Maxwell Caulfield

Maxwell Caulfield, born Maxwell P.J. Newby on November 23, 1959, in Belper, Derbyshire, England, began his performing career in London in a unique way. His stage debut involved dancing in a “nude show” set to music by Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd at the Windmill Theatre, which helped him secure an Equity card. At age 18, he relocated to the United States after obtaining a green card, making his New York City debut in the gay farce “Hot Rock Hotel” in 1978. The following year, his performance in “Class Enemy” earned him a Theatre World Award. His early stage work also included appearances in “The Elephant Man” in 1980, where he met his wife, Juliet Mills. During the early 1980s, Caulfield was an active member of the Mirror Repertory Company, performing in numerous productions including “Paradise Lost” and “Entertaining Mr. Sloane,” for which he received critical acclaim. He later made his Broadway debut in J. B. Priestley’s “An Inspector Calls.”

Caulfield transitioned to film with his debut in “Grease 2” in 1982, playing Michael Carrington. While the film initially did not achieve significant success, it later gained cult status. He also appeared in films such as “Electric Dreams” (1984), “The Boys Next Door” (1985), and “Empire Records” (1995), where he played Rex Manning, a role that spawned the annual ‘Rex Manning Day’ celebration. His television career includes notable roles like Miles Colby in the ABC series “The Colbys” (1985–1987), a spin-off of “Dynasty,” and guest appearances on shows like “Murder, She Wrote” and “Beverly Hills, 90210.” In the 2000s, he returned to British television with roles in “Casualty” (2003–2004) for the BBC and “Emmerdale” (2009–2010) on ITV. More recently, he has appeared in “Pam & Tommy” (2022) and “Landman” (2024).

Throughout his career, Caulfield has maintained a strong presence in theatre, taking on diverse roles such as Billy Flynn in “Chicago” on both West End and Broadway, and John Merrick in “The Elephant Man.” He continues to perform in various stage productions, including multiple tours across the UK and US in comedies, dramas, and musicals. His versatility has allowed him to move from a teen idol image to a established character actor. In 2015, he toured Australia with his wife Juliet Mills and sister-in-law Hayley Mills in the comedy “Legends!” by Pulitzer Prize winner James Kirkwood. He also voiced James Bond in the 2002 video game “James Bond 007: Nightfire” and performed songs for the soundtracks of “Grease 2” and “Empire Records.” He became a naturalized United States citizen on September 5, 1991.