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Max Martini
Max Martini
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Maximilian Carlo Martini (born December 11, 1969) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Wiley in Level 9, First Sergeant Sid Wojo in The Great Raid, and as Master Sergeant Mack Gerhardt in the CBS military drama television series The Unit. He also starred in the film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi as Mark Geist. In recent years, Martini appeared in the sci-fi thriller Osiris (2025),[1] and starred in the noir crime drama Hollywood Grit (2025), which he also produced.[2]

Key Information

Career

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Film

[edit]

After college, Martini found steady work in film and television projects. His film roles include co-starring opposite Jodie Foster in Robert Zemeckis's Contact as Willie, a fellow scientist with an affinity for brightly colored shirts, and sharing the screen with Tom Hanks and Matt Damon in Saving Private Ryan as Corporal Henderson, ranking NCO of Pfc. James Ryan's unit, who helped Cpt. John H. Miller and his men in the brutal final shootout of the film. Martini later co-starred in John Dahl's The Great Raid as 1st Sgt. Sid Wojo.

He appeared in smaller independent films, working with Calista Flockhart in Jane Doe, Chris Penn and Jeffrey Wright in Cement and in the 2000 Sundance Film Festival fave Backroads. In 1999, Martini wrote, co-directed and starred in Desert Son. His younger brother, Christopher, co-directed the film with him, and his sister, Michelle, served as costume designer. He had a recurring role in the ABC drama Castle. In 2011, the Noor Iranian Film Festival in Los Angeles invited him to participate as an official festival judge. In 2013, he played the role of the U.S. Navy SEAL commander in Paul Greengrass's Academy Award-nominated film Captain Phillips.

In 2013, Guillermo del Toro cast Martini and Rob Kazinsky as the Australian father-son pilot duo in Pacific Rim.[3] In 2014, Martini was cast in Legendary Pictures' supernatural thriller Spectral.[4] Martini played Christian Grey's bodyguard in the film Fifty Shades of Grey (2015), and its two sequels.[5] In 2016, Martini portrayed Mark "Oz" Geist in Michael Bay's 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi.[6]

Martini made his directorial debut in 2019 with a military drama, Sgt. Will Gardner, in which he also starred as Sgt. Will Gardner.[7]

Television and theater

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Martini's television credits include a lead role in the Sci-fi Channel's Emmy nominated mini-series Taken and appearances as Agent Steve Goodrich on the second season of 24. He was also cast in X-Files creator Chris Carter's Harsh Realm, and had a recurring role in the Canadian series Da Vinci's Inquest. He also appeared in Lie to Me.

After memorable guest-star turns in popular series, including Numb3rs, Walker Texas Ranger, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and CSI: Miami, Martini landed a lead role in The Unit, a series about a tier-1 US Army special operations team created by David Mamet and produced by Shawn Ryan of The Shield. Martini remains active in the theater, having co-founded the Theatre North Collaborative in New York City, a company of American and Canadian actors dedicated solely to producing new works from both sides of the border. In 2011, he appeared in an episode of Criminal Minds, in which he played a Navy SEAL named Luke Dolan.

Martini in 2009

In 2015, Martini starred as the title character in Amazon Studios' Western series Edge, written and directed by Shane Black.[8]

In April 2018, Martini was cast in the Netflix horror-drama series The Order.[9]

In August 2022, Martini joined the cast in the second season of the Amazon Freevee Bosch spin-off series Bosch: Legacy as Detective Don Ellis, a hardened vice cop in the LAPD.[10]

Personal life

[edit]

