# Max Greenfield
**Max Greenfield** (born 1980) is an American actor best known for his Emmy-nominated portrayal of Schmidt on the Fox sitcom *New Girl* (2011–2018) and for playing Dave Johnson on the CBS comedy *The Neighborhood* (2018–2026).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0339011) He was born in Dobbs Ferry, New York.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/max_greenfield)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Breakout role | Schmidt on *New Girl* (Fox, 2011–18), a role that earned Emmy, Golden Globe, and Critics' Choice Television Award nominations[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0339011) |
| Emmy nomination | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, 2012, for Schmidt on *New Girl*[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/max-greenfield) |
| Second sitcom lead | Dave Johnson on *The Neighborhood* (CBS, 2018–2026), 156 episodes[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/7709/max-greenfield) |
| Early roles | Leo D'Amato on *Veronica Mars*, Nick Pepper on *Ugly Betty*, lead in *Modern Men* (The WB, 2006)[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/max-greenfield) |
| Film work | *The Big Short* (2015), *Hello, My Name is Doris* (2015), *They Came Together*, *Promising Young Woman* (2020), *The Valet* (2022)[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/max_greenfield) |
| Recent work | Voice of Yoshi Schwooper in *Long Story Short* (2025); Lev Levenson in *Running Point* (2025); Jack Beringer in *A Man on the Inside* (2025)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0339011) |
| Upcoming | Cast in *The White Lotus* season 4 and a guest role in Amy Poehler's Peacock comedy *Dig*[5](https://los40.com/2026/04/25/helena-bonham-carter-abandona-the-white-lotus-nada-mas-empezar-a-rodar-su-cuarta-temporada/) • [6](https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/hyped-amy-poehler-dig-peacock-new-girl-brooklyn-nine-nine-max-greenfield-jason-mantzoukas-joined) |
## Early life and career beginnings
Greenfield was born in Dobbs Ferry, New York, and moved to Los Angeles, California after spending a year at an art college in his home state.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/max_greenfield)
He advanced from work as an extra to guest roles on *Gilmore Girls* (The WB/CW, 2000–07) and independent features such as *When Do We Eat?* (2004), in which he played a young dotcom tycoon who loses everything and becomes a Hasidic Jew.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/max_greenfield) • [3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/max-greenfield) In 2005 he earned praise for his recurring turn as Leo D'Amato, a duplicitous sheriff's deputy on *Veronica Mars* (UPN/[The CW](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-cw), 2004–07), which briefly led to a starring role in the [Jerry Bruckheimer](https://www.edgepedia.org/jerry-bruckheimer)-produced WB comedy *Modern Men* (2006).[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/max_greenfield) He also played the much-loathed assistant Nick Pepper on *Ugly Betty* (ABC, 2006–2010), appeared on *The O.C.* as a younger version of [Peter Gallagher](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-gallagher)'s Sandy Cohen, and played a professor's aide on the ABC Family series *Greek* whose relationship with a college student resulted in the first gay kiss seen on the family network.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/max_greenfield) • [3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/max-greenfield) Guest appearances in this period included *Happy Endings*, *Hot in Cleveland*, *Castle*, *Melrose Place*, and *Boston Public*.[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/max-greenfield)
## New Girl and Schmidt
In 2011 Greenfield landed his breakout role as Schmidt on *New Girl*, created by Liz Meriwether, opposite [Zooey Deschanel](https://www.edgepedia.org/zooey-deschanel), Jake Johnson, and [Lamorne Morris](https://www.edgepedia.org/lamorne-morris).[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/max_greenfield) • [7](https://time.com/6958944/best-shows-peacock/) The character was initially envisioned as a garden-variety cad, but Greenfield's performance, marked by precise timing and biting delivery, quickly earned a fan following, and the producers gave Schmidt a wounded soul and considerable heart, especially in his relationship with [Hannah Simone](https://www.edgepedia.org/hannah-simone)'s Cece, with whom the character fathered two children by the final season.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/max_greenfield) The Guardian described Schmidt as the show's "compulsively quotable, batty breakout star," a supporting character who out-funnied the lead.[8](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/jun/30/schmidt-max-greenfield-new-girl)
The role brought award recognition: a 2012 Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, a 2013 Golden Globe nomination, two Critics' Choice Television Award nominations in the same supporting category, and a Teen Choice Award nomination for Choice TV Male Scene Stealer.[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/max-greenfield) Greenfield also contributed to the character beyond the scripts. The SchmidtTips Twitter account was jointly devised by one of the show's writers and Greenfield,[9](https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/56220/3/TransmediaSitcomFINAL.pdf) and he said in a 2012 interview that a good deal of the show's material was improvised by the cast.[10](https://www.dailyactor.com/news/new-girl-star-max-greenfield-improv/) In a 2026 interview he said he had already read scripts for new episodes by Meriwether and that, as far as he knew, a revival was happening.[11](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/tv-shows/new-girl-revival-happening-max-greenfield/)
## The Neighborhood and later television
Since 2018 Greenfield has portrayed Dave Johnson on the CBS comedy *The Neighborhood*, opposite [Cedric the Entertainer](https://www.edgepedia.org/cedric-the-entertainer); the series ran through its eighth and final season in 2026, with TVmaze crediting him with 156 episodes.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0339011) • [4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/7709/max-greenfield) Greenfield said the show's early treatment of gentrification and race was a real conversation piece, and that he did not approach the work by asking how to do it comedically.[12](https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/max-greenfield-the-neighborhood-interview/)
