Maxwell Caulfield Explained

Maxwell Caulfield
Birth Name:Maxwell P.J. Newby
Birth Date:1959 11, df=y
Birth Place:Belper, Derbyshire, England
Other Names:Maxwell Findlater
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:1967–present

Maxwell Caulfield (born Maxwell P.J. Newby; 23 November 1959) is a British-American actor. He has appeared in Grease 2 (1982), Electric Dreams (1984), The Boys Next Door (1985), The Supernaturals (1986), (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 (2002).

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]

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.[4]

Theatre

After obtaining a green card,[5] 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.[6] 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.[6]

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,[7] Rain, Inheritors and The Hasty Heart.[8] 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."[9] [10]

Caulfield made his Broadway debut in J. B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls opposite Siân Phillips.[9] 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, and in Joe Orton's black comedy Loot at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.[6] 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.

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.[11] In 2011, he appeared in an Off-Broadway production of the comedy Cactus Flower.[12]

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.

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).[13] [9]

He became a naturalized United States citizen on 5 September 1991.[3]

Stage credits

YearTitleRoleTheatre
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 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 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
1967AccidentTedCredited as Maxwell Findlater
1982Grease 2Michael Carrington
1984Electric DreamsBill
1985The Boys Next DoorRoy Tomas Alston
1986The SupernaturalsPvt. Ray Ellis
1989Shane
Mind GamesEric Garrison
1990Fatal SkyGeorge Abbott
1992Exiled in AmericaJoe Moore
Animal InstinctsDavid Cole
Dance with DeathShaughnessy
Waxwork 2Mickey
1993No Escape No ReturnWilliam Robert Sloan
GettysburgCol. Strong Vincent
Calendar GirlMan in Bathrobe
Midnight WitnessGarland
Alien IntruderNick Mancuzo
1995Empire RecordsRex Manning
1996Prey of the JaguarDerek Leigh / The Jaguar
Sweeney
1997Divine LoversJeff Thompson
The Man Who Knew Too LittleBritish Agent
The Real BlondeBob
1999More to LoveBarry Gordon
SmutUnfinished
DazzleTom
2000SubmergedJim Carpenter
The Perfect TenantDaniel Summer
Overnight SensationMark Connor
2001The HitKeith
Facing the EnemyHarlan Moss
2004Dragon StormSilas
2006Dog Lover's SymphonyTom
2007Nightmare City 2035Alex McDowell
Cry of the Winged SerpentGriffin
2009Dire WolfSheriff Parker
2013The Right RegretsChris WickhamShort film
2015Those Who WanderRex
2016The TormentorsRob Turner
2020AxcelleratorRay Moritz
2022Butlers in LoveMr. Willoughby
Love AccidentallyCraig
20237000 MilesBert
Craft Me a RomanceAlfred

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980Ryan's HopePunk4 episodes
1983Journey's EndCaptain StanhopeTV movie
The Powers of Matthew StarScotty FergusonEpisode: "Starr Knight"
1984The ParadeJeffTV movie
1985–1986DynastyMiles Colby9 episodes
1985–1987The Colbys49 episodes
1987HotelAlex MorrisonEpisode: "Pitfalls"
1988–1991Murder, She WroteDerek Padley/Roger Travis2 episodes
1989Judith Krantz's Till We Meet AgainAlain MaraisTV miniseries
1990CounterstrikeVan GelderEpisode: "Regal Connection"
MonstersTimothy DanforthEpisode: "Cellmates"
Beverly Hills, 90210Jason CroftEpisode: "Class of Beverly Hills"
Blue BayouPhil SerullaTV movie
1991Miles ColbyMiniseries
1994SirensMaxwell CaulfieldEpisode: "Crossing the Line"
Dr. Quinn, Medicine WomanAndrew Strauss / David Lewis2 episodes
1995–1998Spider-Man: The Animated SeriesAlistair Smythe / Ultimate Spider Slayer (voice)19 episodes
1996The Rockford Files: Godfather Knows BestIan LevinTV movie
The Lazarus ManGeneral CusterEpisode: "The Boy General"
1996–1997All My ChildrenPierce Riley
1998ArmandEpisode: "True Course"
Mike Hammer, Private EyeTony BerelliEpisode: "The Maya Connection"
Veronica's ClosetBrianEpisode: "Veronica's Bridal Shower"
1999The NannyRodney PembrokeEpisode: "The Fran in the Mirror"
2000Son of the BeachStevensEpisode: "A Star is Boned"
La Femme NikitaHelmut Volker2 episodes
Missing PiecesStuartTV movie
2000–2001Strip MallRafe Barrett22 episodes
2003–2004CasualtyJim Brodie58 episodes
2004Holby CityJim BrodieEpisode: "Casualty @ Holby City: Part 2"
2006The Great San Francisco EarthquakeMayor SchmitzTV movie
2009–10EmmerdaleMark Wylde169 episodes
2013NCISDr. Madison FieldingEpisode: "Revenge"
Modern FamilyProfessor CookeEpisode: "Bad Hair Day"
DeVanityRichard DeVanity2 episodes
2015A Prince for ChristmasKing of BalemontTV movie
I'm Not Ready for ChristmasGreydon DuPois
CastleSir Ian RasherEpisode: "The Wrong Stuff"
2021Lost & Found in RomeHoward ThorndykeTV movie
2021Dwight's Friend #1 Episode: "Take Me to Your Leader"
2022Pam & TommyBob GuccioneEpisode 5: "Uncle Jim and Aunt Susie In Duluth"

Audiobook narrations

Video games

Discography

Awards and nominations

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Index entry (Maxwell PJ Newby). 12 November 2023. FreeBMD. ONS.
  2. Web site: Index entry (Marcus RT Newby). 12 November 2023. FreeBMD. ONS.
  3. Court District: Central District of California, Court Place: Los Angeles, California (Petition Number: 00893343)
  4. https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/interview-singing-in-the-rains-maxwell-caulfield-1544274 Interview
  5. Web site: Superiorpics.com. Superiorpics.com. 8 October 2016.
  6. Celebrity Profiles, Maxwell Caulfield in SuperiorPics. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  7. https://dp.la/item/5326d950b0d309041c23ef95630a70a9 "Actors Sabra Jones and Maxwell Caulfield in a Scene from the Mirror Repertory Theatre Production of the Play "Paradise Lost" (New York)
  8. Bennetts, Leslie. "REPERTORY COMPANY BLOSSOMS", The New York Times, 26 June 1984. Web. 13 January 2017.
  9. Panarello, Joseph F., "Maxwell Caulfield Bares His Soul", Broadwayworld.com, 18 April 2006.
  10. https://www.nytimes.com/1981/09/04/arts/new-face-bringing-an-eerie-warmth-to-mr-sloane.html Review of Entertaining Mr. Sloane
  11. Chicago, Broadway.com [website], "Maxwell Caulfield, Jeff McCarthy on Deck to Play Billy Flynn in Chicago", 1 November 2007.
  12. Gans, Andrew, "Cactus Flower, With Maxwell Caulfield and Lois Robbins, to End-Off Broadway Run", 5 April 2011.
  13. Maxwell Caulfield biography, FilmReference.com. Retrieved 10 April 2011.