Born and raised in Michigan, Max Gail started his career as a private school teacher before switching over to acting. He began acting in the early 1970s, starring in the San Francisco and New York stage productions of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
Gail’s career took off when he landed the role of ‘Det. Stan Wojciejowicz’ in the Golden Globe and Emmy® Award winning sitcom “Barney Miller.” During the show’s eight-season run, Gail starred alongside Hal Linden and garnered two Primetime Emmy® nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Variety or Music Series. From there, he was cast in the CBS series “Whiz Kids” as well as several TV movies, including “Letting Go” with John Ritter and “Our Shining Moment” for NBC.
His extensive television credits also include the TV movies “Ride with the Wind” for ABC and “Not in This Town” with Ed Begley Jr. Gail has also guest-starred in many hit series, including “Walker, Texas Ranger” and “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” for CBS and “Home Improvement” and “The Drew Carey Show” for ABC. More recently, Gail has appeared on the award-winning soap opera “Days of Our Lives” and co-starred in the ABC series “Sons and Daughters.” He has also guest starred in such highly acclaimed series as HBO’s “Entourage” and Showtime’s “Dexter,” as well as “Cold Case” and “NCIS” for CBS. He has also played a recurring role in the CBS comedy “Gary Unmarried.”
Gail has not limited himself to television, and since beginning his acting career, he has accumulated numerous film credits. He played ‘King’ in the Sundance Film Festival drama nominee “Heartbreakers” and alongside Chuck Norris in “Forest Warrior.” He also starred in the features “Sodbusters,” “Good Luck,” starring Gregory Hines, “Bloodlines” and “The Tillamook Treasure,” which won Best Children’s/Family Film at three different film festivals.
