{{Short description|American actor (1943–2019)}} {{Other people}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Max Wright | image = Max Wright "Buffalo Bill" (1983 NBC press photo) (cropped).jpg | image_size = | caption = Wright in ''Buffalo Bill'', 1983 | birth_name = George Edward Wright | birth_date = {{Birth date|1943|8|2}} | birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|06|26|1943|08|02}} | death_place = Englewood, New Jersey, U.S. | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1968–2011 | children = 2 | spouse = {{Marriage|Linda Ybarrondo|1965|2017|end=her death}} }} '''George Edward "Max" Wright''' (August 2, 1943 – June 26, 2019) was an American actor, known for his role as Willie Tanner on the sitcom ''ALF'' (1986–1990).
==Early life== Wright was born August 2, 1943, in Detroit, Michigan, as George Edward Wright. He took the nickname "Max" as other actors were already known as George Wright.<ref name=NYT>{{cite web |last=Padnani |first=Amisha |author-link=Amy Padnani |date=July 2, 2019 |title=Max Wright, Who Went From Theater Roles to 'ALF,' Dies at 75 |website=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/02/arts/television/max-wright-dead.html |access-date=July 3, 2019}}</ref>
He moved to the suburb of Southfield as a child, graduating from Southfield Senior High School in 1961. While a student at Southfield, he was very active in the theatre program and had leads in two different musical productions.{{Citation needed |date=March 2024}}
==Career== ===Early film and television=== Wright made supporting appearances on television shows such as ''WKRP in Cincinnati''<ref name="Max Wright, 'Alf' Star and Veteran Actor, Dead at 75" /> and ''Cheers'',<ref name="Max Wright, who played Willie Tanner on TV's 'ALF', dies at 75">{{cite web |last=Alexander |first=Bryan |date=June 27, 2019 |title=Max Wright, who played Willie Tanner on TV's 'ALF', dies at 75 |website=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2019/06/27/max-wright-willie-tanner-alf-dies-after-cancer-battle-75/1578386001/ |access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref> and was a regular cast member on ''Misfits of Science'',<ref name="Max Wright, who played Willie Tanner on TV's 'ALF', dies at 75" /> ''AfterMASH'',<ref name="ALF star Max Wright dead at 75: Cause of death linked to cancer">{{cite web |last=Didymus |first=John Thomas |date=June 27, 2019 |title=ALF star Max Wright dead at 75: Cause of death linked to cancer |website=Monsters & Critics |url=https://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/alf-star-max-wright-dead-at-75-cause-of-death-linked-to-cancer/ |access-date=July 2, 2019}}</ref> and ''Buffalo Bill''.<ref name=BBC_obit /> He had roles in the films ''All That Jazz'' (1979),<ref name="Max Wright, who played Willie Tanner on TV's 'ALF', dies at 75" /> ''Reds'' (1981),<ref name="Max Wright, who played Willie Tanner on TV's 'ALF', dies at 75" /> ''The Sting II'' (1983),<ref name="Max Wright, who played Willie Tanner on TV's 'ALF', dies at 75" /> and ''Soul Man'' (1986),<ref name="Max Wright, who played Willie Tanner on TV's 'ALF', dies at 75" /> and played Dr. Josef Mengele in the 1980 TV movie ''Playing for Time''.<ref name="Playing for Time - Rotten Tomatoes">{{cite web |title=Playing for Time |website=Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/playing_for_time_1980 |access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref>
===''ALF''=== From 1986 to 1990, Wright appeared in the sitcom ''ALF'' as Willie Tanner, a typical father of a middle-class family, who finds an alien who has crash-landed on Earth. Despite this becoming his best-known performance, the actor despised the role due to its huge technical demands and the fact that he, a human, played a supporting character for an "inanimate object". "It was hard work and very grim", he stated in a 2000 interview to ''People''.<ref name="Alf: 1986-1990">{{cite web |title=Alf: 1986–1990 |website=People |url=https://people.com/archive/alf-1986-1990-vol-53-no-25/ |access-date=July 2, 2019}}</ref> He was also, reportedly, very happy when the show was canceled in 1990. "I was hugely eager to have it over with", he said in the same interview. According to his co-star in the show, Anne Schedeen, "there was one take, and Max walked off the set, went to his dressing room, got his bags, went to his car, and disappeared. Nobody had to say, 'Wrap,' and there were no goodbyes". However, Wright later admitted that as the years passed he looked back at ''ALF'' with less animosity and conceded that "It doesn't matter what I felt or what the days were like, ''ALF'' brought people a lot of joy."<ref name="Alf: 1986-1990" />
