We have some sad news to report as Max Julien has passed away. The veteran actor, who led the cast of the classic blaxploitation filmThe Mack, reportedly died on New Year’s Day at Sherman Oaks Hospital. A cause of death has not yet been determined. Julien was 88 years old.
“During Julien’s decades-long career, he was known for being bold, honest and straightforward," the actor’s PR team toldTMZ. “He would live and speak his own truth both professionally and privately. He was thought of as a rare ‘man among men.'”
David F. Walker, a comic book writer, filmmaker, and close friend of Julien’s, also paid tribute on Instagram. Posting an image of the late actor, Walker said, “I met Max back in 1996. He was a great human being, and we had so many amazing conversations. He was brilliant and hilarious and charismatic…R.I.P.”
As an actor, Julien is best known for his starring role inThe Mack. Released in 1973, the film was written by Robert J. Poole and directed by Michael Campus. It follows the rise and fall of John “Goldie” Mickens (Julien) as he strives to become the city’s biggest pimp after his release from prison. The lateRichard Pryorco-starred with Julien with the film also starring Juanita Moore and Dick Anthony Williams.
“Even including its flaws,The Mackis the best and most memorable crime picture of the whole blaxploitation genre,” Quentin Tarantino once said about the film. A huge fan ofThe Mack, Tarantino also included a reference to the classic film inTrue Romancewith Christian Slater’s character pointing out, “I know that film. It’sThe Mackstarring Max Julien.”
“1971, Hollywood was dying, looking for subsidization from the government, and suddenly somebody came along, God bless him, called Melvin Van Peebles. Okay? He did a film, and whatever you might think of it, calledSweet Sweetback’s Baad*sssss Songand it turned this entire industry around,” Julien toldS. Pearl Sharpin a 1981 interview of the legacy of theblaxploitationmovement.
He added: “And suddenly they said: ‘Wow! There are Black people out there who go and see movies!’ Like we hadn’t been going all the time, right? And suddenly Black films were being made and made and made and made and nobody’s giving credit to the fact that those films literally saved Hollywood.”
Max Julien has also had roles in films likeThe Black Klansman,Psych-Out(withJack Nicholsonand Bruce Dern),The Savage Seven,Up Tight!,Thomasine & Bushrod,Getting Straight, andDef Jam’s How to Be a Player.His small screen credits includeThe Mod Squad,The Bold Ones: The Protectors,CBS Playhouse, andThe Name of the Game. Julien’s final acting credit was in 2005 in which he reprised his role fromThe Mackfor a special appearance in the UPN comedy seriesOne on One.
Julien is survived by his wife, Arabella. Our condolences go out to her at this painful time.Rest in peace, Max Julien.
