Who Is Max Greenfield’s Wife? All About Tess Sanchez

Max Greenfield may have portrayed a flirt in New Girl, but in real life, he's happily married to his wife, Tess Sanchez.

After they wed in August 2008, the couple welcomed two children — daughter Lilly and son Ozzie — and continuously nurtured their connection. The Neighborhood actor shared that the secret to their happy marriage was making sure they always prioritized one another, he told Parents magazine in September 2021.

"Max always puts me first — smartly — which makes for a happy home," Sanchez added. "And because we're thoughtful with each other, we've ended up with empathetic, nice kids, because that's what they see all day."

Greenfield elaborated, speaking to Sanchez, "We communicate well too. You're better at voicing things, but I'm a great listener. If we haven't spent enough time together, you'll say, 'I need to see you,' and I'm there!"

As for other parts of their relationship, Greenfield has shared how much he respects his wife's opinion on his work. Sanchez was part of the casting world for two decades and was particularly impressed with his portrayal in the 2014 indie film About Alex.

"[My wife] did turn to me after seeing this film and said, 'I feel like you gave a strong performance,' " he told ABC News. "I thought, 'I must be really good in this! She's never done that!' "

So, who is Max Greenfield's wife? Here's everything to know about Tess Sanchez and her relationship with the actor.

She was a casting director

Sanchez has worked in the entertainment industry for years, most notably serving as the vice president of talent and casting at The WB from 2000 to 2007, per her LinkedIn. During her time at the network, she helped discover talent for several shows, including Felicity, Dawson’s Creek, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Smallville and Supernatural, according to Deadline.

She was an independent casting director for two years before joining Fox in 2009 and was eventually promoted to executive vice president of casting in 2016. Sanchez held the position until 2020, and at the time of her departure, she was the longest-tenured senior programming executive and the only woman of color among Fox's top creative executives.

During her tenure, Sanchez worked on shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, 9-1-1 and The Mindy Project.

She met Greenfield at a bar

Greenfield and Sanchez met in an old-fashioned way: at a Hollywood bar.

The American Horror Story cast member told Parents he was an unemployed actor at the time and went out with his friends, while Sanchez was there having drinks with girlfriends. He asked for her number, and after their second date, he made her a mix CD titled "Cool Jams."

She recalled, "He actually said, 'I have this extra one, if you want it.' "

The two felt the sparks right away and have only become "better partners" since, Sanchez said.

“Definitely chemistry at first sight, but as our relationship has progressed, it's just gotten better,” Greenfield added.

They got married in 2008

Greenfield and Sanchez wed on Aug. 9, 2008, three years before New Girl debuted. In a 2014 interview with Vulture, he shared how much he enjoyed their wedding ceremony.

"Weddings are the best. I felt like my wife and I had a really special, beautiful wedding," Greenfield said. "And it was such a great moment for us. When you go to a wedding, I really look forward to the ceremony as opposed to the reception, the party. I like to hear the vows, what people wrote to each other."

The Glass Castle star added that he wrote his vows, which included "some really beautiful stuff that I don't remember. No jokes. I kept it real straight."

After getting married, he said attending other people's weddings turned into a bit of a competition to see whose wedding was better — but he always rooted for the newlyweds.

"My wife and I like to compare the weddings we go to our wedding," Greenfield continued. "Usually, we win that game. You go in with the hope that you’re going to be topped."

"You go, 'I hope it’s better than ours. I hope these guys are so in love, and show that to us and open up to us in the moment. And let us all feel that,' " he concluded.

She and Greenfield share two children

Greenfield and Sanchez welcomed their first child, a daughter named Lilly, in 2009. The couple's family expanded again with the addition of their second child, a son named Ozzie, in 2015.

At first, the couple weren't sure if they wanted to have children, as Sanchez told Parents. She added that she was laser-focused on her career, but after giving birth to Lilly, they knew they wanted a second.

"When Tess was pregnant with Lilly, I definitely didn't think I was ready. ... But after Lilly, I knew I wanted a second,” Greenfield said. “I was an only child, and I wanted her to have a sibling.”

Sanchez was initially "fine" with just one child but suspected she was pregnant before a trip to Disneyland, where she later threw up in Greenfield’s baseball cap after a Ferris wheel ride. Now, Sanchez says she “can’t imagine” life without two kids, who are being raised to be kind people.

"We are pretty relaxed about everything, except how they treat and talk to other people. The only time we ever get mad is if we see the kids being thoughtless," she shared. "They know they always have to be kind and have compassion."

"We tell them­ that your friends, your teachers — everyone you meet — has a story, and you should be interested in it," Greenfield added.

She's releasing a book

Three years after leaving the world of TV casting, Sanchez announced that she is working on an upcoming book of essays titled We’re Going In A Different Direction.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the project gives a closer look at what it was like for her to shift roles from “working mom-boss” to “her actor-husband’s plus-one,” as described by the publisher. The “uncomfortable aftermath” also happened around the same time that Sanchez’s father, who was one of her “most loyal supporters," died.

When the news dropped, she shared a few words of her own on Instagram, expressing her gratitude toward Greenfield in the process.

”Pulling back the curtain ya’ll,” she wrote. “[Thank you] @iammaxgreenfield who generously allows me to talk about us, and tell more than a few jokes at his expense. You will laugh and maybe cry too. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️.”

Greenfield followed this up with his own heartfelt message on Instagram. "A beautiful example of perspective and acceptance after a really s--- couple of years. I love you. We love you,” he wrote. “And I’m so hoping Michelle Williams agrees to record the audio book. ❤️❤️❤️.”

She's a united team with her husband

Sanchez told Parents that she’s the “nuts and bolts” of their family operation and keeps things running smoothly, while Greenfield is “playful.” The actor revealed that sometimes, when his daughter has a question he's unsure how to answer, they'll ask for Sanchez's input because of her sharp-witted approach to parenting.

On that same front, she asks her husband for one "must" from his end. "Don't debate me in front of the kids. Back me up," she said.

In 2014, Greenfield told ABC News that Sanchez was in charge at home. "She's the boss!" he joked at the time. “She keeps me in the ground, as opposed to grounded."

They've rescued two dogs

Greenfield and Sanchez are pet parents to Joey (also known as Rox) and Darlene — both of whom they rescued in 2020 and 2023, respectively.

The pair adopted Darlene from Wags and Walks after she was under their care for 400 days. The shelter announced the pup's adoption in an Instagram post, writing that Greenfield and Sanchez had told them that Darlene was a "million dollar dog" and they "knew she was the one the first day we brought her home."

In May 2024, Sanchez told PEOPLE that she and Greenfield have a deal in place when it comes to the dogs — when he's away filming, they hire pet help. "The dogs are such a huge responsibility," the mom of two said.