His recent television work spans comedy and voice acting. He played Jack Beringer in the second season of Netflix's Ted Danson comedy *A Man on the Inside* (2025), in which his college president is blackmailed by Danson's undercover professor,[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/7709/max-greenfield) • [13](https://www.starcouriernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/SC-2025-09-04.pdf) voiced Yoshi Schwooper in the animated series *Long Story Short* (2025),[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0339011) and played Lev Levenson in the [Kate Hudson](https://www.edgepedia.org/kate-hudson) basketball comedy *Running Point* (2025–2026).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0339011) • [14](https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/tv-shows/running-point-cast/) He has also taken dramatic turns away from Schmidt's register, playing a drug addict on *[American Horror Story: Hotel](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-horror-story-hotel)* (FX, 2015) and a down-and-out hustler who befriends [Andrew Cunanan](https://www.edgepedia.org/andrew-cunanan) in *The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story* (FX, 2018).[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/max_greenfield)
## Film work
Greenfield's film credits include *Hello, My Name is Doris* (2015), as the crush object of [Sally Field](https://www.edgepedia.org/sally-field)'s shy office worker, and *The Big Short* (2015), as well as producing duties on the 2017 Ice Cube comedy *Fist Fight*.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/max_greenfield) Also among his earlier movies was *Cross Bronx*, an independent coming-of-age picture that debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival and took home the Audience Award at the Cinevegas and Urban World festivals alike; additionally, [David Wain](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-wain) cast him in *They Came Together*, a romantic comedy spoof where he portrayed [Paul Rudd](https://www.edgepedia.org/paul-rudd)'s character's couch-surfing younger brother opposite Amy Poehler.[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/max-greenfield) Later credits include Joe in *Promising Young Woman* (2020) and Vincent Royce in *The Valet* (2022).[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/max_greenfield) He appears as Ted Birenbaum in *Don't Say Good Luck* (2026), which Rotten Tomatoes lists as his highest-rated film at 93 percent, against a low of 11 percent for *Cats & Dogs 3: Paws Unite!* (2020).[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/max_greenfield)
## Upcoming projects
Greenfield was announced in the cast of *The White Lotus* season 4, which began production in 2026 for a likely 2027 release.[5](https://los40.com/2026/04/25/helena-bonham-carter-abandona-the-white-lotus-nada-mas-empezar-a-rodar-su-cuarta-temporada/) He will also guest star in *Dig*, [Amy Poehler](https://www.edgepedia.org/amy-poehler)'s Peacock comedy about archeologists working on a dig site in Greece, reuniting Poehler with [Parks and Recreation](https://www.edgepedia.org/parks-and-recreation) creator Mike Schur; Greenfield plays a high-society art dealer whom Poehler's character Elise meets at a fancy party.[6](https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/hyped-amy-poehler-dig-peacock-new-girl-brooklyn-nine-nine-max-greenfield-jason-mantzoukas-joined)
## Personal life and other work
Greenfield has been married to Tess Sanchez since August 8, 2008, and they have two children.[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/7709/max-greenfield) He has written several children's books, a pursuit he has said grew out of the pandemic.[14](https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/tv-shows/running-point-cast/) • [15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOW_s9-xSEo) In interviews he has said he nearly quit acting to become a writer before landing *New Girl*.[16](https://www.thewrap.com/max-greenfield-almost-quit-acting-become-writer-new-girl/) He hosted the 28th Annual Art Directors Guild Awards in 2024.[17](https://assets.adg.org/media/press/2023-12-18_12-35-45/28th_ADG_Awards_Host_Announcement_V.2_Embargo.pdf)
## References
1. [Max Greenfield, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0339011)
2. [Max Greenfield Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/max_greenfield)
3. [Max Greenfield, Emmy Awards and Nominations, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/max-greenfield)
4. [Max Greenfield, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/7709/max-greenfield)
5. [Helena Bonham Carter abandona 'The White Lotus', los40](https://los40.com/2026/04/25/helena-bonham-carter-abandona-the-white-lotus-nada-mas-empezar-a-rodar-su-cuarta-temporada/)
6. [Amy Poehler's 'Dig' Adds Max Greenfield, Jason Mantzoukas, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/hyped-amy-poehler-dig-peacock-new-girl-brooklyn-nine-nine-max-greenfield-jason-mantzoukas-joined)
7. [The Best TV Shows to Watch on Peacock, Time](https://time.com/6958944/best-shows-peacock/)
8. [New Girl: move over Jess, Schmidt is the real star, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/jun/30/schmidt-max-greenfield-new-girl)
9. [Transmedia Sitcom analysis, University of Reading (CENTAUR)](https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/56220/3/TransmediaSitcomFINAL.pdf)
10. ['New Girl' Star Max Greenfield Reveals a Secret about their Scripts, Daily Actor](https://www.dailyactor.com/news/new-girl-star-max-greenfield-improv/)
11. ['New Girl' Star Max Greenfield Says He's 'Seen Scripts' for Revival, TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/tv-shows/new-girl-revival-happening-max-greenfield/)
12. ['This Is A Very Consistent Show': Max Greenfield On CBS's 'The Neighborhood', CBS News Philadelphia](https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/max-greenfield-the-neighborhood-interview/)
13. [Star Courier News, September 4, 2025](https://www.starcouriernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/SC-2025-09-04.pdf)
14. [Meet the 'Running Point' Cast, Marie Claire](https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/tv-shows/running-point-cast/)
15. [Max Greenfield on Decision to Quit Acting before "New Girl", Le Batard Show (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOW_s9-xSEo)
16. [Max Greenfield Almost Quit Acting to Become Writer Before 'New Girl', TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/max-greenfield-almost-quit-acting-become-writer-new-girl/)
17. [28th ADG Awards Host Announcement, Art Directors Guild](https://assets.adg.org/media/press/2023-12-18_12-35-45/28th_ADG_Awards_Host_Announcement_V.2_Embargo.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Go to G*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license