James Maxwell (23 March 1929 – 18 August 1995) was an American-British actor, theatre director and writer, particularly associated with the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester.[1][2]
He was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, but spent most of his career in the United Kingdom and died in London. He came to Britain at the age of 20 to train at the Old Vic theatre school. While there he met fellow students Casper Wrede and Richard Negri (co-founders of the Royal Exchange 25 years later).
Based upon the success of this collaboration the group started to look for a permanent theatre in Manchester and eventually a new theatre was built inside the disused Royal Exchange with Maxwell as one of the founding artistic directors. He appeared in both the opening productions: Kleist's The Prince of Homburg (original title: Der Prinz von Homburg) and Sheridan's The Rivals and remained an artistic director until his death in 1995. As well as acting in many productions over the course of 20 years, he adapted several novels including The Count of Monte Cristo, Pride and Prejudice and The Moonstone. He also directed over 20 productions. As Braham Murray recalled. "As an artist he was multi-talented and practised each of his skills with discretion. As a writer, he translated many works; as a director he was particularly skillful at comedy. He loved to make people laugh, but it was as an actor that he would want to be remembered."[3][4]
Theatre Productions at the Royal ExchangeEdit
The productions directed by Maxwell during his time as artistic director include:[3]
Although the theatre was always his first love he appeared in television and film. His best-known television role was as King Henry VII in a BBC2 drama series, The Shadow of the Tower, but it did not have the same level of success as The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970), which was its predecessor drama. His other television credits include a prominent role in the Doctor Who story Underworld (1978). He appeared in The Avengers in the 1967 episode "The Superlative Seven" as Jason Wade, and also appeared as Osmond in a television serial of Henry James' The Portrait of a Lady (1968), Frontier (1968), Doomwatch: The Iron Doctor (1971),Thriller and The Saint. He played General-Major von Wittke in an episode of Enemy at the Door titled "Treason" (ep. 10, season 1, aired March 25, 1978).
He married the actress Avril Elgar in 1952 and the couple had two sons. They met at the Old Vic theatre school and she appeared in many of Maxwell's productions. He died in 1995.
James Maxwell was referenced in the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester episode of Most Haunted (S8,07) when psychic medium David Wells allegedly received a message from Maxwell's spirit. His career was touched upon as a founding member of the theatre.
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James Maxwell 23 March 1929 18 August 1995 was an American British actor theatre director and writer particularly associated with the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester 1 2 James MaxwellMaxwell in a 1965 episode of The SaintBornJames Ackley Maxwell 1929 03 23 23 March 1929Worcester Massachusetts U S Died18 August 1995 1995 08 18 aged 66 London EnglandNationalityAmerican BritishYears active1949 1992SpouseAvril Elgar m 1952 wbr Children2 Contents 1 Early life 2 Work in the theatre 2 1 Theatre Productions at the Royal Exchange 3 Work in television and film 4 Personal life 5 Selected filmography 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditHe was born in Worcester Massachusetts United States but spent most of his career in the United Kingdom and died in London He came to Britain at the age of 20 to train at the Old Vic theatre school While there he met fellow students Casper Wrede and Richard Negri co founders of the Royal Exchange 25 years later Work in the theatre EditAfter seasons at the Bristol Old Vic and the Piccolo Theatre in Manchester he started to collaborate with the directors Michael Elliott and Casper Wrede initially with the 59 Theatre Company He translated Georg Buchner s Danton s Death original title Dantons Tod for the opening production at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith Elliott and Wrede went on to run the Old Vic company and Maxwell joined them to act in several of the productions including The Merchant of Venice and Measure for Measure The group then joined with Braham Murray in Manchester to form the 69 Theatre Company Maxwell adapted Daniel Deronda directed by Elliott and starring Vanessa Redgrave it was subsequently televised He acted in many productions for the company including Prospero in The Tempest in 1969 and Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons in 1975 He also directed Arms and the Man with Tom Courtenay Jenny Agutter and Brian Cox in 1973 Based upon the success of this collaboration the group started to look for a permanent theatre in Manchester and eventually a new theatre was built inside the disused Royal Exchange with Maxwell as one of the founding artistic directors He appeared in both the opening productions Kleist s