Martini was born in Woodstock, New York.[11] He holds Italian citizenship through his father, who was born in Rome.[12] He is the stepson of actor-director Stuart Margolin, who married Martini's mother Patricia Dunne Martini in 1982, and has two siblings -- costume designer Michelle Martini and editor/ producer/ director Christopher Martini.[13]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1985 The Glitter Dome Steven
1988 Paramedics Wired Kid
1995 Pictures of Baby Jane Doe Charlie
1997 Contact Willie
1998 Saving Private Ryan Corporal Henderson
1999 Cement Mic
2000 Backroads Larry
2001 Another Day Paul Television film
2005 Silver Bells Officer Rip Television film
2005 The Great Raid 1st Sergeant Sid Wojo
2008 Redbelt Officer Joe Collins
2010 Mandrake Darren McCall Television film
2010 Troopers Finn
2011 Colombiana FBI Special Agent Williams
2013 Pacific Rim Hercules "Herc" Hansen
2013 Captain Phillips U.S. Navy SEAL Commander
2014 Sabotage DEA Agent Tom "Pyro" Roberts
2015 Fifty Shades of Grey Jason Taylor
2015 Edge Josiah "Edge" Hedges Television film
2016 Spectral Major Sessions
2016 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi Mark "Oz" Geist
2017 Fifty Shades Darker Jason Taylor
2017 My Little Pony: The Movie Boyle Voice
2018 Fifty Shades Freed Jason Taylor
2018 Bigger Jerry George
2019 Eli Paul Miller
2019 Sgt. Will Gardner Will Gardner Also director, writer and producer
2020 What the Night Can Do Marty Cole Also executive producer
2021 The Tender Bar Johnny Michaels
2023 The Channel Mic Sheridan
2025 Osiris Kelly Also producer
TBA Bethesda Norman Post-production
Key
Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1996 Walker Texas Ranger Luke Episode: "A Silent Cry"
1997 Nash Bridges Larry Fortina Episode: "Rampage"
1998–2002 Da Vinci's Inquest Danny Leary 13 episodes
1999–2000 Harsh Realm Mel Waters 5 episodes
2000 The Pretender Todd Baxter Episode: "Spin Doctor"
2000–2001 Level 9 Jack Wiley 11 episodes
2002 Taken Colonel Breck 2 episodes
2003 & 2011 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Jarrod Malone / Jason Kent 2 episodes
2003 The Division Ryan Hollenbeck Episode: "Cradle Will Rock"
2003 24 Agent Steve Goodrich 3 episodes
2003–2005 CSI: Miami Bob Keaton 3 episodes
2004 Try to Remember Joe O'Connor Television film
2004 Without a Trace Nathan Grady / Henry Episode: "Thou Shalt Not..."
2005 Numb3rs Billy Cooper Episode: "Man Hunt"
2006–2009 The Unit Mack Gerhardt 69 episodes
2008 Burn Notice Gerard Episode: "Rough Seas"
2008 Street Warrior Jack Campbell Television film
2010 Lie to Me David Burns 3 episodes
2010 Dark Blue Tim Rowe Episode: "High Rollers"
2010 White Collar U.S. Marshal John Deckard Episode: "Prisoner's Dilemma"
2010 Hawaii Five-0 Nick Taylor Episode: "Po'ipu"
2011 Castle Hal Lockwood 2 episodes
2011 Flashpoint Bill Greely Episode: "Good Cop"
2011 Rizzoli & Isles Dan Mateo Episode: "Brown Eyed Girl"
2011–2012 Revenge Frank Stevens 7 episodes
2011 Criminal Minds Luke Dolan Episode: "Dorado Falls"
2012 The Mentalist Fletcher Moss Episode: "Blood Feud"
2013 Republic of Doyle Charlie "Big Charlie" 2 episodes
2013 Person of Interest "RIP" Episode: "Liberty"
2014 Crisis Koz 13 episodes
2016 Real Detective Detective Tommy Ray Episode: "Darkness"
2016 Motive James Lennathan Episode: "Remains to Be Seen"
2017 Training Day Agent Jack Ivers 3 episodes
2018–2019 NCIS: Los Angeles Arlo Turk 5 episodes
2019 The Order Edward Coventry 8 episodes
2019 Doom Patrol Alistair Episode: "Hair Patrol"
2019 The Purge Ryan Grant Season 2: 10 episodes
2021 Pacific Rim: The Black Herc Hansen (cameo + voice cameo) Episode: "Escaping Bogan"
2022 Bosch: Legacy Detective Don Ellis recurring role
2024 Lioness Tracer recurring role
2025 FBI Bobby Galloway Episode: "Boy Scout"

