Max Julien
Encyclopedia
Max Julien is an American
actor
, best known for his role as Goldie in the 1973 blaxploitation
film, The Mack
. He also appeared in Def Jam's How to Be a Player and has guest starred on TV shows such as The Mod Squad
and One on One
.
in New York's Off-Broadway circuit including 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 and subsequently co-produced Warner Brothers' blaxplotation classic Cleopatra Jones
which starred actress Tamara Dobson
. Refusing to participate in the sequel Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold
he was credited with "based on characters created by Max Julien."
stated that Julien was "a standout in a standout cast." Raoul Gripenwaldt from the Santa Monica Evening Outlook once wrote: "Max Julien's portrayal of Johnny Wells in Paramount's Uptight could very well result in an Academy Award." The Hollywood Reporter chimed in: "Max Julien creates a memorable piece of reality." As a reward he was invited to Europe to discuss film possibilities.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, best known for his role as Goldie in the 1973 blaxploitation
Blaxploitation
Blaxploitation or blacksploitation is a film genre which emerged in the United States circa 1970. It is considered an ethnic sub-genre of the general category of exploitation films. Blaxploitation films were originally made specifically for an urban black audience, although the genre's audience...
film, The Mack
The Mack
The Mack is a 1973 blaxploitation film starring Max Julien and Richard Pryor. Although the movie was produced during the era of such blaxploitation movies as Dolemite, its producers do not label it a true blaxploitation picture...
. He also appeared in Def Jam's How to Be a Player and has guest starred on TV shows such as The Mod Squad
The Mod Squad
The Mod Squad is a television series that ran on ABC from September 24, 1968, until August 23, 1973. This series starred Michael Cole, Peggy Lipton, Clarence Williams III, and Tige Andrews...
and One on One
One on One (TV series)
One on One is an American sitcom that aired on the now-defunct UPN from its September 3, 2001 premiere until May 15, 2006. The series stars Flex Alexander as a single sportscaster, who becomes a full-time dad when his ex-wife decides to accept a job out of the country and his teenage daughter...
.
Film career
A classically trained actor, Julien began his career on the stagein New York's Off-Broadway circuit including Joseph Papp
Joseph Papp
Joseph Papp was an American theatrical producer and director. Papp established The Public Theater in what had been the Astor Library Building in downtown New York . "The Public," as it is known, has many small theatres within it...
's Shakespeare-In-The-Park. Moving westward to Hollywood, he landed co-starring roles with Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson
John Joseph "Jack" Nicholson is an American actor, film director, producer and writer. He is renowned for his often dark portrayals of neurotic characters. Nicholson has been nominated for an Academy Award twelve times, and has won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice: for One Flew Over the...
in Psych-Out
Psych-Out
Psych-Out is a feature film about hippies, psychedelic music, and recreational drugs, produced and released by American International Pictures. Originally scripted as The Love Children, the title when tested caused people to think it was about bastards, so Samuel Z...
and Candice Bergen
Candice Bergen
Candice Patricia Bergen is an American actress and former fashion model.She is known for starring in two TV series, as the title character on the situation comedy Murphy Brown , for which she won five Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards; and as Shirley Schmidt on the comedy-drama Boston Legal...
in Columbia's box-office hit film Getting Straight
Getting Straight
Getting Straight is a 1970 American comedy-drama motion picture directed by Richard Rush, released by Columbia Pictures.The story centered upon student politics at a university in the early 1970s, seen through the eyes of non-conformist graduate student Harry Bailey...
.
While spending time in Rome, Italy, he wrote and directed a documentary called Trestevre then wrote the screenplay and subsequently co-produced Warner Brothers' blaxplotation classic Cleopatra Jones
Cleopatra Jones
-Plot:Cleopatra Jones is a strikingly beautiful black model with an array of flamboyant outfits. Modeling, however, is only a cover for her real job as a secret government agent. Jones is a Bond-like heroine with power and influence; an object of awe for her flashy wardrobe, her ’73 silver and...
which starred actress Tamara Dobson
Tamara Dobson
Tamara Dobson was an American actress and fashion model. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland and received her degree in fashion illustration from the Maryland Institute College of Art. Dobson, who stood 6 feet 2 inches , eventually became a fashion model for Vogue Magazine...
. Refusing to participate in the sequel Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold
Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold
Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold is a 1975 action-adventure Blaxploitation movie starring Tamara Dobson as Cleopatra It is the sequel to the 1973 film Cleopatra Jones.-Plot:...
he was credited with "based on characters created by Max Julien."
Critics
For his performance in Uptight, New York Times movie critic Judith CristJudith Crist
Judith Crist is an American film critic. She appeared regularly on the Today show from 1964-1973 and has appeared in one film, Woody Allen's Stardust Memories...
stated that Julien was "a standout in a standout cast." Raoul Gripenwaldt from the Santa Monica Evening Outlook once wrote: "Max Julien's portrayal of Johnny Wells in Paramount's Uptight could very well result in an Academy Award." The Hollywood Reporter chimed in: "Max Julien creates a memorable piece of reality." As a reward he was invited to Europe to discuss film possibilities.
