Tatum is the oldest of eight children; he has French, Irish and Native American ancestry.
Tatum was athletic while growing up, during the 9th grade, he was sent to a military school, where he played on the football team. Tatum won a football scholarship to Glenville State College in West Virginia, although he soon lost interest in the sport and returned home, feeling that he'd disappointed his parents.

Tatum's first experience in the entertainment industry was modeling. He was first cast as a dancer in Ricky Martin's She Bangs music video; he was paid $400 for the job. He subsequently signed with a modeling agency in Miami, and appeared in Vogue magazine, and campaigns for Abercrombie and Fitch, Nautica, American Eagle Outfitters, and Emporio Armani.

His first feature film role was in 2005's high-school drama, Coach Carter. In the same year, Tatum had an unaccredited bit role in War of the Worlds. The film's producer, Lauren Shuler Donner, noticed Tatum and cast him in the film She's the Man, the film aired on March 17, 2006.

His next role will be in Step Up, a dance-themed drama which opens on August 11, 2006.

Public Name: Channing Tatum
Birth Name: Channing Bryan Isaac Tatum Anderson
Date of Birth: 26 April 1980
Place of Birth: Cullman, Alabama

Filmography

• Stop Loss (2008)
• The Battle in Seattle (2007)
• Untitled Kimberly Peirce Project (2007) 
• A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
• Step Up (2006)
• She's the Man (2006)
• War of the Worlds (2005) 
• Havoc (2005)
• Supercross (2005)
• Coach Carter (2005)
• "CSI: Miami" (1 episode, 2004)