===Later film and television=== Wright's later appearances included ''Murder, She Wrote'',<ref name="Max Wright - TV Guide" /> ''Quantum Leap'',<ref name="Max Wright - TV Guide" /> ''Murphy Brown'',<ref name="Max Wright - TV Guide" /> ''Early Edition'',<ref name="Max Wright - TV Guide" /> and the first and second seasons of the sitcom ''Friends'' as Terry, the manager of Central Perk.<ref name=BBC_obit /> He also appeared as Dr. Herbert Denninger in the 1994 made-for-TV adaptation of Stephen King's ''The Stand'',<ref name="ALF Star Max Wright Has Passed Away">{{cite web |last=Clark |first=Anne Victoria |date=June 26, 2019 |title=ALF Star Max Wright Has Passed Away |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/06/alf-star-max-wright-has-passed-away.html |access-date=July 2, 2019 |website=Vulture}}</ref> Berger in the 1994 film ''The Shadow'',<ref name="Max Wright, who played Willie Tanner on TV's 'ALF', dies at 75" /> the inspector in the 1995 film ''Grumpier Old Men'',<ref name="Max Wright - TV Guide">{{cite web |title=Max Wright |website=TV Guide |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/max-wright/credits/190550/ |access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref> Günter Wendt in the 1998 HBO miniseries ''From the Earth to the Moon'',<ref name="Max Wright - TV Guide" /> and Norm's boss in the sitcom ''The Norm Show''.<ref name="Max Wright, who played Willie Tanner on TV's 'ALF', dies at 75" />
===Stage=== Wright also had a stage career. In 1968, he appeared in the original production of ''The Great White Hope'' at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.<ref name="Max Wright, 'Alf' Star and Veteran Actor, Dead at 75">{{cite magazine |last=Legaspi |first=Althea |date=June 27, 2019 |title=Max Wright, 'Alf' Star and Veteran Actor, Dead at 75 |magazine=Rolling Stone |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/max-wright-alf-star-actor-dead-at-75-852869/ |access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref> In 1998, he appeared on Broadway in ''Ivanov'', which garnered him a Tony nomination,<ref name="Max Wright, 'Alf' Star and Veteran Actor, Dead at 75" /> and played Sir Andrew in ''Twelfth Night'' at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.<ref name="Max Wright, Tony Nominee and Dad on TV's Alf, Dies at 75">{{cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=June 27, 2019 |title=Max Wright, Tony Nominee and Dad on TV's Alf, Dies at 75 |website=Playbill |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/max-wright-tony-nominee-and-dad-on-tvs-alf-dies-at-75 |access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref> In 2007, he acted at the JET (Jewish Ensemble Theatre) in Detroit<ref name="JET">{{cite web |title=A beautiful production opens JET season |work=pridesource.com |url=http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=27447 |access-date=August 4, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929220911/http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=27447 |archive-date=September 29, 2011}}</ref> and in the production of ''No Man's Land'' at the American Repertory Theater.<ref name="A.R.T.">{{cite web |title=No Man's Land |work=americanrepertorytheater.org |url=http://www.americanrepertorytheater.org/events/show/no-mans-land}}</ref> He also appeared in The Public Theater's 2010 production of ''The Winter's Tale'' and ''The Merchant of Venice'' at Shakespeare in the Park festivals.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 22, 2006 |title=The Public Theater's website|publisher=Publictheater.org |url=http://www.publictheater.org/content/view/126/219 |access-date=December 15, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121121040328/http://www.publictheater.org/content/view/126/219 |archive-date=November 21, 2012}}</ref>
