Maxwell Caulfield

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).

He is best remembered internationally for his starring role as Miles Colby during the 1980s on the American TV series ''Dynasty'' and its spin off ''The Colbys''.

Early life, family and education

Maxwell P.J. Newby was born on 23 November 1959 in Belper, Derbyshire, the elder son of Peter Newby and Oriole Rosalind Findlater. His younger brother, Marcus, is also an actor. By 1965, his parents had parted, and his mother legally abandoned the surname Newby in favour of her maiden name.

Caulfield's American stepfather reportedly kicked him out of the house at the age of 15.

Career

Theatre

His stage debut in London was dancing in a "nude show" to music by Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. Being an exotic dancer at London's Windmill Theatre led to him obtaining an Equity card, enabling him to work as an actor. After obtaining a green card, relocated from the UK to the US at age 18, making his New York City debut in a gay farce, ''Hot Rock Hotel'' (1978). The following year, in ''Class Enemy'' (1979) (which eventually went Off-Broadway), he played the lead role and won a Theatre World Award for his performance. 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.

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'', ''Rain'', ''Inheritors'' and ''The Hasty Heart''. 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:

Caulfield made his Broadway debut in J. B. Priestley's ''An Inspector Calls'' opposite Siân Phillips. He performed opposite Stacy Keach in ''Sleuth'' in Los Angeles in 1988. 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. 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 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. In 2011, he appeared in an Off-Broadway production of the comedy '' Cactus Flower''.

On 14 April 2024, Caulfield appeared in the 10th Anniversary Concert of '' Cool Rider (the Greasiest Sequel)'' at the London Palladium, playing the role Mr. Stuart and performing 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.

Feature films

Caulfield is especially known for his role in ''Grease 2'' (1982). Some of his other films include ''The Real Blonde'' with Matthew Modine and Daryl Hannah (1997; opened the Sundance Film Festival) '' Gettysburg'' (1993), and ''The Man Who Knew Too Little'' (1997). Another memorable role is in ''Empire Records'' (1995).

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.Petition Number 00893343, Central District of California, Los Angeles, California

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).

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

Stage credits

Filmography

Film

Television

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).

Notes

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Caulfield, Maxwell
1959 births
Living people
Actors from Belper
English male film actors
English male musical theatre actors
British male soap opera actors
English male stage actors
English male television actors
English male video game actors
English male voice actors
Male actors from Derbyshire
Naturalized citizens of the United States
20th-century English male actors
21st-century English male actors
British emigrants to the United States