26 April 1980, Cullman, Alabama, USA
Birth Name
Channing Matthew Tatum
Nickname
Chan
Height
6' 1" (1.85 m)
Spouse
Jenna Dewan-Tatum (11 July 2009 - present)
Biography
Channing Tatum was born in a small town called Cullman, outside of Birmingham, Alabama. Growing up, he was full of energy and somewhat troublesome, so his parents decided to enroll him in different sports such as track and field, baseball, soccer, and football to keep him out of trouble. In the ninth grade he was sent to catholic school. It was there that he discovered his passion for football and his hopes became centered on earning an athletic college scholarship. Channing's goal was finally met, and in his senior year in high school, he was recruited and earned a full athletic college scholarship to a school in West Virginia.
Tatum is also skilled in Kung Fu and in Gor-Chor Kung Fu, a form of martial arts, in which he has earned belts in both. Channing later left college and, in the meantime, worked as a construction worker, a stripper, a mortgage broker and salesman. He has modeled for Abercrombie & Fitch, Nautica, Gap, Aeropostale, Emporio Armani, and has been featured in television commercials for American Eagle, Pepsi, and some very popular mountain dew commercials.
He began his career as a fashion model and appearing in television commercials for Pepsi and Mountain Dew before turning to film roles. In 2000, Tatum was first cast as a dancer in Ricky Martin's "She Bangs" music video, after an audition in Orlando, Florida; he was paid $400 for the job. He made his feature film debut in the sports drama, Coach Carter (2005).
More about Channing Tatum's Life
- Is of Native American, Irish, and French descent.
- Was sent to a military school in ninth grade, where he joined the football team and intended to get a scholarship to play after graduation.
- Moved from Alabama to Mississippi at age 6, where his family lived on a bayou.
- Has modeled for Abercrombie & Fitch, Dolce & Gabbana and Aeropostale. In 2002, starred in commercials for both Mountain Dew ("Drive") and Pepsi ("Scratching").
- His first fashion show was at Level Nightclub in South Beach, Miami (November 2000) for Men's Health magazine. His friend Vincent De Paul asked him to do the show with him. After the fashion show he began booking editorials for Ocean Drive magazine and his modeling career began.
- Big break was being cast in Ricky Martin's video for "She Bangs," where he was paid $400 for a 7-day shoot.
- Had worked as a construction worker, a mortgage broker, a salesman at the cologne counter of Dillard's, and a worker in a puppy/kitty nursery before started a modeling career.
- Auditioned for the role of Gambit in X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) before the role was eliminated.
- Became good friends with Adam Scarimbolo, and Shia LaBeouf on the set of A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006).
- He is the older step-brother of actor/singer Christopher Anderson.
- Received a full athletic football scholarship at Glenville State College in West Virginia, but he dropped out of college.
- When in grade 9, he was given the option of either Military school or a private school; Channing chose the Military school.
- During his time in school, he played football, soccer, track, and baseball.
- His first fashion show was at Level Nightclub in South Beach, Miami, for Men's Health magazine.
- Favourite childhood film was The Goonies (1985).
- When he was a child, his grandparents raised him during the summers.
- Stills spends his summer time with his grandparents back in Alabama.
- Made the transition from modeling to acting because he didn't find modeling challenging enough for him.
- Signed with Innovative Artists, a talent agency, to improve his acting career.
- Has played a character called Duke twice, once in She's the Man (2006) and again in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009).
- Has a dog named Meeka with his wife Jenna Dewan-Tatum.
Personal Life
In 2006, Tatum met actress Jenna Dewan on the set of Step Up. They began dating shortly after filming had finished. The couple became engaged in early September 2008 in Maui, Hawaii. On Saturday, July 11, 2009, they were married on the grounds of Church Estates Vineyards, in Malibu, California.
Personal Quotes
I got crazy lucky. Like, sometimes I think I won the lottery or something. At times it feels like the bottom's gonna fall out. Just 'cause I don't really know how I got here. But I just keep moving forward, and it just keeps getting better and better. (2009 - on his career)