==Personal life== Wright was married to Linda Ybarrondo from 1965 until her death from breast cancer in 2017. The couple had two children.<ref name="Max Wright, who played Willie Tanner on TV's 'ALF', dies at 75" /><ref name=BBC_obit>{{cite news |date=June 27, 2019 |title=Max Wright: Star of Alf and Buffalo Bill dies aged 75 |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-48784885 |access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Haring |first=Bruce |date=June 26, 2019 |title=Max Wright Dies: Father On '80s Sitcom 'Alf' Was 75 |work=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |location=United States |url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/max-wright-dies-father-on-80s-sitcom-alf-was-75-1202638569/ |access-date=June 26, 2019}}</ref>
===Legal issues=== On January 10, 2000, Wright was arrested and charged for alleged DUI following a non-injury car accident in Hollywood. He was later released on a bail of $7,500.<ref>{{cite news|title=Man Killed in Crash on Hollywood Freeway|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jan-11-me-52958-story.html|access-date=November 25, 2025|work=Los Angeles Times|date=January 11, 2000}}</ref>
In August 2003, he was arrested and charged for another alleged DUI for driving through New York state after running over some mailboxes and a traffic sign. His license was suspended for six months. He was booked into the Columbia County Jail and posted bail a month later on September 30, 2003.<ref>{{cite news|title=Former 'Alf' actor faces DWI count|url=https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/fyi/former-alf-actor-faces-dwi-count/101-384267607|access-date=November 25, 2025|work=The Daily Gazette|date=August 29, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Rich Azzopardi|title='ALF' TV father is busted|url=https://www.dailygazette.com/alf-tv-father-is-busted/article_32bc3790-d5e6-56dd-baf0-555cc7bd2a78.html|access-date=November 25, 2025|work=News 19|date=August 27, 2003}}</ref>
==Death== In 1995, he was diagnosed with lymphoma, which was successfully treated and remained in remission until 2019.<ref name="Merrett" /> He died from the disease on June 26, 2019, at the age of 75 at the Lillian Booth Actors Home in Englewood, New Jersey.<ref name="Merrett">{{cite news |last=Merrett |first=Robyn |date=June 26, 2019 |title=ALF Star Max Wright Dies at 75 Following Decades-Long Battle with Lymphoma |work=People |publisher=Meredith Corporation |location=United States |url=https://people.com/tv/max-wright-dies-cancer-lymphoma/ |access-date=June 26, 2019}}</ref><ref name=NYT/><ref>{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=Natasha |date=June 26, 2019 |title=Report: 'Alf' star Max Wright passes away at 75 |work=WJW |publisher=Tribune Broadcasting |location=Cleveland |url=https://fox8.com/2019/06/26/report-alf-star-max-wright-passes-away-at-75/ |access-date=June 26, 2019 |archive-date=June 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626234758/https://fox8.com/2019/06/26/report-alf-star-max-wright-passes-away-at-75/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Barnes |first=Mike |date=June 26, 2019 |title=Max Wright, Who Played the Dad on 'ALF,' Dies at 75 |newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/max-wright-dead-alf-dad-tony-nominated-actor-was-75-1221314 |access-date=June 30, 2019}}</ref>
==Filmography== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes !class="unsortable"|{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | rowspan="2" |1979 | ''Last Embrace'' | Second Commuter | {{Plain list | * Mystery-thriller film directed by Jonathan Demme * Based on the novel ''The 13th Man'' by Murray Teigh Bloom }} | <ref>{{cite book |last=Bloom |first=Murray Teigh |author-link=Murray Teigh Bloom |year=1977 |title=The 13th Man |publisher=Macmillan Publishers |location=London |asin=B001KJ8SYU |url=https://www.amazon.com/13th-Man-Murray-Teigh-Bloom/dp/B001KJ8SYU}}</ref><ref name="Max Wright - TV Guide" /> |- | ''All That Jazz'' | Joshua Penn | Drama-musical film directed by Bob Fosse and written by Robert Alan Aurthur & Fosse | rowspan="7" | <ref name="Max Wright - TV Guide" /> |- | 1980 | ''Simon'' | Leon Hundertwasser | Comedy-science fiction film directed and written by Marshall Brickman |- | 1981 | ''Reds'' | Floyd Dell | Biographical-historical drama directed by Warren Beatty and written by Beatty & Trevor Griffiths |- | 1983 | ''The Sting II'' | Floor Manager | Crime film directed by Jeremy Paul Kagan |- | 1985 | ''Fraternity Vacation'' | Millard Tvedt | Comedy film