Maxwell frequently appeared as a guest star in western television series, including Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Lawman, Rawhide, and The Rifleman. In 1959, he was cast as General Phil Sheridan in the episode "One Bullet from Broken Bow" of the NBC western series, Bat Masterson, starring Gene Barry in the title role. He appeared again later that year as crooked hotel owner “Ron Davis” in the episode “Lady Luck”. He also appeared on NBC's Bonanza ten times as entirely different characters.

In the 1960s Maxwell began appearing in a variety of guest roles. For example, in March, 1961, he appeared as foreman Deeb Erickson on episode 25, season 2, of "The Rebel": "The Burying of Sammy Hart." He appeared in My Favorite Martian (first season, episode 23) as Jakobar in "An Old Friend of the Family". He was a regular on the short-lived series The Hank McCune Show and appeared as Corp. Giles on the World War II drama Combat! in the episode "Ask Me No Questions" in 1966. He also appeared as Virgil Earp in the Star Trek episode “Spectre of the Gun” in 1968.

He had his longest running role as the unseen, uncredited radio announcer on numerous episodes of Gilligan's Island.

• Charles Maxwell at IMDb
• Charles Maxwell at Memory Alpha