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Maximilian Carlo Martini (born December 11, 1969), known professionally as Max Martini, is an American actor recognized for his portrayals of and characters in film and television. Born in , to an Italian father and an American mother, Martini holds citizenship in the United States, , and , and was raised across those countries while learning to speak Italian fluently. He earned a from the in New York and began his career in theater before transitioning to screen roles, including in the 1988 film Paramedics. Martini's breakthrough came with supporting parts in war films like (1998), where he played Corporal Fred Henderson, and [The Great Raid](/page/The Great Raid) (2005), as First Sergeant Sid Wojo. On television, he gained prominence as Sergeant Mack Gerhardt in the series (2006–2009) and as Staff Sergeant John Seda in HBO's The Pacific (2010). His film work expanded into action and thriller genres with roles in Captain Phillips (2013), (2013) as Herc Hansen, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of (2016), and as Jason Taylor in the trilogy (2015–2018). In addition to acting, Martini has worked as a , , and director on independent projects, and he attended the Neighborhood Playhouse School of in New York for acting training. As of 2025, Martini continues to appear in high-profile productions, including season 2 of Paramount+'s Lioness (2024), the sci-fi thriller (2025) opposite , and the neo-noir film Hollywood Grit (2025) with .

Early life

Childhood and family

Maximilian Carlo Martini was born on December 11, 1969, in , to an Italian father, Raffaelle Martini Pandozy—a sculptor and reformist artist born in —and an American mother, Patricia Dunne, a and parole officer originally from . His parents raised him in a creative household, with his father's artistic pursuits shaping early influences. Martini has two younger siblings: brother Christopher Martini, an actor and producer, and sister Michelle Martini, a , both of whom followed paths in the entertainment industry. In 1982, when Martini was about 13, his mother remarried , an acclaimed actor, director, and screenwriter known for his Emmy-winning work on , who became his and further immersed the family in Hollywood circles. Martini's childhood involved frequent moves, including time spent in due to his mother's career and later in , , where he attended St. Michael's University School as a teenager before returning to . This peripatetic upbringing, split between the U.S. and , contributed to his bilingual abilities in English and Italian, and his eventual citizenship in the United States, , and .

Education

Martini received his early education in California and . He attended in California, where he played football as a kicker and helped win a state championship, before transferring to in , where he was enrolled in Grade 7 during the 1981–1982 school year. Following high school, Martini relocated to to pursue a career in . He began his formal acting training at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, a renowned institution for techniques. He later continued his studies at Michael Howard Studios in , where he completed the majority of his professional acting preparation under the guidance of instructor . In the early 1990s, after initial forays into acting, Martini paused his performance career to focus on . He enrolled at the in , earning a degree in and .

Career

Film

Max Martini's film career began in the 1980s with minor roles in independent features, including a part in the crime drama The Glitter Dome (1984). He continued with small appearances in comedies like Paramedics (1988) and the short film Pictures of Baby Jane Doe (1995), gradually building experience in supporting parts. His breakthrough came in the late 1990s with roles in two high-profile Hollywood productions: he portrayed Willie, a scientist, in Robert Zemeckis's Contact (1997), opposite and , and played Corporal Henderson, a member of the U.S. Army Rangers, in Steven Spielberg's epic (1998). These performances established Martini as a reliable capable of handling intense, ensemble-driven narratives. Following a period focused on television, Martini returned to feature films in the early with prominent supporting roles in action blockbusters. In Captain Phillips (2013), directed by , he depicted a U.S. Navy SEAL Commander leading the rescue operation, contributing to the film's tense portrayal of the . That same year, he co-starred in Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim as Herc Hansen, a seasoned Jaeger pilot partnering with his brother to battle giant monsters, showcasing his affinity for high-stakes sci-fi action. Martini's military-themed roles continued in Michael Bay's 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of (2016), where he portrayed real-life CIA contractor Mark "Oz" Geist, one of the security team defending the U.S. diplomatic compound during the 2012 attack. His performance earned praise for authentically capturing the heroism and trauma of the event. In the mid-2010s, Martini expanded into other genres, taking on the recurring role of Jason Taylor, Christian Grey's stoic bodyguard, across the Fifty Shades trilogy— (2015), (2017), and (2018)—which grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide combined. He also appeared in supernatural thrillers like (2016), a sci-fi , and Eli (2019), a Paramount horror entry directed by Ciarán Foy. Transitioning behind the camera, Martini made his directorial debut with (2019), a drama he wrote, produced, and starred in as an veteran struggling with PTSD and reintegration into civilian life; the film premiered at the Mammoth Film Festival and highlighted his commitment to veteran stories. More recently, he featured in George Clooney's coming-of-age dramedy The Tender Bar (2021) as a family member and has upcoming projects including the sci-fi thriller Osiris (2025). Throughout his work, Martini has specialized in authoritative, physically demanding characters, often in military, , or ensemble settings, amassing over 50 credits by 2025.

