Channing Matthew Tatum is an American actor, producer, and model. He is widely known for his roles in the films "Step Up," "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," the two parts of the comedy "Magic Mike," "21 Jump Street", "The Vow," "Kingsman: The Golden Circle," and others. He is a recipient of the MTV Movie Awards and a four-time winner of the Teen Choice Awards.
Hollywood Actor Channing Tatum
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. The actor is quite private about his family life: there are reports that he was one of eight children, but it is only confirmed that he has one sister, Paige Tatum, a model and actress, and a stepbrother, Christopher Anderson, who is an actor and singer.
Channing Tatum in childhood
When Channing was six, his family moved to a suburb of Pascagoula – a city in Mississippi on the Gulf of Mexico coast – and he grew up in the rural setting of the Mississippi River. As a child, he suffered from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and dyslexia, which made school challenging for him. To help with his studies, he was prescribed medication that made him feel as though he had "no soul". Later, in an interview, Tatum said, "I would never do that to my own child."
Like many actors, Channing Tatum struggled with dyslexia in his childhood
To channel Channing's physical hyperactivity, his parents encouraged him to participate in sports: he took part in football, baseball, track, and kung fu classes.
Channing was a very athletic child
Years later, the Tatums moved again, this time to Tampa, Florida. Here, Channing attended Gaither High School and then faced a decision from his father: to go to a military academy or to attend a private high school. He chose the latter, enrolling in a private Catholic school in Tampa, and graduated in 1998, earning the title of the best athlete of the year and a sports scholarship to attend Glenville State College in West Virginia. However, soon after starting college, Channing became disillusioned with his studies, returned home, and began to look for his path, taking on various jobs.
Channing Tatum with his parents
In less than two years, he tried his hand as a roofing contractor, mortgage manager, veterinary assistant, and clothing salesperson, then worked as a stripper at a nightclub under the stage name Chan Crawford. After that, he tried to start a professional career as a dancer and in 2000, he was cast and appeared in Ricky Martin's music video for "She Bangs".
In his youth, Channing Tatum worked as a stripper in a nightclub
Modeling Career
After a successful appearance in a music video, Channing was noticed and invited to work in the fashion industry as a model for shows, immediately working with prestigious clients such as Giorgio Armani and Abercrombie & Fitch, as well as for Men’s Health magazine.
Channing Tatum in Ricky Martin's music video
Following this, he also worked in television commercials, gaining particular fame with a series of ads for the Mountain Dew and Pepsi campaigns.
Pepsi commercial with Channing Tatum
In 2001, the young man was included in the list of "50 Most Beautiful Faces" by Tear Sheet magazine. From 2000 to 2005, Channing participated in numerous projects, including advertising campaigns for Nautica watches, the legendary Dolce & Gabbana, clothing brand American Eagle Outfitters, and the bold Emporio line by Armani.
“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's film debut occurred in 2004 with a guest appearance on the popular 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')
At that time, the young man became seriously interested in filmmaking and decided to leave his modeling career behind. The decision paid off: soon he was cast in the lead male role in the teen comedy "She's the Man" (2006), inspired by William Shakespeare's play "Twelfth Night."
A scene from 'She's the Man'
Following this, Tatum's role as a hip-hop dancer in the hit musical drama "Step Up" (2006) is considered his breakthrough performance, which made him famous. In this film, Tatum's natural charm, dance skills, and even his off-screen romantic feelings for his co-star Jenna Dewan were on full display. Producers enthusiastically noted that Channing danced "fluidly like water" and called him "one of the best self-taught street dancers."
Channing Tatum in 'Step Up'
In 2006, the young actor also starred in the "serious" film "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
Additionally, Tatum received several awards and nominations for best supporting actor at different festivals. His next successful film was the sequel "Step Up 2: The Streets" (2008), but his role was small—his character from the first movie only appeared in one scene. He then played one of the main roles in "Stop-Loss" (2008), but the film flopped at the box office despite positive reviews from critics, who called it "deep and sincere."
Channing Tatum in 'Stop-loss'
The drama "Fighting" (2009) was more successful, in which Tatum also played 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 touching story of a young soldier and the love that endures through the years and difficult circumstances resonated with viewers, grossing nearly $115 million. Tatum was nominated for MTV Movie Awards and Teen Choice Awards. According to the actor, it was with this film that he truly fell in love with the art of dramatic acting and started to prioritize it over dancing, action scenes, and other "ways of showing off his body."
On the set of 'Dear John'
In 2011-2012, Tatum starred in several films that were met with a lukewarm reception: "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).
A scene from 'The Eagle'
However, during the same period, the remarkable romantic drama "10 Years" (2011) was released, in which he starred again with Jenna Dewan, and the commercially successful melodrama "The Vow" (2012), where his co-star was Rachel McAdams. Tatum's performance in "The Vow" was recognized by critics as "surprisingly heartfelt," earning him further 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 warmly received by both audiences, with box office earnings exceeding $200 million, and critics who highly praised it as "a smart and engaging satire with nostalgia for the 80s and parody of youth cinema."
