Who Is Max Greenfield Wife
Max Greenfield’s wife is Tess Sanchez, an American casting director, author, and entrepreneur from Los Angeles, California. The two have been married since 2008. Max Greenfield is best known for playing Schmidt on New Girl and for his role on The Neighborhood, and fans searching “Max Greenfield wife” are usually curious about the woman who has stood beside him since long before he became famous. This article covers everything known about Tess Sanchez — her background, career, how the couple met, their wedding, their kids, and her life outside the spotlight.
Who Is Tess Sanchez?
Tess Sanchez is an American casting director, creative director, and, more recently, a published author. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and is of Latina heritage. Details about her exact birth date and early education have not been widely confirmed in public records, though she has spoken openly in interviews about growing up in Los Angeles and building her career from the ground up in the entertainment industry.
Sanchez broke into Hollywood casting at a young age, working her way up through network television long before she met Max Greenfield. Her early career put her in close contact with some of the biggest shows of the late 1990s and 2000s, giving her a front-row seat to the industry her future husband would eventually join as an actor. Friends and colleagues have described her as sharp, direct, and highly skilled at spotting talent — traits that would come to define her decades-long career in casting.
Tess Sanchez’s Career & Professional Life
Tess Sanchez built an impressive career as a Hollywood casting executive. She served as vice president of talent and casting at The WB Television Network from 2000 to 2007, where she helped cast standout shows such as Felicity, Dawson’s Creek, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Smallville, and Supernatural.
After her time at The WB, Sanchez moved to Fox Entertainment, where she spent more than 11 years as executive vice president of casting. During her tenure at Fox, she played a key role in staffing hit series including 9-1-1 and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. She exited Fox in 2020.
More recently, Sanchez has shifted into writing. In 2025, she released a book of personal essays titled We’ve Decided to Go in a Different Direction, drawing on her years of Hollywood experience. Max Greenfield has publicly supported her literary work, even contributing to promote the book. Her exact net worth has not been officially disclosed, though her long executive career in network casting suggests significant professional success.
How Did Max Greenfield and Tess Sanchez Meet?
Max Greenfield and Tess Sanchez met in 2003 at a bar in Los Angeles, years before Greenfield became a household name. At the time, he was a struggling actor without steady work, and she was just beginning her casting career. Sanchez has described the moment they met as an instant connection, recalling on the podcast Broad Ideas With Rachel Bilson that they simply locked eyes across the room.
The couple dated for several years before getting engaged, building their relationship during a period when Greenfield was still trying to break into acting. Sanchez has said she believed in his talent long before Hollywood took notice, and the two supported each other through the uncertain early years of his career. Interestingly, despite her deep ties to the casting world, Sanchez has clarified in interviews that she was not responsible for casting Greenfield in his breakout role on New Girl — a common misconception among fans. Their relationship grew steadily out of the public eye until they were ready to make it official.
Marriage & Wedding Details
Max Greenfield and Tess Sanchez got married in August 2008, tying the knot in a private ceremony surrounded by close friends and family. At the time, Greenfield had not yet landed the role of Schmidt on New Girl, meaning the couple built the foundation of their marriage before fame changed their day-to-day life.
Since their wedding, the couple has spoken fondly about the early years of their marriage and how they navigated Greenfield’s rising career together. Sanchez has credited open communication and mutual prioritization as key to their lasting bond, a theme the couple has revisited in multiple joint interviews over the years as they’ve celebrated wedding anniversaries.
Children & Family Life
Max Greenfield and Tess Sanchez are parents to two children: daughter Lilly, born in 2010, and son Ozzie, born in 2015. The couple has largely kept their children out of the spotlight, choosing to share only occasional glimpses of family life rather than detailed public updates.
Sanchez has described herself as the “nuts and bolts” of the family, keeping the household organized, while Greenfield brings a more playful energy to parenting. The couple has said they rely on each other to stay consistent with the kids, with Sanchez asking Greenfield to back her up on parenting decisions rather than debate them in front of Lilly and Ozzie. Greenfield has also written several children’s books, drawing inspiration from fatherhood. The family also shares their home with two rescue dogs.
Tess Sanchez on Social Media
Tess Sanchez maintains a presence on Instagram, where she occasionally shares moments from her life, including updates related to her book, family milestones, and appearances alongside Max Greenfield at industry events. She is not a high-profile influencer and keeps her online presence relatively low-key compared to typical celebrity spouses, focusing more on her writing career and casting background than lifestyle content. Exact follower counts fluctuate and are not consistently published.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Tess Sanchez |
| Date of Birth | Not publicly confirmed |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Casting Director, Author |
| Married to | Max Greenfield |
| Marriage Year | 2008 |
| Children | 2 (Lilly, Ozzie) |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
FAQ Section
Q: What is Max Greenfield’s wife’s name?
A: Max Greenfield’s wife is Tess Sanchez, a former Hollywood casting executive and author. They have been married since August 2008.
Q: How old is Tess Sanchez?
A: Tess Sanchez’s exact date of birth has not been publicly confirmed, so her precise age isn’t officially verified in reliable sources.
Q: What does Tess Sanchez do for a living?
A: Tess Sanchez worked for years as a top casting executive at The WB and Fox Entertainment. She’s now also a published author.
Q: When did Max Greenfield and Tess Sanchez get married?
A: The couple got married in August 2008, several years after meeting at a Los Angeles bar in 2003.
Q: How many kids do Max Greenfield and Tess Sanchez have?
A: Max Greenfield and Tess Sanchez have two children together: daughter Lilly, born in 2010, and son Ozzie, born in 2015.
Conclusion
Tess Sanchez is far more than just “Max Greenfield’s wife” — she’s a respected former casting executive who helped shape some of television’s biggest hits, and now an author in her own right. Married since 2008 and raising two children together, Greenfield and Sanchez have built a lasting partnership rooted in mutual support long before Hollywood fame entered the picture. As Max Greenfield’s career continues to grow, Tess Sanchez remains an accomplished figure whose own story stands firmly on its own.
