Guide Note

Before starring in the films She's The Man, Step Up and A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, Channing Tatum was a print and television model for such brands as Abercrombie & Fitch, Gap and Pepsi. Tatum also starred in the 2008 Iraq War drama Stop Loss alongside Ryan Phillippe.

Fast Facts

1. Birth name: Channing Matthew Tatum
2. Born: April 26, 1980
3. Birthplace: Cullman, Alabama
4. Grew up in Mississippi
5. Heritage: French, Irish and Native American
6. Former Vogue Magazine model
7. Played football in high school
8. Attended Glenville State College on a football scholarship
9. Knows the martial art of Kung Fu
10. Began modeling in 2002
11. Height: 5 feet 11 inches
12. Nickname: Chan
13. Dating Step Up costar Jenna Dewan¹

Tatum is set to play Pretty Boy Floyd in Michael Mann's upcoming drama Public Enemies.² He will also portray Duke in the G.I. Joe movie, due out in 2009.³

• • Duke in G.J. Joe (2009)
  • Sean Arthur in Fighting (2008)
  • Sgt. Steve Shriver in Stop Loss (2008)
  • Tyler Gage in Step Up and Step Up 2: The Streets (2008)
  • Young Antonio in A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
  • Duke in She's The Man (2006)
  • Nick in Havoc (2005)
  • Jason Lyle in Coach Carter (2005)
  • Rowdy Sparks in Supercross (2005)

"Duke is essentially me in high school. I never felt comfortable around girls. I’d either find myself talking too much or not enough."—Channing Tatum on how he was in high school.⁴

"I don't know. The focus, the determination, the adrenaline — all those very basic emotions, I just loved them."—Channing Tatum on why be began taking martial arts classes.⁵

"To be honest though, I still don't think I fit into the Abercrombie category. You'll see in the pictures how everyone looks a certain way and then there's this bald ghetto kid in the corner."— Channing Tatum on being an Abercrombie & Fitch model.⁵