Maxwell Caulfield (born Maxwell P.J. Newby; 23 November 1959) is a British actor. He has appeared in Grease 2 (1982), Electric Dreams (1984), The Boys Next Door (1985), The Supernaturals (1986), Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat (1989), Waxwork 2 (1992), Gettysburg (1993), Empire Records (1995), The Real Blonde (1997), The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997), and in A Prince for Christmas (2015). In 2015, Caulfield toured Australia with his wife Juliet Mills and sister-in-law Hayley Mills in the comedy Legends! by Pulitzer Prize winner James Kirkwood. He voiced James Bond in the video game James Bond 007: Nightfire (2002). He most recently stars in the Netflix movie The Merry Gentlemen (2024).
Maxwell Caulfield | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Caulfield in 2010 | |
| Born | Maxwell P.J. Newby 23 November 1959 Belper, Derbyshire, England |
| Other names | Maxwell Findlater |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1967–present |
| Spouse | |
Early life
Maxwell P.J. Newby was born on 23 November 1959 in Belper, Derbyshire, the elder son of Peter Newby and Oriole Rosalind Findlater.[1] His younger brother, Marcus, is also an actor.[2] By 1965, his parents had parted and his mother legally abandoned the surname Newby in favour of her maiden name. Although he did not work regularly as a child actor, at the age of seven he played "Ted" in the 1967 film Accident and was billed as Maxwell Findlater.[3][4]
Caulfield's American stepfather reportedly kicked him out of the house at the age of 15. Caulfield became an exotic dancer at London's Windmill Theatre to obtain an Equity card enabling him to work as an actor.[5]
Theatre
After obtaining a green card,[6] he made his New York City debut in Hot Rock Hotel (1978) after moving from the UK to the United States, and the following year made his stage debut in Class Enemy (1979), in which he played the lead role; he won a Theatre World Award for his performance.[7] He made his Los Angeles debut in Hitting Town (1980) and appeared in The Elephant Man (1980) that same year, during which he met his future wife, actress Juliet Mills.[7]
In the early 1980s, Caulfield was an active member of the Mirror Repertory Company, part of The Mirror Theater Ltd, performing in numerous repertory productions including Paradise Lost,[8] Rain, Inheritors and The Hasty Heart.[9] He made his debut Off-Broadway in 1981 as the title character, a homicidal drifter, in Joe Orton's Entertaining Mr. Sloane (alongside Joseph Maher and Barbara Bryne). His performance was widely praised; one critic wrote:
"Maxwell Caulfield is the ideal spider in the web", wrote one critic, saying he [Caulfield] was "as disarming of himself as he is of others – which gives this revival that tragic tinge of great comedy."[3][10]
Caulfield made his Broadway debut in J. B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls opposite Siân Phillips.[3] He appeared with Jessica Tandy and Elizabeth Wilson in Salonika at the Public Theater in New York, appearing fully nude for much of the play,[11] and in Joe Orton's black comedy Loot at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.[7] In 2006, Caulfield drew attention over his bare-chested scene in the Off-Broadway two-hander Tryst, opposite Amelia Campbell. In 2007, he performed in the Charles Busch play Our Leading Lady with Kate Mulgrew.[11]
In 2007, Caulfield made his West End stage debut as Billy Flynn in the long-running London production of Chicago; he then resumed the role of Flynn for the Broadway production in November 2007.[12] In 2011, he appeared in an Off-Broadway production of the comedy Cactus Flower.[13]
On Sunday 14th April 2024, Caulfield appeared in the 10th Anniversary Concert of Cool Rider (the Greasiest Sequel) at the London Palladium, this time assuming the role of Mr Stuart and taking on the song 'Reproduction'.
