Who Am I?
Hi, I’m Maxwell Jenkins, a UCLA student studying Global Studies as part of the College Scholars Honors program. At UCLA I’ve been fortunate to be a member of the Global Development Lab, where I currently lead a team in the lab’s Project Incubator, and Sigma Chi Fraternity. Since my freshman year, I’ve been proud to represent UCLA as a member of the UCLA Cheer Team, where I perform stunts, make appearances, and act as an ambassador for the university.
Music has always been a huge part of my life. During my first year at UCLA, I co-founded The 529s, a band where I play mandolin and lead guitar. What started as jam sessions with friends turned into something bigger. We built a following on campus and are now gearing up to perform at UCLA’s legendary Spring Sing, a stage that once hosted artists like Sara Bareilles and Maroon 5 early in their careers. It’s been an unexpected and incredible ride, and I’m grateful for every step.
When I’m not in class, on the sidelines with my team, or making music, I work as an actor, something I’ve been fortunate to do since I was a kid. Most recently, I wrapped filming on The Bondsman, an Amazon/Blumhouse series where I star alongside Kevin Bacon. Before that, I played a lead role in Arcadian with Nicolas Cage and Jaeden Martell, which premiered to an amazing response at SXSW. Many people know me best as Will Robinson from Netflix’s Lost in Space, but I’ve also had the chance to work on projects like Dear Edward (Apple TV+), Joe Bell with Mark Wahlberg, and Reacher on Amazon, along with early work on shows like Sense8, Chicago Med, Betrayal, and Chicago Fire. Every job has taught me something new, and I’m just thankful to be doing what I love.
Before all that, I was a kid growing up in Chicago, performing under a circus tent. I started as an acrobat in my family’s company, Midnight Circus, when I was three years old. Our show blends theater, circus arts, and a social mission. We travel across Chicago performing in parks to raise money for local communities. It’s still one of my favorite things to be a part of; we’ve raised over two million dollars to help revitalize public parks in neighborhoods across the city.
Outside of performing, I care deeply about using my platform to support causes that matter most to me. For the past 6 years, I have worked closely with the ASPCA and was proud to play a small part in the passing of Goldie’s Law, which helps protect dogs in commercial breeding facilities.
Through my work as an actor and performer, I’ve had the privilege of traveling all over the world on projects and meeting people from all walks of life. Those experiences opened my eyes to the power of cultural exchange and sparked a passion for foreign service. I’m interested in blending the life I’ve led as an artist with a future in cultural diplomacy, finding ways to bring people together across borders through art and storytelling.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to keep exploring new creative projects, whether that’s on screen, on stage, or through music. I hope to keep blending my passions for storytelling, performance, and activism while building new ways to connect people, amplify voices, and hopefully make a positive impact along the way.
Thanks for stopping by. There’s so much more to come, and I can’t wait to share it with you.