A scene from '21 Jump Street'
Riding the wave of this film's success, the sequel "22 Jump Street" was released in 2014, grossing $331 million. Journalists felt that the second film was "not as energetic as the first, but definitely smarter and more heartfelt."
In 2012, another film of Tatum's was released, which became his trademark – the comedy about a stripper's life, "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.
A screenshot from 'Magic Mike'
This work was especially dear to Tatum, as its plot was partly based on his own experience working as a dancer in a strip club. The audience highly valued the "sensual direction, subtle script, and strong acting performance" in this film. Three years later, the sequel "Magic Mike XXL" (2015) was released, which also enjoyed a good box office run, though it was slightly less successful than the first film.
A scene from 'Magic Mike XXL'
Despite the overall rise of Tatum's film career, the following years also included several less significant films, 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).
The idol of millions of women
During this period, the actor also participated in voicing 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 notable work was the lead role in the action film "White House Down" (2013), after which critics wrote: "The film certainly benefits from the energy and chemistry of the main characters, but director Roland Emmerich still spoiled the impression with his narrative clichés and disjointed action scenes."
A scene from 'White House Down'
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. Critics did not rate this space opera highly, but the younger generation liked 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. The actor pursued this role for a month: he sent emails to Tarantino and threatened to beat up any other actor considered for the part. 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
Of all the films he participated in, this movie collected the most prestigious awards, including an Oscar and a Golden Globe for the film's music, composed by the famous Ennio Morricone.
Channing Tatum in Quentin Tarantino's 'The Hateful Eight'
Tatum's participation in the spy action film "Kingsman: The Golden Circle" (2017) was a definite success, where he joined a splendid cast including Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Halle Berry, and Jeff Bridges. The film grossed over $400 million, and critics rated it higher than the first film "Kingsman: The Secret Service" (2015), which was also very popular.
In 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle,' Tatum played the head of the American secret service
In the late 2000s, Channing Tatum founded the production company "33andOut Productions," and in 2010, it released the documentary "Earth Made of Glass," dedicated to the Rwandan genocide of 1994. The film was shown at the Tribeca Film Festival and had a significant public impact.
In January 2018, Harper's Bazaar included Channing Tatum in its list of "50 Sexiest Men of All Time."
In 2019, the blockbuster "Gambit" – a superhero film based on Marvel Comics' X-Men – was supposed to be released, with Channing confirmed for the lead role of the mutant gambler known as Gambit. However, the film was canceled due to the merger of 21st Century Fox with Disney. The film might still see the light of day, but most likely 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'
Also, in 2022, the family comedy "Dog" was released, where the audience's love was stolen not by Channing but by a German Shepherd playing a service dog named Lulu. Tatum's character must deliver her to California, but they must pass numerous challenges along the way. Notably, this film marked Channing Tatum's directorial debut.
Channing Tatum and dog in 'Dog'
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). At the beginning of their relationship, Channing did not hide the fact that he was not planning to commit to a serious relationship, 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 carefree partying, Channing came to her and admitted, "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 years of a happy relationship, the couple got married, having a beautiful wedding in Malibu. In the summer of 2017, a journalist asked Channing what the secret was to his and Jenna's love and fidelity, and he replied, "Relationships are always changing... One year you need one thing, and the next you need something else... Not everything is perfect all the time, but you have to want to keep solving that equation."
On May 31, 2013, the family welcomed their daughter, Everly Elizabeth Maiselle Tatum. A few days later, Channing posted a photo of a dozing Jenna 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 the prism turned, and I saw her in a completely new light, one I never knew before – the light of a mother's love."
The couple raising their daughter Everly
Their marriage seemed like an unattainable ideal, but in April 2018, it became known that Channing and Jenna were divorcing. "We still love each other, but love is a beautiful adventure that is currently taking us on 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"). The seriousness of their relationship was evident when the actor introduced his new girlfriend to his daughter, and they got along well.
Channing Tatum and Jessie J
A year later, the couple split due to constant separation. 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 the streets of Los Angeles, holding hands and having a pleasant conversation.
Channing and Jessie
But in the summer of 2021, it became known 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 feelings will lead, but in the fall of 2023, it was revealed that the actor had proposed to his beloved.
Channing Tatum and Zoe Kravitz
Channing Tatum Now
Lately, Channing Tatum has been less frequent on our screens. His plans include taking the director's chair. The action star persona is not what he wants to be remembered for in Hollywood history.
The release of the third part of the comedy "21 Jump Street" is still anticipated. At the beginning of the project, Tatum expressed doubts about its success: "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.
Also planned for 2024 was the premiere of the thriller "Blink Twice". This is Zoe Kravitz's directorial debut, which brought her together with Tatum. Channing was the first choice for the role of Slater King, a billionaire philanthropist with terrible skeletons in the closet. Channing said about his character:
Slater is a crazy character. He could be a psychopath, but he's like an extreme version of myself.
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.
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Renae Baker
2022-03-01 19:35:23
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Dawn Hammond
2021-04-15 09:05:44
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Steven Michael Gonzalez
2021-03-29 09:04:19
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Clara Garcia
2021-03-19 08:26:11
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Nicholas Ortega
2021-03-14 13:58:55
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Ann Leonard
2021-03-12 19:48:23
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