directed by James Frawley |- | rowspan="2" | 1986 | ''Touch and Go'' | Lester | Romantic film directed by Robert Mandel |- | ''Soul Man'' | Dr. Aronson | Comedy film directed by Steve Miner |- | 1988 | ''Going to the Chapel'' | Howard Haldane | Comedy film directed by Paul Lynch | <ref name="Going to the Chapel - Rotten Tomatoes">{{cite web |title=Going to the Chapel |website=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Fandango Media |location=United States |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/going_to_the_chapel |access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref> |- | 1994 | ''The Shadow'' | Berger | Action-adventure film directed by Russell Mulcahy | rowspan="3" | <ref name="Max Wright - TV Guide" /> |- | 1995 | ''Grumpier Old Men'' | County Health Inspector | Comedy film directed by Howard Deutch |- | rowspan="2" | 1999 | ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' | Robin Starveling | {{Plain list | * Comedy film directed and written by Michael Hoffman * Based on William Shakespeare comedic play of the same name }} |- | ''Snow Falling on Cedars'' | Horace Whaley | {{Plain list | * Mystery film directed by Scott Hicks and written by Ron Bass & Hicks * Based on the novel of the same name by David Guterson }} | <ref name="Max Wright - TV Guide" /><ref>{{cite book |last=Guterson |first=David |author-link=David Guterson |year=1995 |title=Snow Falling on Cedars |edition=1st |publisher=Vintage Books |location=New York City |isbn=978-0679764021 |url=https://archive.org/details/snowfallingonced00gute |url-access=registration}}</ref> |- | 2002 | ''Easter'' | Zaddock Pratt | {{Plain list | * Comedy film directed and written by Richard Caliban * Based on Will Scheffer's play of the same name }} |<ref name="Easter - Variety">{{cite magazine |last=McCarthy |first=Todd |date=April 23, 2003 |title=Easter |magazine=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2003/film/reviews/easter-1200542065/ |access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref> |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes !class="unsortable"|{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | 1974 | ''Great Performances'' | Etienne | Episode: "In Fashion" | rowspan="49" |<ref name="Max Wright - TV Guide" /> |- | 1977 | ''Red Alert'' | | TV movie |- | 1980 | ''Playing for Time'' | Dr. Mengele | TV movie |- | 1981 | ''For Ladies Only'' | Shakespeare Director | TV movie |- | rowspan="4" | 1982 | ''Hart to Hart'' | Dr. Robert Chase | Episode: "Hart of Diamonds" |- | ''CBS Afternoon Playhouse'' | | 1 episode |- | ''WKRP in Cincinnati'' | Frank Bartman | 2 episodes |- | ''Taxi'' | Mr. Ambrose | Episode: "The Road Not Taken: Part 2" |- | 1983 | ''Tales from the Darkside'' | Mr. Bundle | Episode: "Trick or Treat" (Pilot) |- | 1983–1984 | ''Buffalo Bill'' | Karl Shub | 25 episodes |- | rowspan="3" | 1984 | ''AfterMASH'' | Burt Philbrick | Episode: "Less Miserables" |- | ''The Boy Who Loved Trolls'' | Secretary | TV movie |- | ''E/R'' | Marvin Brock | Episode: "Mr. Fix-It" |- | rowspan="5" | 1985 | ''Scandal Sheet'' | Stan Clark | TV movie |- | ''Code Name: Foxfire'' | | 1 episode, Episode: "Slay It Again, Sam" |- | ''Benson'' | Bernard | Season 6 episode 19 "Mid-life Cowboy" |- | ''Konrad'' | Dr. Al Monford | TV movie |- | ''Misfits of Science'' | Dick Stetmeyer | TV movie |- | 1985–1986 | ''Misfits of Science'' | Dick Stetmeyer | 15 episodes |- | rowspan="3" | 1986 | ''Cheers'' | Jim Fleener | 2 episodes |- | ''Comedy Factory'' | | Episode: "The Faculty" |- | ''Liberty'' | Alexandre Gustave Eiffel | TV movie |- |1986–1990 |''ALF'' |Willie Tanner |99 episodes |- | 1987 | ''Faerie Tale Theatre'' | Prince Heinrick | Episode: "The Dancing Princesses" |- | 1988 | ''Five to Eleven'' | Reader | Episode: "Oh How Pleasant to Know Mr. Lear!" |- | 1991 | ''Murder, She Wrote'' | Gerald Yelverton | Episode: "The Taxman Cometh" |- | rowspan="3" | 1992 | ''Ghostwriter'' | Mr. Brinker | 4 episode |- | ''Quantum Leap'' | Doc Kinman | 2 episodes |- | ''The Powers That Be'' | Justice Reynolds | Episode: "Sophie's Big Decision" |- | rowspan="3" | 1993 | ''Dudley'' | Paul | 6 episodes |- | ''Murphy Brown'' | Marshall Corwin | Episode: "All the Life That's Fit to Print" |- | ''Roc'' | Mr. Cole | Episode: "Shove It Up Your Asprin" |- | rowspan="3" | 1994 | ''Monty'' | Wild, Wild