In popular culture
- About 30% of the world's rappers have sampled his voice from "The Mack." Hundreds of them including R&B and Rock artists (i.e., P. Diddy, Snoop DoggSnoop DoggCalvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
, Kid RockKid RockRobert James "Bob" Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations...
) admittedly fashioned their images after Max's character from the film.
- Director Quentin TarantinoQuentin TarantinoQuentin Jerome Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor. In the early 1990s, he began his career as an independent filmmaker with films employing nonlinear storylines and the aestheticization of violence...
even scripted a film, True RomanceTrue RomanceTrue Romance is a 1993 American romance crime film written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Tony Scott. The film stars Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette with an ensemble cast consisting of Christopher Walken, Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman, Chris Penn, Tom Sizemore, Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin...
, that shows Julien in a clip while Christian SlaterChristian SlaterChristian Michael Leonard Slater is an American actor. He made his film debut with a small role in The Postman Always Rings Twice before playing a leading role in the 1985 film The Legend of Billie Jean...
says "I know that film. It's 'The Mack' starring Max Julien."
- Julien appeared as "Goldie" in an episode of UPNUPNUnited Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
's One on OneOne on One- Film and television :* One on One , a 2000s American sitcom* One on One , a 1977 movie starring Robby Benson and Annette O'Toole** One on One , the soundtrack album from the film...
.
Filmography
- One on OneOne on One (TV series)One on One is an American sitcom that aired on the now-defunct UPN from its September 3, 2001 premiere until May 15, 2006. The series stars Flex Alexander as a single sportscaster, who becomes a full-time dad when his ex-wife decides to accept a job out of the country and his teenage daughter...
(TV) - Goldie (2005) 1 episode - RestoreRestoreRestore may refer to:*Restoration *ReStore - Retail building supply stores run by local Habitat for Humanity affiliates...
(2001) - Coach Barnes - How to Be a PlayerHow to Be a PlayerDef Jam's How to Be a Player is a 1997 comedy film, starring Bill Bellamy, Natalie Desselle and Bernie Mac. The film was directed by Lionel C. Martin, and written by Mark Brown and Demetria Johnson...
(1997) - Uncle Fred - Thomasine & BushrodThomasine & BushrodThomasine & Bushrod is a 1974 blaxploitation film directed by Gordon Parks, Jr., written by and starring Max Julien. The title song was written by Arthur Lee and performed by his band Love.- Plot :...
(1974) - Bushrod - The MackThe MackThe Mack is a 1973 blaxploitation film starring Max Julien and Richard Pryor. Although the movie was produced during the era of such blaxploitation movies as Dolemite, its producers do not label it a true blaxploitation picture...
(1973) - Goldie - The Name of the GameThe Name of the Game"The Name of the Game" is a 1977 song by Swedish pop group ABBA, and was released as the first single from the group's fifth studio album, The Album...
(TV) - Mjoma (1970) 1 episode - Getting StraightGetting StraightGetting Straight is a 1970 American comedy-drama motion picture directed by Richard Rush, released by Columbia Pictures.The story centered upon student politics at a university in the early 1970s, seen through the eyes of non-conformist graduate student Harry Bailey...
(1970) - Ellis - CBS Playhouse (TV) - Joe Barnes (1969) 1 episode
- DeadlockDeadlockA deadlock is a situation where in two or more competing actions are each waiting for the other to finish, and thus neither ever does. It is often seen in a paradox like the "chicken or the egg"...
(1969) - Coley Walker - The Mod SquadThe Mod SquadThe Mod Squad is a television series that ran on ABC from September 24, 1968, until August 23, 1973. This series starred Michael Cole, Peggy Lipton, Clarence Williams III, and Tige Andrews...
(TV) - Jack Dawson (1968) 1 episode - Up Tight!Up Tight!Up Tight! is a 1968 American drama film directed by Jules Dassin. It was intended as an updated version of John Ford's 1935 film, The Informer, but the setting was transposed from Dublin, Ireland to Cleveland, Ohio, USA. The soundtrack was performed by Booker T...
(1968) - Johnny Wells - The Savage Seven (1968) - Grey Wolf
- Psych-OutPsych-OutPsych-Out is a feature film about hippies, psychedelic music, and recreational drugs, produced and released by American International Pictures. Originally scripted as The Love Children, the title when tested caused people to think it was about bastards, so Samuel Z...
(1968) - Elwood - The Black KlansmanThe Black KlansmanThe Black Klansman is a feature film of the blaxploitation genre originally released in 1966 under the name I Crossed the Color Line. Set during the struggle for Civil Rights, the film tells the story of an African-American man, played by Richard Gilden, who disguises himself as a white man to join...
(1966) - Raymond