Charles A. Landry was born in Crowley, Louisiana, and grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana. He is an alumnus of LSU, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business in 1975 and a juris doctorate in 1977.

Landry is an attorney with Fishman Haygood Phelps Walmsley Willis & Swanson, L.L.P. He has four children.

Landry's Affiliations include Greater Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, Council for a Better Louisiana, America's Initiative, Inc., Louisiana Futures Institute, Baton Rouge Metro YMCA, Louisiana State Bar Association, Capitol Area United Way, Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, Planning Commission Zoning Ordinance Task Force, Boys and Girls Club of Baton Rouge, Champac, Inc., Friends of the LSU Museum of Art, Corrective Legislative Association, Baton Rouge Ballet, Community Fund for the Arts Campaign, Community Partnership Coalition Anti-Drug Task Force, Louisiana Arts and Science Center, Volunteer! Baton Rouge, and Young Men's Christian Association.