Television
Caulfield has appeared on Dynasty (1985–1986), The Colbys (1985–1987), Murder, She Wrote (1988–1991), Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990), The Rockford Files: Godfather Knows Best (1996), Spider-Man (1995–1998), Casualty (2003–2004), Emmerdale (2009–2010) and NCIS (2013). He guest-starred on Modern Family (Season 4, Episode 16, "Bad Hair Day") playing Claire's ex-boyfriend and college professor.[14]
Personal life
Caulfield has been married since 1980 to actress Juliet Mills, daughter of actor Sir John Mills and writer Lady Mills (née Mary Hayley Bell), and is a brother-in-law of Jonathan Mills and actress Hayley Mills. Caulfield is stepfather to Melissa (née Miklenda; Mills' daughter from her second marriage) and Sean Caulfield (born Sean Alquist; Mills' son from her first marriage).[15][3]
He became a naturalized United States citizen on 5 September 1991.[4]
Stage credits
| Year | Title | Role | Theatre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Hot Rock Hotel | Demetrius | Truck and Warehouse Theatre, New York City |
| 1979 | Class Enemy | Iron (Herron) | Off-Broadway: Players' Theatre, West Village, New York City |
| 1980 | The Elephant Man | John Merrick | Florida tour |
| 1980 | Hitting Town | Ralph | Zephyr Theatre, Los Angeles |
| 1980 | Crimes and Dreams | Frazer | Off-Broadway: Theater Four, New York City |
| 1981–1982 | Entertaining Mr Sloane | Sloane | Off-Broadway: Cherry Lane Theatre, New York City |
| 1982 | Journey's End | Captain Stanhope | Cast Theatre, Los Angeles |
| 1983 | 1984 | Winston Smith | Cast Theatre, Los Angeles |
| 1983 | Paradise Lost | Ben Gordon | Theatre at St. Peters Church, New York City |
| 1983 | Inheritors | Horace | Theatre at St. Peters Church, New York City |
| 1985 | Salonika | Peter | Off-Broadway: The Public Theater, New York City |
| 1987 | Loot | Dennis | Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles |
| 1987 | Entertaining Mr Sloane | Sloane | Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles |
| 1988 | Sleuth | Milo Tindle | US National Tour |
| 1991 | Never the Sinner | Richard Loeb | Citadel Theatre, Edmonton (Canada) |
| 1995 | An Inspector Calls | Gerald Croft | Broadway: Royale Theatre, New York City |
| 1995 | Sweet Bird of Youth | Chance Wayne | Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, Massachusetts |
| 1997 | My Night with Reg | John | Off-Broadway: INTAR Theatre, New York City |
| 1998 | Dial M for Murder | Cape Cod Playhouse, Dennis, Massachusetts | |
| 2002 | He Hunts | Duchotel | Geffen Playhouse, Los Angeles |
| 2006 | Tryst | George Love | Off-Broadway: Promenade Theatre, New York City |
| 2006 | My Deah | Gator Hedgepeth | Off-Broadway: June Havoc Theatre, New York City |
| 2007 | Our Leading Lady | Harry Hawk | Off-Broadway: New York City Center - Stage II, New York City |
| 2007 | La Cage aux Folles | Georges | Ogunquit Playhouse, Ogunquit, Maine |
| 2007 | Chicago | Billy Flynn | West End: Cambridge Theatre, London |
| 2007 | Chicago | Billy Flynn | Broadway: Ambassador Theatre, New York City |
| 2008 | A Little Night Music | Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm | Center Stage, Baltimore |
| 2010 | Bedroom Farce | Nick | UK national tour |
| 2010 | The Rocky Horror Show | The Narrator | UK national tour |
| 2011 | Cactus Flower | Dr. Julian Winston | Off-Broadway: Westside Theatre, New York City |
| 2013–2014 | Singin' in the Rain | R.F. Simpson | UK national tour |
| 2015 | The Odd Couple | Felix Ungar | Laguna Playhouse, Laguna Beach, California |
| 2015 | Legends! | Klemmer | Australian tour |
| 2015 | My Fair Lady | Henry Higgins | Atwood Concert Hall, Anchorage, Alaska |
| 2016 | Guys and Dolls | Nathan Detroit | UK national tour |
| 2018 | Hangmen | Albert | Off-Broadway: Linda Gross Theater, New York City |
| 2019 | The Lady Vanishes | Dr. Hartz | UK national tour |
| 2024 | Cool Rider | Mr Stuart | London Palladium |
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Accident | Ted | Credited as Maxwell Findlater |
| 1982 | Grease 2 | Michael Carrington | |
| 1984 | Electric Dreams | Bill | |
| 1985 | The Boys Next Door | Roy Tomas Alston | |
| 1986 | The Supernaturals | Pvt. Ray Ellis | |
| 1989 | Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat | Shane | |
| Mind Games | Eric Garrison | ||
| 1990 | Fatal Sky | George Abbott | |
| 1992 | Exiled in America | Joe Moore | |
| Animal Instincts | David Cole | ||
| Dance with Death | Shaughnessy | ||
| Waxwork 2 | Mickey | ||
| 1993 | No Escape No Return | William Robert Sloan | |
| Gettysburg | Col. Strong Vincent | ||
| Calendar Girl | Man in Bathrobe | ||
| Midnight Witness | Garland | ||
| Alien Intruder | Nick Mancuzo | ||
| 1995 | Empire Records | Rex Manning | |
| 1996 | Prey of the Jaguar | Derek Leigh / The Jaguar | |
| Oblivion 2: Backlash | Sweeney | ||
| 1997 | Divine Lovers | Jeff Thompson | |