Willy | Episode: "Wild, Wild Willy and His O.K. Corral" |- | ''The Stand'' | Dr. Herbert Denninger | 1 episode |- | ''White Mile'' | Bill Spencer | TV movie |- | 1995 | ''A Mother's Gift'' | Herman Mandelbrot | TV movie |- | 1994–1995 | ''Friends'' | Terry | 2 episodes |- | rowspan="4" | 1996 | ''The John Larroquette Show'' | Jackson Bishop | Episode: "Some Call Them Beasts" |- | ''Aaahh!!! Real Monsters'' | Herbie Hinkle (voice) | Episode: "You Only Scare Twice" |- | ''Early Edition'' | Mayor Mike Garfield | Episode: "Thief Swipes Mayor's Dog" |- | ''High Incident'' | Gass | Episode: "Change Partners" |- | 1997 | ''Dead by Midnight'' | Dr. Jonas Reilly | TV movie |- | rowspan="3" | 1998 | ''From the Earth to the Moon'' | Guenter Wendt | Episode: "We Have Cleared the Tower" |- | ''Twelfth Night, or What You Will'' | Sir Andrew Aguecheek | TV movie |- | ''Mad About You'' | Man in Elevator | Episode: "Season Opener" |- | 1999 | ''The Drew Carey Show'' | Drew's Stomach | Episode: "Drew's Stomachache" |- | 1999–2001 | ''The Norm Show'' | Max Denby | 49 episodes |- | 2003 | ''A Minute with Stan Hooper'' | The Mayor | Episode: "Stan Hooper Goes to Washington" |- | 2005 | ''Back to Norm'' | Uncle Joe | TV movie, final film role |- |}
==Stage== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role(s) ! Venue ! Notes ! Ref. |- | 1968 | ''The Great White Hope'' | Mr. Coates, reporter, German officer | Alvin Theatre | Broadway debut | <ref>{{cite web |title=The Great White Hope – Broadway Play – Original |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-great-white-hope-3417#OpeningNightCast |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref><ref name="wrightibdb">{{cite web |title=Max Wright – Broadway Cast & Staff |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/max-wright-69855 |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref> |- | 1971 | ''The Taming of the Shrew'' | Grumio | Guthrie Theater | | <ref>{{cite news |last1=Barnes |first1=Clive |title=Stage: Langham Revitalizes the Guthrie Theater |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/09/20/archives/stage-langham-revitalizes-the-guthrie-theater-his-shrew-wins-fans.html |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=New York Times |date=20 September 1971}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" | 1974 | ''Leonce and Lena'' | performer | Arena Stage | | <ref name="newface" /><ref name="arenaph">{{cite web |title=Production History |url=https://www.arenastage.org/contentassets/bdb18ac78fb64b658344bd50f91e0e37/production-history.pdf |website=Arena Stage |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref> |- | ''Horatio'' | Phrenologist | Arena Stage | | <ref name="arenaph" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Novick |first1=Julius |title=Two Plays at Washington's Arena Stage About the Work Ethic |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/07/14/archives/two-plays-at-washington-s-arena-stage-about-the-work-ethic-an.html |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=New York Times |date=14 July 1974}}</ref> |- | 1975 | ''The Ascent of Mount Fuji'' | Mainbet Abavev | Arena Stage | | <ref>{{cite news |last1=Barnes |first1=Clive |title=Theater: Soviet 'Ascent' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/06/08/archives/theater-soviet-ascent-arena-stage-offers-a-fascinating-work.html |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=New York Times |date=8 June 1975}}</ref> |- | rowspan="3" | 1976 | ''Heartbreak House'' | Mazzini Dunn | Arena Stage | | <ref>{{cite news |last1=Barnes |first1=Clive |title=Stage: Arena Troupe Revives 'Heartbreak House' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/03/02/archives/stage-arena-troupe-revives-heartbreak-house.html |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=New York Times |date=2 March 1976}}</ref> |- | ''Waiting for Godot'' | Didi | Arena Stage | | <ref>{{cite news |last1=Sekerke |first1=Christine |title=At Arena Stage: Audience Waits |url=https://archive.org/details/gwu_hatchet_19760401/page/n16/mode/1up |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=The Hatchet |issue=13 |publisher=George Washington University |date=1 April 1976}}</ref> |- | ''Our Town'' | performer | Arena Stage | | <ref name="newface" /><ref name="arenaph" /> |- | rowspan="2" | 1977 | ''The Cherry