At 84, Juliet Mills Is Happily Married to ‘Grease’ Heartthrob 18 Years Her Junior — Their Love Story

The former child star met her now-spouse, Maxwell Caulfield, who was an up-and-coming actor at the time, through her work in acting. Caulfield made his film debut in “Grease 2.” He later shared the stage with his future wife when he was cast alongside Mills in a U.S. tour of the award-winning play, “The Elephant Man.”

In the production, he portrayed John Merrick, a man whose severe facial deformities led to the cruel nickname referenced in the play’s title, while Mills took on the role of Mrs. Kendal, the actress who befriends him.

In an interview, she reflected on meeting Caulfield, describing it as love at first sight, “We were instant friends, immediately attracted.” She added that they felt like they had known each other in a previous life.

In the same interview, Caulfield agreed, calling their romance “full-blown” and noting a deep psychic connection, “It was instantaneous for us both.” Their first date was to see Harold Pinter’s “Betrayal” on Broadway, where Mills’ friend, Natalie Wood, had invited them.

Caulfield recalled the experience as surreal, sitting between Mills and the legendary Wood, who had starred in “West Side Story” and “Rebel Without a Cause.”

When Caulfield, at only 21, married Mills in 1980, many were doubtful that their marriage would stand the test of time. Despite the headlines about their age gap, the couple managed to avoid controversy.

Mills explained that living in California meant the news didn’t gain much attention, and they never worried about the difference in age. Even those close to them, like Mills’ father, didn’t see it as an issue.

When she told him about her younger love, he simply responded, “It’s irrelevant. If you find someone you want to share your life with, it doesn’t matter if they are black or white, old or young, or what they are – it’s a soulmate.”