Charlie is first introduced in the season two episode "Turnabout" (1993), as the owner of a martial arts dojo "DeSalvo Martial Arts" in the fictional city of Seacouver, Washington, United States. Charlie's background is revealed in pieces over several episodes. He grew up in a poor neighborhood nicknamed "the Zone", where residents (mostly of black or Italian descent) largely believe in taking care of their own "kind" and viewing others with suspicion. Growing up, Charlie is targeted by other children for being mixed race due to having a black mother and an Italian father. The script for "" (1993) notes that Charlie's mixed heritage is "a thorny issue." Beaten up by both Italian and black kids in the neighborhood for not fully assimilating with either ethnicity, he later says he preferred not to spend time in the Zone when he had other options.