Max Julien

Twenty-eight years before on May 11, 1983, years after its release, The Mack entered the non-competitive category of The Cannes Film Festival. Max Julien who starred as Goldie was dubbed one of the most popular and important filmmakers in America (L. A. Times), and for decades has been the subject of worldwide newspaper articles and graced the covers of major magazines including Ebony and Jet.

A classically trained actor, Max began his career in New York's Off-Broadway circuit including Joseph Papp's Shakespeare-In-The-Park. Moving westward he landed co-starring roles with Jack Nicholson in Psych-Out and Candace Bergen in Columbia's box-office hit Getting Straight. In Uptight, N. Y. times Judith Crist considered him a standout in a standout cast. Santa Monica Evening Outlook's Raoul Gripenwaldt prophesied 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 Rome he wrote and directed a documentary called Trestevre then wrote the screenplay and subsequently co-produced Warner Brothers' box-office bonanza Cleopatra Jones. The sequel, Cleopatra Jones and The Casino Of Gold he was credited with based on characters created by Max Julien. In a joint venture with Columbia Pictures Julien wrote, produced and starred in Thomasine and Bushrod. Assuming responsibility for the final look of the film, he assisted in the direction, supervised the editing and created the design concept for the costumes. The New York Times declared it A western of considerable freshness. Cue Magazine said, Julien has an easy and likable quality; a talented, seriously funny man. The film garnered him a NAACP Image Award Nomination for Best Writer of the year. He then took a sabbatical from film, landing on several other continents, exploring the political developments of their cultures and writing poetry. He completed a novel, Dark Clowns Kickin' Ass, and finished 13 pieces of sculpture exhibited in galleries throughout the United States including Los Angeles' prestigious Pacific Design Center. Nigerian businessmen commissioned Julien to do a feasibility study for the development of a West African Film Colony. He selected a crew from Europe, Australia and America, and for a two-month period trained local craftsmen in the art of filmmaking. As a tribute to his accomplishments and international profile, a year later he was invited to return to co-write and star in Bisi & The Sun God. In the early 1990's Julien wrote, directed and essayed the title role in the do cu-drama Sketches Of A Man/The Charles Drew Story, the African-American doctor who invented blood plasma. The mid 90's returned him to West Africa starring, writing, executive producing and directing Sangu, The Silent One. Nigeria's Ibaden Tribune said Max Julien's Sangu is a masterpiece, a must for every Third World human being; more appropriately, every spiritual, peace loving person on the globe. This gifted, connected thread (Julien) will do much to keep the continents from colliding. The country's Daily Times echoed The Silent One speaks loudly; Julien's wisdom has not tarnished, his eyes and his words address the inner feelings of the common man of color. He's a joy to look upon, he is to be cherished. In the billion dollar consumer market of hip hop, Max Julien has become a Brand Name in hot demand by Rap, R&B and Pop entertainers to write and deliver his uniquely lyrical expressions including: Do Or Die's CD featuring Kanye West and R.

In a couple of Quentin Tarantino films and/or stories, which included Reservoir Dogs (1992) and True Romance (1993), he referenced Max Julien in a couple of screenplays, and was rumored to be the candidate for Marsellius Wallace in Pulp Fiction (1994). Ving Rhames later ended up as Marsellius Wallace instead.

Benilde Little added tribute by describing the central character in her 1999 bestselling novel The Itch as being Max Julien cool.

Kelly, and Houston Blues singer Rue Davis' Legends Are Forever album in early 2007. Around the same time he was writing dialogue for a Warner Brother's video game based on Clint Eastwood's iconic Dirty Harry character that ended when the studio shelved the project. He was also a sought after guest speaker at Universities including Chapman College and San Jose State.

In a February 2008 interview on Fadar-TV, mega Hip-hop star Rick Ross removed his t-shirt and revealed Max's face tattooed on his body. In June of last year, Max completed hosting, starring and executive producing in Eleven 11 Media-TV's new Houston-based reality show. 90% of the world's rappers have sampled his voice and the music from The Mack (Outkast, 50-Cents, Three 6 Mafia etc. ) familiarizing him amongst the 75% male and female record buyers between 15 and 25 years of age, who happen to be white. Hundreds of R&B and Rock artists (i. e. , P. Diddy, Kid Rock) and Snoop Dawg who proudly admits fashioning his after Goldie from The Mack. Following suit Quentin Tarrentino scripted a film, True Romance, that shows Julien in a clip while Christian Slater says I know that film. It's The Mack starring Max Julien. Although he declined a writing credit Max wrote the script along with co-star Richard Pryor and director Michael Campus. He also made major contributions in the designing of the much heralded costumes. The effort was described by Kevin Thomas (L. A. Times) as having spectacular acting; entertaining, honest, real, and remains one of the leading DVD rentals/sellers in the world, recently cited by Entertainment Weekly Magazine as the 20th top cult film of all times, on a list of 50, including Scarface and The Godfather adding to the almost mythical status of Max and the film, in the Black Eye Peas latest album The Beginning, the artist Apl. De. AP strongly declares on the cut The Time (Dirty Bit), I'm the Mack Daddy y'all. Continuing the legend he did a starring cameo as well as writing his role in Def Jam's comedy hit, How To Be A Player, then wrote and performed the intro, 19 interludes and the final recording on the film's Platinum selling Sound Track Album. He wrote and performed on Rap-A-Lot artist Tela's Gold Now or Never CD, was highlighted throughout The Hughes brothers' documentary The American Pimp, starred in Bradley Smith's award winning film short Restore featured in N. Y.

On May 13, 2011 on Yahoo News, Nick Cannon was being interviewed for his upcoming Showtime comedy special, Mr. Showbiz, which includes poking fun at his wife, Mariah Carey. Earlier reviews indicate one of the most hilarious bits involve him of accusing Mariah of pimping him like my man, Max Julien, Goldie from The Mack.

In spite of being notoriously reclusive, in 2012 his popularity has reached cult-like proportions. His face hangs in the lobby Walls of Fame in Magic Johnson's Theatres from L. A. to Atlanta to Harlem. Eddie Murphy, Jim Carrey, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence have done Max Julien impersonations. Stevie Wonder included Max in the dedications on his classic album Songs In The Key of Life. Dick Kleiner wrote a chapter about him in his book ESP & The Stars. In Miramax's book on '70's films What It Is & What It was, Academy Award Nominee Samuel L. Jackson complimented with I always went to see whatever Max Julien was doing.