After studying architecture at Cranbrook the world-renowned art and
design school in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Charles moved to
California to pursue his career. Once in Los Angeles, he quickly
gravitated to the film industry and began working at Universal Studios
as a set designer and assistant art director.
His credits include working with
Ridley Scott on
Der Blade Runner (1982),
Mike Nichols on
Grüße aus Hollywood (1990),
Richard Attenborough on
Chaplin - Das Leben der unsterblichen Filmlegende (1992) and
James Cameron on
Terminator 2: Tag der Abrechnung (1991).
As an art director he worked with
Barry Levinson on
Enthüllung (1994),
Clint Eastwood on
Die Brücken am Fluss (1995)
and William Friedkin on
Jade (1995).
As a production designer, he designed the controversial, yet critically
acclaimed films,
Männer, Frauen und die Wahrheit über Sex (1998)
and Nurse Betty (2000), directed by
Neil LaBute.
He has designed a number of feature films, including the comedy,
Boat Trip (2002) and the effects driven
thriller,
Arac Attack - Angriff der achtbeinigen Monster (2002),
produced by Roland Emmerich and
Dean Devlin. In addition, he designed the
commercially successful comedies,
Eine wie keine (1999),
Ey Mann, wo is' mein Auto? (2000)
and Cinderella Story (2004).
He collaborated with director
Bryan Barber on
Idlewild (2006), a 1930's musical set in
the Prohibition South which stars popular recording artists,
Outkast. He also worked with Barber on several
music videos including "Ain't No Other Man" by
Christina Aguilera and "Mesmerized"
by Faith Evans.
Recently, he worked with director
Dan Pritzker on
Bolden (2019) and
Louis (2010), companion period films set in
turn-of-the-century New Orleans about legendary jazz musicians,
Buddy Bolden and
Louis Armstrong. He also worked
with director Fred Durst on
The Longshots (2008).
Nominated for an Emmy for Best Art Direction for HBO's
Im Sog der Gier (1997),
Charles is also a member of the Art Directors Branch of the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and sits on its Executive
Committee.
