Max Beesley

Maxton Gig Beesley Jr. (born 16 April 1971) is an English actor and musician. His television and film credits include The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, The Match (1999), Hotel (2001), Kill Me Later (2001), The Last Minute (2001), Bodies (2004–2006), The Last Enemy (2008), Survivors (2008–2010), Mad Dogs (2011–2013), Suits (2013), Empire (2015–2016), Ordinary Lies (2015), Jamestown (2017–2019), The Outsider (2020), The Midwich Cuckoos (2022), Operation Fortune (2023) and Hijack (2023–present). In 2024, he appeared as boxing promoter Henry Collins in Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen (2024).

Early life Beesley was born on 16 April 1971 in Burnage, Manchester. His father, Maxton Beesley Sr, is a professional jazz drummer and actor, He has a step-brother, Jason Milligan, who is also an actor. His middle name was inspired by the American actor Gig Young. and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Beesley is an advocate for method acting,

Career Acting Beesley came to prominence with his first major acting role in BBC's The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling,

In 2024, he starred as boxing promoter Henry Collins in Guy Ritchie's The Gentleman for Netflix, alongside Theo James, Kaya Scodelario, and Ray Winstone.

Voice and advertising Beesley is also a voice over artist and has worked for multiple TV advertisements and documentaries including ITV, NFU Mutual's insurance, Energizer's lithium batteries, and PC World. He also provided the voiceover for Manchester United's season review DVD. He appeared in a TV campaign for the UK recruitment company Jobsite, and was also featured on their homepage.

Music Beesley is also a session musician, and solo artist, having had a successful career before becoming an actor. He was a chorister at Manchester Cathedral and studied at Chetham's School of Music. He also studied percussion and classical piano at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama with soul singer Omar and toured with the Brand New Heavies on keyboards and percussion. He has also toured or recorded with George Benson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, The JB's and Zero 7. He is also a vibraphone player.

Beesley has performed in concert as a percussionist and pianist for Robbie Williams, Take That, Jamiroquai, and the Paul Weller Movement. In 2020, he recorded his first solo album titled Groove Spectrum at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles with Grammy-winning producer/mixer Al Schmitt mixing the album. It features Paul Weller, Robbie Williams, Fred Durst, Lisa Stansfield, jazz pianist Christian Sands, Tommy Blaize, Antonique Smith, John Turrell, Omar, and Francci Richards. A multi-instrumentalist, Beesley wrote, played, and scored the album.

He recorded his first solo instrumental album Zeus in January 2023 in Los Angeles with luminaries Steve Gadd, Walt Fowler, Christian Sands, Dean Parks, Luis Conte, and producing collaborator Jerry Meehan on bass. The album will be released towards the end of 2023 through Legere Records and features the vibraphone, one of the instruments Beesley is mainly associated with. He wrote, arranged, mixed, and produced the album under his "Max Beesley's HIGH VIBES" banner, and will tour the record in 2024 in both Europe and Japan. Critics cite the record as being heavily influenced by the music of Herbie Hancock, The Brecker Brothers, and vibraphonist Roy Ayers.

Filmography +Key Denotes projects that have not yet been released Film Year Title Role Notes 1999 The Match Wullie Smith 2000 It Was an Accident Mickey Cousins Five Seconds to Spare William 2001 Kill Me Later Charlie Anders The Last Minute Billy Byrne Hotel Antonio Glitter Julian "Dice" Black 2002 Anita and Me Hairy Neddy 2003 The Emperor's Wife Emperor Red Roses and Petrol Johnny Doyle 2004 Torque Luther 2005 Her Name Is Carla Jack 2013 Pawn Billy 2019 Married Young Jake Line of Descent Commissioner Bates 2023 Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre Ben Harris 2026 Jack Ryan: Ghost War Liam Crown A. Bell Filming Television Year Title Role Notes 1987 Last of the Summer Wine Passerby Episode: "Who's Feeling Ejected Then?" 1996 Thief Takers Kitson Episode: "Déjà Vu" 1997 The Broker's Man Joe Goodwin Episode: "Dangerous Bends" The History of Tom Jones: a Foundling Tom Jones Miniseries; 5 episodes 2002 Fields of Gold Mark Hurst Miniseries; 2 episodes 2004–2006 Bodies Rob Lake Series regular; 17 episodes 2005 Bloodlines DC Jake Bannerman Miniseries; 2 episodes Hustle Jake Henry Episode: "Old Acquaintance" 2006 Goldplated Charity MC Episode: "The Charity Dinner" 2006–2009 Hotel Babylon Charlie Edwards Series regular; 22 episodes 2007 Talk to Me Mitch Moore Miniseries; 4 episodes 2008 The Last Enemy Michael Ezard Miniseries; 5 episodes 2008–2010 Survivors Tom Price Series regular; 12 episodes 2010 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Thomas Stewart Episode: "Blood Moon" 2011 The Reckoning Mark Dobson Miniseries; 2 episodes 2011–2013 Mad Dogs Steve "Woody" Woods Series regular; 14 episodes 2013 Suits Stephen Huntley Recurring role; 7 episodes 2015 Ordinary Lies Mike Hill Series regular; 6 episodes Strike Back Ray McQueen Episode: "Legacy" Homeland Mike Brown Episode: "The Tradition of Hospitality" 2015–2016 Empire Guy Recurring role; 3 episodes 2017–2019 Jamestown Henry Sharrow Series regular; 24 episodes 2019 Flack Anthony Henderson Episode: "Anthony" 2020 The Outsider Seale Bolton Recurring role; 3 episodes 2022 The Midwich Cuckoos Paul Haynes Series regular; 7 episodes 2023–present Hijack DI Daniel O'Farrel Series regular; 13 episodes 2024 The Gentlemen Henry Collins Recurring role; 3 episodes 2025 Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes Andy Hayman Miniseries; 4 episodes