Ernie Charles grew up in a family of five in rural Ohio, where he was crowned as the County Fair King. He attended Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio and received a Computer Science Degree. He loved playing football and baseball, but also found a love for acting during college. Upon graduation he moved to New York City where he trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and at Carnegie Hall with the Robert X. Modica Meisner Studio. He performed in numerous theatre shows. While pursuing his love for acting, he did some modeling. On display at the New York Mercantile Exchange Museum there is still a life size replica of him as a pipeline worker. Ernie currently resides in Los Angeles.