Orchard'' | Semyon Panteleyevich Yepikhodov | Vivian Beaumont Theater | | <ref>{{cite news |last1=Barnes |first1=Clive |title=Stage: A 'Cherry Orchard' That Celebrates Genius |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/02/18/archives/new-jersey-weekly-stage-a-cherry-orchard-that-celebrates-genius.html |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=New York Times |date=18 February 1977}}</ref> |- | ''The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel'' | Parker | Longacre Theatre | | <ref>{{cite web |title=The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel – Broadway Play – Original |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-basic-training-of-pavlo-hummel-3997#OpeningNightCast |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref> |- | rowspan="3" | 1978 | ''Stages'' | Arnold Glickman, Father, Jack, Trooper | Belasco Theatre | | <ref>{{cite web |title=Stages – Broadway Play – Original |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/stages-4049#OpeningNightCast |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref> |- | ''Once in a Lifetime'' | Lawrence Vail | Circle in the Square Theatre | Theatre World Award | <ref name="wrightibdb" /><ref name="newface">{{cite news |last1=Bergkvist |first1=Robert |title=New Face: Max Wright |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/06/23/archives/a-white-rabbits-important-date-an-affinity-for-small-parts.html |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=New York Times |date=23 June 1978}}</ref> |- | ''The Inspector General'' | Iván Alexándrovich Khlestakóv | Circle in the Square Theatre | | <ref>{{cite web |title=The Inspector General – Broadway Play – 1978 Revival |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-inspector-general-4069#OpeningNightCast |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref> |- | 1979 | ''Richard III'' | Second Murderer | Cort Theater | | <ref>{{cite news |last1=Eder |first1=Richard |title=Drama: Al Pacino Plays Richard III |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/06/15/archives/drama-al-pacino-plays-richard-iii-exuberant-villain.html |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=New York Times |date=15 June 1979}}</ref> |- | rowspan="4" | 1980 | ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' | Francis Flute | American Repertory Theater | | <ref>{{cite web |title=A Midsummer Night's Dream |url=https://americanrepertorytheater.org/shows-events/a-midsummer-nights-dream/ |website=American Repertory Theater |publisher=Harvard University |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref> |- | ''Happy End'' | Bob Marker | American Repertory Theater | | <ref>{{cite web |title=Happy End |url=https://americanrepertorytheater.org/shows-events/happy-end/ |website=American Repertory Theater |publisher=Harvard University |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref> |- | ''The Inspector General'' | Mayor | American Repertory Theater | | <ref>{{cite web |title=The Inspector General |url=https://americanrepertorytheater.org/shows-events/the-inspector-general/ |website=American Repertory Theater |publisher=Harvard University |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref> |- | ''Lunch Hour'' | Leo | Ethel Barrymore Theatre | | <ref>{{cite news |last1=Rich |first1=Frank |title=Stage: Jean Kerr's 'Lunch Hour' Opens at Barrymore Theater |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1980/11/13/111308671.html?pageNumber=76 |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=New York Times |date=13 November 1980}}</ref> |- | 1981 | ''Henry IV, Part 1'' | Glendower | Delacorte Theater | | <ref>{{cite news |last1=Gussow |first1=Mel |title='HENRY IV, PART 1,' IN THE PARK |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/21/theater/henry-iv-part-1-in-the-park.html |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=New York Times |date=21 August 1981}}</ref> |- | 1982 | ''The Front Page'' | Endicott | Long Wharf Theatre | | <ref>{{cite news |last1=Gussow |first1=Mel |title=THEATER: 'FRONT PAGE' IN NEW HAVEN |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/10/theater/theater-front-page-in-new-haven.html |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=New York Times |date=10 June 1982}}</ref> |- | 1992 | ''What the Butler Saw'' | Dr. Prentice | La Jolla Playhouse | | <ref>{{cite