Shortly after Charles Melton received praise and recognition for his portrayal of Joe in Netflix’s May December, the actor reflected on his experience in Riverdale, saying that The CW show served as his learning ground.
The 32-year-old actor first received mainstream attention back in 2017 when he played Reggie Mantle in the second season of Riverdale, replacing Season 1 actor Ross Butler. But while the show based on Archie Comics has received mixed reception since its debut in 2017, Melton used his time on the series to hone his acting abilities.
“Obviously, it frees up more time for projects like May December, but I learned so much being there. I formed relationships that I will have until the end of my days. It really helped me refine this work ethic,” Melton told i-D. “Riverdale truly was my Juilliard — I was learning and growing and playing and taking risks. I was allowed to do that. We just had our final season, so you know, it’s … bittersweet. But I’m so happy it brought joy to so many people.”
May December helped Charles Melton’s career reach new heights
Melton had been in Riverdale for the past seven years. During his time on The CW show, which concluded in August 2023, the actor went on to appear in various films and television shows like The Sun Is Also a Star, Bad Boys for Life, Heart of Champions, and American Horror Story: Hotel before ultimately landing the Joe role in the Netflix film.
Due to his impressive performance, Melton received a Best Supporting Actor award at the Gotham Awards and a Golden Globe nomination for the Best Supporting Actor category.
May December is a Todd Haynes-directed film loosely based on the life of Mary Kay Letourneau and the shocking tabloid scandal that occurred in the late 1990s. In the film, Melton plays 36-year-old Joe Yoo, who started dating 36-year-old Gracie when he was just 13.
“Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, a married couple buckles under the pressure when an actress arrives to do research for a film about their past,” the synopsis for May December reads.
Starring alongside Melton are Julianne Moore as Gracie, Natalie Portman as Elizabeth, Gabriel Chung as Charlie, Piper Curda as Honor, Elizabeth Yu as Mary, Cory Michael Smith as Georgie, and D. W. Moffett as Tom.
