Max Beesley

Max Beesley
Born Maxton Gig Beesley, Jr.
(1971-04-16) 16 April 1971
Burnage, Manchester, Lancashire, England
Occupation Actor, musician
Years active 1983–present

Maxton Gig "Max" Beesley, Jr. (born 16 April 1971) is an English actor and musician. He is best known for his role as Charlie Edwards in the British television drama Hotel Babylon and has appeared in a variety of television shows such as Bodies, an adaptation of The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, London Ink, Survivors, Mad Dogs, Suits and Ordinary Lies.

Early life

Beesley was born in Burnage, Manchester, Greater Manchester. His father, Maxton Beesley, Sr., was a professional jazz drummer, and his mother was a jazz singer who performed under the stage name Chris Marlowe.[1] His parents divorced when he was a baby. His middle name was inspired by the American actor Gig Young. His father was also a regular guest on the Ted Rogers show 3-2-1, doing impressions amidst several sketches.

Acting career

Beesley came to prominence with his first major acting role in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, a 1997 television mini-series based on the book of the same name. In 2001, he appeared in the film Glitter, a critical and commercial failure for which he was nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor. He also appeared in the film Kill Me Later. He starred in the BBC Three medical drama Bodies, which ran from 2004 to 2007. He also starred in the BBC One series Hotel Babylon from 2006 to 2008. He left the show in March 2008, and returned for a guest appearance in one later episode.

In June 2007, Beesley starred in the ITV series Talk to Me. He also appeared in the film Red Roses and Petrol, and in the BBC thriller The Last Enemy. In September, Beesley was a guest on ITV's Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, where he and Jonathan Wilkes were successful against Ant & Dec in the "Beat the Boys" competition. In October 2008, he appeared in BBC One's remake of the 1970s drama Survivors, as remorseless former criminal Tom Price. The series consisted of six episodes, with a second series of six episodes transmitted in January 2010. He starred in the ITV drama The Reckoning in April 2011. Beesley gained more exposure with American audiences with a recurring role on Suits and from October 2015 with another recurring role, this time in the popular US Spy Drama Homeland as ex British special forces bodyguard Mike Brown.

Beesley is the narrator for several TV advertisements, including ITV, NFU Mutual's insurance, Energizer's lithium batteries, and PC World.[2] He also provided the voiceover for Manchester United's 2008–2009 season review DVD. In 2011, he appeared in a TV campaign for the UK recruitment company jobsite, and is also featured on their homepage. Beesley narrated the documentary Chatsworth, shown on BBC One in May 2012.

Music career

Beesley is also a musician, having had a successful career before becoming an actor. He was a chorister at Manchester Cathedral and studied at Chetham's School of Music.[3] He also studied percussion at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama with soul singer Omar and toured with the Brand New Heavies on keyboards and percussion. He is also a vibraphone player.[4]

Beesley has performed in concert as a percussionist and pianist for Robbie Williams, Take That, Jamiroquai and the Paul Weller Movement.[3] He played percussion and piano at Williams' Knebworth gigs in summer 2003 and at Hyde Park for Live 8 London. Williams' first concert of his Close Encounters Tour in Perth, Australia on 30 November 2006 saw Beesley as percussionist for the second half of the show. He also played drums during the performance of "Rudebox" at Williams' second Brisbane concert and during a BBC Electric Proms show.

Beesley was a member of the jazz band Incognito, but after an eight-month tour with them, decided to end his music career and start acting.[4] On 28 October 2006, Beesley appeared as a special guest pianist for James Brown during his performance at the Roundhouse in London as part of the BBC's Electric Proms festival.[5]

Personal life

Beesley is a supporter of Manchester United. He has a step-brother, Jason Milligan, who is also an actor.[6]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1983 Last of the Summer Wine Colin's mate 1 episode
1986 Last of the Summer Wine Passerby 1 episode
1997 The Broker's Man Joe Goodwin 2 episodes
1997 The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling Tom Jones / Reverend Summer 5 episodes
1999 Five Seconds to Spare William
1999 The Match Wullie Smith
2000 It Was an Accident Mickey Cousins
2001 Kill Me Later Charlie Anders
2001 The Last Minute Billy Byrne
2001 Hotel Antonio
2001 Glitter Julian "Dice" Black
2002 Fields of Gold Mark Hurst
2002 Anita and Me Hairy Neddy
2003 The Emperor's Wife Emperor
2003 Red Roses and Petrol Johnny Doyle
2004 Torque Luther
2004 The Porter Porter Short film
2004–2006 Bodies Dr. Rob Lake 16 episodes
2005 Bloodlines DC Jake Bannerman
2005 Hustle Jake Henry 1 episode
2005 Her Name is Carla Jack
2006–2009 Hotel Babylon Charlie Edwards 22 episodes
2007 Talk to Me Mitch Moore 4 episodes
2007–2008 London Ink Narrator 6 episodes
2008 The Last Enemy Michael Ezard 5 episodes
2008–2010 Survivors Tom Price 12 episodes
2011-2013 Mad Dogs Woody 14 episodes
2011 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Thomas Stewart Series 11, Episode 3: "Blood Moon"
2011 The Reckoning Mark Dobson 2 episodes
2013 Suits Stephen Huntley 7 episodes
2013 Pawn Bill
2015 Ordinary Lies Mike 6 episodes
2015 Empire 2 episodes
2015 Homeland Mike Brown Season 5, recurring

References

  1. "BBC - Drama - People Index Max Beesley". BBC. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
  2. "Press Releases: Julie Graham, Max Beesley, Nikki Amuka-Bird & Paterson Joseph star in Survivors for BBC One". BBC Press Office. 30 May 2007. Retrieved 7 December 2008.
  3. 1 2 "Notable Alumni". Chetham's School of Music. Retrieved 2011-07-21. Ex-Chet's students include [...] actor Max Beesley, who achieved first recognition as percussionist and keyboard player with Jamiroquai, Take That and Robbie Williams
  4. 1 2 "Max Beesley Discography at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 2011-07-21.
  5. Dowden, Neil. "James Brown + The Zutons @ Roundhouse, London". musicOMH. Retrieved 2011-07-21. ...actor/musician Max Beesley played piano for JB to sing Ray Charles' Georgia On My Mind
  6. "Jason Milligan (III)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2014-08-26.

External links

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