| The Man Who Knew Too Little | British Agent | ||
| The Real Blonde | Bob | ||
| 1999 | More to Love | Barry Gordon | |
| Smut | Unfinished | ||
| Dazzle | Tom | ||
| 2000 | Submerged | Jim Carpenter | |
| The Perfect Tenant | Daniel Summer | ||
| Overnight Sensation | Mark Connor | ||
| 2001 | The Hit | Keith | |
| Facing the Enemy | Harlan Moss | ||
| 2004 | Dragon Storm | Silas | |
| 2006 | Dog Lover's Symphony | Tom | |
| 2007 | Nightmare City 2035 | Alex McDowell | |
| Cry of the Winged Serpent | Griffin | ||
| 2009 | Dire Wolf | Sheriff Parker | |
| 2013 | The Right Regrets | Chris Wickham | Short film |
| 2015 | Those Who Wander | Rex | |
| 2016 | The Tormentors | Rob Turner | |
| 2020 | Axcellerator | Ray Moritz | |
| 2022 | Butlers in Love | Mr. Willoughby | |
| Love Accidentally | Craig | ||
| 2023 | 7000 Miles | Bert | |
| Craft Me a Romance | Alfred | ||
| 2024 | The Merry Gentlemen | Danny |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Ryan's Hope | Punk | 4 episodes |
| 1983 | Journey's End | Captain Stanhope | TV movie |
| The Powers of Matthew Star | Scotty Ferguson | Episode: "Starr Knight" | |
| 1984 | The Parade | Jeff | TV movie |
| 1985–1986 | Dynasty | Miles Colby | 9 episodes |
| 1985–1987 | The Colbys | 49 episodes | |
| 1987 | Hotel | Alex Morrison | Episode: "Pitfalls" |
| 1988–1991 | Murder, She Wrote | Derek Padley/Roger Travis | 2 episodes |
| 1989 | Judith Krantz's Till We Meet Again | Alain Marais | TV miniseries |
| 1990 | Counterstrike | Van Gelder | Episode: "Regal Connection" |
| Monsters | Timothy Danforth | Episode: "Cellmates" | |
| Beverly Hills, 90210 | Jason Croft | Episode: "Class of Beverly Hills" | |
| Blue Bayou | Phil Serulla | TV movie | |
| 1991 | Dynasty: The Reunion | Miles Colby | Miniseries |
| 1994 | Sirens | Maxwell Caulfield | Episode: "Crossing the Line" |
| Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman | Andrew Strauss / David Lewis | 2 episodes | |
| 1995–1998 | Spider-Man: The Animated Series | Alistair Smythe / Ultimate Spider Slayer (voice) | 19 episodes |
| 1996 | The Rockford Files: Godfather Knows Best | Ian Levin | TV movie |
| The Lazarus Man | General Custer | Episode: "The Boy General" | |
| 1996–1997 | All My Children | Pierce Riley | |
| 1998 | Love Boat: The Next Wave | Armand | Episode: "True Course" |
| Mike Hammer, Private Eye | Tony Berelli | Episode: "The Maya Connection" | |
| Veronica's Closet | Brian | Episode: "Veronica's Bridal Shower" | |
| 1999 | The Nanny | Rodney Pembroke | Episode: "The Fran in the Mirror" |
| 2000 | Son of the Beach | Stevens | Episode: "A Star is Boned" |
| La Femme Nikita | Helmut Volker | 2 episodes | |
| Missing Pieces | Stuart | TV movie | |
| 2000–2001 | Strip Mall | Rafe Barrett | 22 episodes |
| 2003–2004 | Casualty | Jim Brodie | 58 episodes |
| 2004 | Holby City | Jim Brodie | Episode: "Casualty @ Holby City: Part 2" |
| 2006 | The Great San Francisco Earthquake | Mayor Schmitz | TV movie |
| 2009–10 | Emmerdale | Mark Wylde | 169 episodes |
| 2013 | NCIS | Dr. Madison Fielding | Episode: "Revenge" |
| Modern Family | Professor Cooke | Episode: "Bad Hair Day" | |
| DeVanity | Richard DeVanity | 2 episodes | |
| 2015 | A Prince for Christmas | King of Balemont | TV movie |
| I'm Not Ready for Christmas | Greydon DuPois | ||
| Castle | Sir Ian Rasher | Episode: "The Wrong Stuff" | |
| 2021 | Lost & Found in Rome | Howard Thorndyke | TV movie |
| 2021 | American Horror Story: Double Feature | Dwight's Friend #1 | Episode: "Take Me to Your Leader" |
| 2022 | Pam & Tommy | Bob Guccione | Episode 5: "Uncle Jim and Aunt Susie In Duluth" |
| 2023 | The Bay | Sir Thomas Kenway | 7 episodes |
Audiobook narrations
- Anonymous Rex by Eric Garcia (2000)
- The Lion of Cormarre and Other Stories: The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke (1937–1949) (2001)
- Mimus by Lilli Thal (2007)
- Spud by John van de Ruit (2008)
- Sebastian Darke: Prince of Fools by Philip Caveney (2008)
- Spud: The Madness Continues by John van de Ruit (2009)
- The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells (2012)
Video games
- James Bond 007: Nightfire (2002) as James Bond
- Eragon (2006) as Brom
Discography
- 1982: "Charades" on the Grease 2 soundtrack (as Michael Carrington)
- 1982: "(Love Will) Turn Back the Hands of Time" with Michelle Pfeiffer on the Grease 2 soundtrack
- 1982: "Who's That Guy?" with Cast on the Grease 2 soundtrack
- 1982: "Reproduction" with Cast on the Grease 2 soundtrack
- 1982: "Rock-A-Hula-Luau (Summer Is Coming)" with Cast on the Grease 2 soundtrack
- 1982: "We'll Be Together" with Cast on the Grease 2 soundtrack
- 1995: "Say No More (Mon Amore)" in Alan Moyle's Empire Records (as Rex Manning)
Awards and nominations
- Theater World Award (1979) for his performance in Class Enemy (Players Theatre, West Village, New York City).[3]
References
External links
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