Charles Melton

Melton in 2019, photo by DFree/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Charles Michael Melton

Place of Birth: Juneau, Alaska, U.S.

Date of Birth: January 4, 1991

Ethnicity:
*father – English, remote French and Welsh
*mother – Korean

Charles Melton is an American model, actor, and college football player. He has starred on the shows Riverdale and History of the World, Part II, and in the films The Sun Is Also a Star, Bad Boys For Life, Heart of Champions, Secret Headquarters, and May December. In The Sun…, his character, Daniel Bae, is the son of Korean immigrants.

Charles was born in Juneau, Alaska, and was raised in Manhattan, Kansas, having also lived in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, South Korea for several years. Charles’s father, Philip Melton, who is American-born and was in the U.S. military, is white, and is of mostly English ancestry, with deep roots in North Carolina. Charles’s mother, Sukyong, is Korean. She moved to the U.S. with Charles’s father in 1990. A picture of Charles with his parents can be seen here.

Charles is said to have Cherokee Native American ancestry on his father’s side. It is not clear if this Cherokee ancestry has been verified/documented. All of Charles’s paternal great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents are listed as “White” on United States Censuses.

Charles has said:

…my mother is an immigrant. I’m an army brat – so I grew up traveling every two to four years. My father met my mother in Korea, and I remember being 12 years old and my mom was in the process of getting her American citizenship… I’m proud of my heritage… I’m proud of being American, and I’m proud of being Korean, and I’m also proud of being mixed race where I can represent two cultures – essentially the culture of what “American” is. Growing up, I never saw anybody that looked like me on TV, and to be part of that change that is happening right now in this industry is – I don’t take that lightly.

Charles’s paternal grandfather is Edward James Melton (the son of Jack Ernest Dennis Melton and Jane/Jonie F./M. Morris). Edward was born in North Carolina. Jack was the son of James/Jimmie Edmund/Edmond Melton and Nancy Jane Mason/Salter. Charles’s great-grandmother Jane Morris was the daughter of John Edmond/Edwin Morris and Della Maretha/Martetha R. “Dellie” Holderfield.

Charles’s paternal grandmother is Gladys Joyce Brann (the daughter of Philip Elmer Brann and Nessie/Nissie Joyner). Gladys was born in North Carolina. Philip was the son of Will/William Rasberry Brand/Brann, Jr. and Ida Dolly Tyson. Nessie was the daughter of Jim/James Joyner and Georgie/George/Georgia Frances Parris/Parish.

He has also stated:

To be on both sides, being Caucasian and Asian… It’s weird when some people try to measure your Asian-ness, when it’s like, “I’m Asian.” It’s so extreme. “Oh, you’re half, but you’re not Asian.” I am Asian. I’m probably more “Asian” than you. I grew up in Korea. I grew up speaking Korean and being spanked by my mom with the rice spoon. Then you have people in America that are second or third generation but they’re full Asian. Do they see themselves as more “Asian” than you when you’re just half or a quarter? When you grew up in Asia?… When I was in Korea, people knew I was Korean, but they knew I wasn’t full. When I’m somewhere like Kansas or Texas, they’re like “Oh, you’re Asian.” Depending on where you are in the world or the U.S. affects how people are going to measure your “Asian-ness.”

Sources: https://www.nytimes.com

Genealogy of Charles Melton – https://www.geni.com

Marriage record of Charles’s paternal grandparents, Edward James Melton and Gladys Joyce Brann – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Charles’s paternal great-grandparents, Jack Ernest Dennis Melton and Jane/Jonie F./M. Morris – https://www.familysearch.org

Charles’s paternal great-grandfather, Jack Ernest Dennis Melton, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Charles’s paternal great-grandmother, Jane/Jonie F./M. Morris, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Charles’s paternal great-great-grandparents, John Edmond/Edwin Morris and Della Maretha/Martetha R. “Dellie” Holderfield – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Charles’s paternal great-grandparents, Philip Elmer Brann and Nessie/Nissie Joyner – https://www.familysearch.org

Charles’s paternal great-grandfather, Philip Elmer Brann, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Charles’s paternal great-grandmother, Nessie/Nissie Joyner, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Nessie/Nissie Joyner on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org