The Prince of Homburg original title Der Prinz von Homburg and Sheridan s The Rivals and remained an artistic director until his death in 1995 As well as acting in many productions over the course of 20 years he adapted several novels including The Count of Monte Cristo Pride and Prejudice and The Moonstone He also directed over 20 productions As Braham Murray recalled As an artist he was multi talented and practised each of his skills with discretion As a writer he translated many works as a director he was particularly skillful at comedy He loved to make people laugh but it was as an actor that he would want to be remembered 3 4 Theatre Productions at the Royal Exchange Edit The productions directed by Maxwell during his time as artistic director include 3 Present Laughter by Noel Coward with Albert Finney 1977 The Skin of Our Teeth by Thornton Wilder Directed by Richard Negri and James Maxwell with Olive McFarland and Lee Montague 1977 The Schoolmistress by Arthur Wing Pinero with Patricia Routledge 1979 The Corn is Green by Emlyn Williams with Avril Elgar and Alan Parnaby 1981 Treasure Island adapted by James Maxwell with Clive Duncan and Ronald Forfar 1981 While the Sun Shines by Terence Ratigan with Paul Barber Mick Ford and Caroline Goodall 1983 Hay Fever by Noel Coward with Richard McCabe Dilys Hamlett and Marsha Hunt 1985 Zack by Harold Brighouse with Tim Healy and Bridget Turner 1986 Among Barbarians by Michael Wall World premiere with Dominic Keating Tariq Yunus and Avril Elgar 1989 She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith with Una Stubbs Ewan Hooper Andy Serkis and Lorraine Ashbourne 1990 Pride and Prejudice World premiere adapted and directed by James Maxwell with Avril Elgar Melanie Thaw Rufus Sewell Ben Daniels and Helen McCrory 1991 The Doctor s Dilemma by George Bernard Shaw with Jeremy Clyde Trevor Baxter and Clive Owen 1991 Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward with Miranda Foster and Susie Blake 1991 Sidewalk Sidney by Rhandi McWilliams World premiere with Eddie Osei and Charlie Caine 1992 An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde with Brenda Blethyn Robert Glenister Una Stubbs and Tom Chadbon 1992 The Moonstone Adapted and directed by James Maxwell with Struan Rodger 1993 The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde with Sam West Neil Dudgeon and Avril Elgar 1994 The Count of Monte Cristo adapted by James Maxwell and Jonathon Hackett World premiere directed by Braham Murray with David Threlfall and Colin Prockter 1994 Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn with Trevor Cooper Margo Gunn Denys Hawthorne Patrick O Kane and Amanda Boxer 1994 Work in television and film EditAlthough the theatre was always his first love he appeared in television and film His best known television role was as King Henry VII in a BBC2 drama series The Shadow of the Tower but it did not have the same level of success as The Six Wives of Henry VIII 1970 which was its predecessor drama His other television credits include a prominent role in the Doctor Who story Underworld 1978 He appeared in The Avengers in the 1967 episode The Superlative Seven as Jason Wade and also appeared as Osmond in a television serial of Henry James The Portrait of a Lady 1968 Frontier 1968 Doomwatch The Iron Doctor 1971 Thriller and The Saint He played General Major von Wittke in an episode of Enemy at the Door titled Treason ep 10 season 1 aired March 25 1978 He was also seen in the films Private Potter 1962 The Evil of Frankenstein 1964 Otley 1968 and One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich 1970 The first and last of these directed by his friend and colleague Casper Wrede Personal life EditHe married the actress Avril Elgar in 1952 and the couple had two sons They met at the Old Vic theatre school and she appeared in many of Maxwell s productions He died in 1995 James Maxwell was referenced in the Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester episode of Most Haunted S8 07 when psychic medium David Wells allegedly received a message from Maxwell s spirit His career was touched upon as a founding member of the theatre Selected filmography EditSubway in the Sky 1959 Officer Girl on Approval 1961 John Howland Design for Loving 1962 Joe The Traitors 1962 Ray Ellis The Damned 1962 Mr Talbot Private Potter 1962 Lt Colonel Harry Gunyon The Third Secret 1964 Mark The Evil of Frankenstein 1964 Priest Far from the Madding Crowd 1967 Doctor uncredited Otley 1969 Rollo Connecting Rooms 1970 Principal of Art College One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich 1970 Captain Ransom 1974 Bernhard Four Friends 1981 HippieReferences Edit Adam Benedick obituary James Maxwell The Independent 28 August 1995 BFI org a b The Royal Exchange Theatre Company Words amp Pictures 1976 1998 Braham Murray AutobiographyExternal links EditJames Maxwell at IMDb nbsp James Maxwell at AllMovie nbsp James Maxwell at the TCM Movie Database James Maxwell at the British Film Institute better source needed Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Maxwell actor amp oldid 1180465598, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
