Max Gail, also known as Maxwell Trowbridge Gail, is a renowned American actor, producer, and activist with a career spanning almost five decades. Despite starting off in various professions such as teaching, counseling, and even finance, it was through acting in theater that he truly connected with his innermost emotions. Beginning with small roles in the 1970s, Gail has since become famous for his portrayals of Detective Wojo in ‘Barney Miller’, Chief Bromden in the original stage version of ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’, and Burt Shotton in the film ’42’. His exceptional performance as Detective Wojo even earned him consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor. Currently, Gail continues to showcase his talent as Mike Corbin in the TV series ‘General Hospital’. Additionally, he is the founder of ‘Full Circle’, a production house that focuses on creating documentaries addressing social and political issues. Notably, Gail’s unique perspective on spirituality is reflected in his West Malibu home, which features circular rooms and arches, symbolizing the central metaphor of his beliefs.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Maxwell Trowbridge Gail Jr.
- Age: 80 Years, 80 Year Old Males
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Nan Harris (m. 1989), Willie Beir (m. 1983–1986)
- Father: Maxwell Trowbridge Gail
- Mother: Mary Elizabeth
- Siblings: Mary Gail
- Children: Grace Gail, India Gail, Maxwell Gail
- Actors
- Directors
- Height: 6’0″ (183 cm), 6’0″ Males
- Grouping of People: Twins
- City: Detroit, Michigan
- U.S. State: Michigan
- More Facts
- Education: Williams College
Early Career
Gail made his debut as Chief Bromden in 1970 in the theatre production of ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ at the ‘Little Fox Theatre’ in San Francisco. Over the next five years, he landed small roles in movies such as ‘The Priest Killer’ and ‘Night Moves’. He also began acting in television shows, appearing in ‘Mr. and Mrs. Cop’ and ‘Harry and the Kids’.
Breakthrough Role
From 1975 to 1982, Gail portrayed Detective Stan “Wojo” Wojciehowicz in the sitcom ‘Barney Miller’. This role brought him fame and he even directed a few episodes of the show. After this, he appeared in the TV show ‘Pearl’ and the crime drama series ‘The Streets of San Francisco’.
Continued Success
In the next decade, Gail continued to impress audiences with his performances. He played Harold, the owner of a taxi company, in the movie ‘D.C. Cab’ and portrayed investigative reporter Llewellan Farley Jr. in the TV series ‘Whiz Kids’. He also acted in the science fiction series ‘Quantum Leap’ and worked as a narrator in the documentary ‘Hoxsey: The Quack Who Cured Cancer’.
Later Career
In the 1990s, Gail appeared in various TV series including ‘Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman’, ‘Due South’, and ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’. He also starred in the movie ‘Normal Life’. Over the next decade, he made appearances in shows such as ‘Gary Unmarried’, ‘Scorpion’, ‘Mad Men’, ‘NCIS’, ‘The Drew Carey Show’, and ‘Sons & Daughters’.
Milestones and Recent Work
One of the milestones in Gail’s career was his role as Burt Shotton in the 2013 movie ’42’. He has also appeared in movies such as ‘The Frontier’, ‘I’ll See You In My Dreams’, ‘Underdog Kids’, ‘September Morning’, ‘The Hero’, and ‘The Cool Kids’. He has also worked in TV shows like ‘Longmire’, ‘Mad Men’, ‘Hawaii Five-0’, and ‘Psych’.
Current Projects
Since February 5, 2018, Gail has been appearing as Mike Corbin on the long-running serial ‘General Hospital’. He also runs a production company called ‘Full Circle’, which focuses on making documentaries on various subjects.
Personal Life
Gail was born on April 5, 1943, in Detroit, Michigan. He has a twin sister named Mary and two other sets of twin sisters. He also has a brother who is an actor. Gail developed an interest in piano at a young age and took lessons to learn it.
Gail has been married twice. He was previously married to Willie Bier, who passed away from cancer. They had a daughter named India. He is currently separated from his second wife, Nan Harris, with whom he has two children named Maxwell and Grace.
Before pursuing acting, Gail completed his education, earning a B.A. in economics from Williams College and an M.B.A. in international finance from the University of Michigan. He also worked as an instructor and taught English and ancient history.
Gail underwent a bilateral knee replacement surgery in 2015 and made a successful recovery with the help of physical therapies and yoga.