In February 2024, it was announced that Channing would play the criminal Jeffrey Manchester, who became famous for robbing McDonald's restaurants, in Derek Cianfrance's film "Roofman," based on true events.

In 2024, Channing Tatum was preparing for his wedding to Zoe Kravitz.

2024 also brought the premiere of thriller "Blink Twice." The film marked Zoe Kravitz's directorial debut and brought her together with Tatum. Channing was the top pick to play Slater King, a billionaire philanthropist hiding some dark secrets. Channing said about his character:

Slater is a crazy character. He could be a psychopath, but he's like an extreme version of myself.

Channing Tatum: latest news and articles

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Renae Baker

In the late 1980`s I worked with an actor, named Jeff Tatum, who looks SO much like Channing that I have to think they are related. I cannot find my old friend Jeff. Does anyone know anything about a possible relationship between them?

2022-03-01 19:35:23
Dawn Hammond

In my opinion Channing Tatum played all his main roles and now it`s time to wait for some director works

2021-04-15 09:05:44
Steven Michael Gonzalez

Movies with Channing Tatum I like. But it`s difficult to say the same about `The Hateful Eight`, In my opinion he failed in this movie.

2021-03-29 09:04:19
Clara Garcia

Mediocre actor. I think Tatum looks cool mostly because of the special computer effects, because of his face and a partner (like in Jupiter Ascending).

2021-03-19 08:26:11
Nicholas Ortega

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is the best movie with Channing Tatum In my opinion. Maybe that is the reason he had so temperamental partner but actor played his role excellent!

2021-03-14 13:58:55
Ann Leonard

I love Channing Tatum! I guess that any role what he is taking, its always successful.

2021-03-12 19:48:23

Photos: Channing Tatum