Channing Tatum made his feature film debut in Thomas Carter's high school sports drama Coach Carter, starring Samuel L. Jackson. He was then seen in the films Havoc and Supercross. Tatum more recently received critical praise for his role in the independent film A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, which won the Special Jury Prize for Ensemble Performance and the Director's Award for Drama at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. The film's ensemble cast also includes Robert Downey Jr., Rosario Dawson, Shia LaBeouf, Chazz Palminteri, Dianne Wiest and Eric Roberts. Tatum next stars in an as-yet-untitled music high project, which is slated for release in fall 2006.

Born in Cullman, Alabama, Tatum moved at the age of six to Mississippi, where his family lived on a bayou. Tatum began his career as a model and was featured in ad campaigns for Abercrombie & Fitch, Dolce & Gabbana and Aéropostale. He later starred in three commercials for Pepsi and Mountain Dew. His first acting role was a guest spot on CSI: Miami.