Maxwell Julien Banks (July 12, 1933 – January 1, 2022), better known by his stage name Max Julien, was an American actor, sculptor, and clothes designer best known for his role as Goldie in the 1973 blaxploitation film The Mack.
Early life
Julien was born in Washington, DC on July 12, 1933.
He became a member of Xi chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi at Howard University on December 4, 1954.
Career
He began his career on the stage on New York City's
Off-Broadway circuit including roles in
Joseph Papp's
Shakespeare-In-The-Park. Moving westward to Hollywood, he landed co-starring roles with
Jack Nicholson in
Psych-Out and
Candice Bergen in Columbia's box-office hit film
Getting Straight.
While spending time in Rome, Italy, he wrote and directed a documentary called Trestevre, then wrote the screenplay for, and subsequently co-produced, Warner Brothers's blaxploitation classic Cleopatra Jones, which starred actress Tamara Dobson in the title role as a narcotics agent who was as skilled in martial arts as she was with firearms. Julien refused to participate in the sequel, Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold, which led to his being credited instead with the film's story and script both being "based on characters created by Max Julien".
Aside from The Mack, Julien also appeared in Def Jam's How to Be a Player and he guest starred on TV shows such as The Mod Squad, , and One on One.
Death
Julien died in Los Angeles on January 1, 2022, at the age of 88.
Along with his wife, he was survived by a daughter.
Personal life
Julien was in a live-in relationship with actress
Vonetta McGee from 1974 to 1977. McGee appeared with him in the 1974 western action film
Thomasine & Bushrod, which was intended as a counterpart to the 1967 film
Bonnie and Clyde. He married Arabella Chavers in 1991. The couple resided in
Los Angeles.
Filmography
-
The Black Klansman (1966) - Raymond
-
Psych-Out (1968) - Elwood
-
The Savage Seven (1968) - Grey Wolf
-
Up Tight! (1968) - Johnny Wells
-
The Mod Squad (TV) - Jack Dawson (1968) 1 episode
-
(TV) - Coley Walker (1969) pilot episode ""
-
CBS Playhouse (TV) - Joe Barnes (1969) 1 episode
-
Getting Straight (1970) - Ellis
-
The Name of the Game (TV) - Mjoma (1970) 1 episode
-
The Mack (1973) - Goldie
-
Cleopatra Jones (1973) Screenwriter
-
Thomasine & Bushrod (1974) - Bushrod
-
Def Jam's How to Be a Player (1997) - Uncle Fred
-
Restore (2001) - Coach Barnes
-
One on One (TV) - Goldie (2005) 1 episode
External links
