Born on February 27, 1971, in Washington, D.C., Charles has lived a life that would be the subject of many books. As the son of an army colonel, whose father was featured in the Los Angeles Times in 1994 by Robin Wright, Charles's early life was marked by extensive travel, having visited numerous countries by the time he was 17. He has lived in England, Israel, and various parts of the United States.
Charles's educational background is equally diverse, having attended high school for a short period in Fort Worth before transferring to London Central High School in High Wycombe, England. He then pursued higher education at Tarrant County Junior College, where he received a vocal scholarship. Later, Charles enrolled at the University of Texas at Arlington, initially majoring in music.
However, Charles's academic path took an unexpected turn when he began to explore theatre as a means to enhance his singing career. It was not long before he became hooked on acting, and his professional career commenced on stage. Charles worked at some of the most renowned theatres in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, including Circle Theatre, Stage West, and The Hip Pocket Theatre. It was during his time at The Hip Pocket Theatre that he met and performed alongside his future wife, Rachel.