news |last1=Braunagel |first1=Don |title=What the Butler Saw |url=https://variety.com/1992/legit/reviews/what-the-butler-saw-1200430228/ |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=Variety |date=29 July 1992}}</ref> |- | 1995 | ''Denial'' | Professor Bernard Cooper | Long Wharf Theatre | | <ref>{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Markland |title=Denial |url=https://variety.com/1995/film/reviews/denial-1200444149/ |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=Variety |date=10 December 1995}}</ref> |- | 1997 | ''Ivanov'' | Pavel Lebedev | Vivian Beaumont Theater | Tony Award nomination Drama Desk Award nomination | <ref name="wrightibdb" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Greg |title=Ivanov |url=https://variety.com/1997/legit/reviews/ivanov-3-111729227/ |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=Variety |date=29 November 1997}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" | 1998 | ''Twelfth Night'' | Sir Andrew Aguecheek | Vivian Beaumont Theater | | <ref>{{cite news |last1=Brantley |first1=Ben |title=FESTIVAL REVIEW; Addled Sailors in Sea of Love |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/17/movies/festival-review-addled-sailors-in-sea-of-love.html |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=New York Times |date=17 July 1998}}</ref> |- | ''The Cripple of Inishmaan'' | Johnnypateenmike | Geffen Playhouse | | <ref>{{cite news |last1=Hofler |first1=Robert |title=The Cripple of Inishmaan |url=https://variety.com/1998/legit/reviews/the-cripple-of-inishmaan-3-1200455341/ |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=Variety |date=29 October 1998}}</ref> |- | 1999 | ''The Taming of the Shrew'' | Christopher Sly | Delacorte Theater | | <ref>{{cite news |last1=Richmond |first1=Ray |title=The Taming of the Shrew |url=https://variety.com/1999/legit/reviews/the-taming-of-the-shrew-3-1117742954/ |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=Variety |date=6 July 1999}}</ref> |- | 2005 | ''Happy End'' | Narrator | Pacific Resident Theatre | | <ref>{{cite news |last1=Nichols |first1=David C. |title=Troupe embraces spirit of 'Happy End' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jan-28-et-happy28-story.html |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=28 Jan 2005}}</ref> |- | 2007 | ''No Man's Land'' | Spooner | American Repertory Theater | Elliot Norton Award | <ref>{{cite news |title=Paul Benedict and Max Wright to Star in A.R.T's No Man's Land |url=https://www.theatermania.com/news/paul-benedict-and-max-wright-to-star-in-a-r-ts-no-mans-land_10477/ |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=Theatermania |date=6 April 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=No Man's Land |url=https://americanrepertorytheater.org/shows-events/no-mans-land/ |website=American Repertory Theater |publisher=Harvard University |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2008 |url=https://www.elliotnortonawards.com/2008 |website=Elliot Norton Awards |publisher=Boston Theater Critics Association |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" | 2010 | ''The Winter's Tale'' | Old Shepherd | Delacorte Theater | | <ref>{{cite news |last1=Scheck |first1=Frank |title="Winter's Tale" good but not great in Central Park |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6610O9/ |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=Reuters |agency=Hollywood Reporter |date=1 July 2010}}</ref> |- | ''The Merchant of Venice'' | Prince of Aragon | Delacorte Theater | | <ref>{{cite news |last1=Brantley |first1=Ben |title=Railing at a Money-Mad World |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/01/theater/reviews/01merchant.html |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=New York Times |date=30 June 2010}}</ref> |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{IMDb name|0942642|Max Wright}} * {{Find a Grave|200547902}} * {{IBDB name}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, Max}} Category:1943 births Category:2019 deaths Category:20th-century American male actors Category:21st-century American male actors Category:American male film actors Category:American male stage actors Category:American male television actors Category:Deaths from lymphoma in New Jersey Category:Male actors from Detroit Category:Wabash College alumni