Television

Martini began his television career with guest roles in the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in episodes of series such as (1989, as Dana Grady), The Pretender (1996, as Todd Baxter), (1996–1997, as Larry Fortina), and The Outer Limits (2000, as Curtis Sandoval). These early appearances established him in procedural and sci-fi genres, often portraying supporting characters in single episodes. In the early 2000s, Martini secured his first series regular role as Jack Wiley in the UPN sci-fi drama Level 9 (2000), where he played a key operative in a cyber-security unit combating digital threats. He followed this with guest spots on high-profile shows, including three episodes of 24 (2001, as Agent Steve Goodrich), three episodes of CSI: Miami (2003–2005, as Bob Keaton), and one episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2003, as Jason Kent). These roles highlighted his versatility in intense, investigative formats. Martini's breakthrough in television came with his portrayal of Mack Gerhardt, a operator balancing military duties and family life, in the military action-drama The Unit (2006–2009). He appeared in 67 episodes as a series regular across four seasons, earning praise for bringing authenticity to the character's high-stakes operations and personal struggles. The series, created by , showcased Martini's ability to embody disciplined military figures, a recurring theme in his career. He also portrayed John Seda in the The Pacific (2010). Post-The Unit, Martini maintained a steady presence with recurring and guest roles on network dramas. Notable among these was his seven-episode arc as Frank Stevens, a bodyguard entangled in a web of revenge and corporate intrigue, on ABC's Revenge (2011–2012). He also guest-starred on shows like Burn Notice (2007, as Gerard), Lie to Me (2009, three episodes as Dr. Dave Burns), Castle (2009, two episodes as Hal Lockwood), and NCIS: Los Angeles (2009–2019, five episodes as Arlo Turk). In 2014, he returned to series regular status as Kozlowski, a Secret Service agent in a conspiracy-laden plot, in NBC's political thriller Crisis (12 episodes). In the late 2010s and 2020s, Martini shifted toward streaming and limited series, often in lead or pivotal supporting roles within thriller and horror genres. He starred as Ryan Grant, a meticulous Purge participant, in the USA Network's The Purge anthology series (2018, 10 episodes). This was followed by his role as Edward Coventry, a professor entangled in a magical fraternity war, in Netflix's The Order (2019, 9 episodes). Other recent credits include a guest appearance as Alastair Henderson in Doom Patrol (2019), Detective Don Ellis in seven episodes of Amazon's Bosch: Legacy (2022), and Tracer, a CIA operative, in eight episodes of Paramount+'s Lioness (2023) and a recurring role in season 2 (2024). These performances underscore his continued demand in ensemble-driven action and suspense narratives.

Directing and producing

In addition to his extensive acting career, Max Martini has ventured into directing and producing, often taking on multiple roles in independent films that explore themes of experiences, horror, and thriller genres. His directorial debut came with Sgt. Will Gardner (2019), a he also wrote, produced, and starred in as the titular struggling with PTSD and while on a cross-country journey to reconnect with his son. The film, which featured co-stars like , , and , pledged 30% of its proceeds to charities supporting veterans with TBI, PTSD, and homelessness, reflecting Martini's personal commitment to these issues. Martini's second directorial effort, The Manson Brothers Midnight Zombie Massacre (2021), was a horror-comedy he also produced, following a wrestling trapped in an arena during a Halloween amid a outbreak caused by a mutated . Starring Chris Margetis and Mike Carey, with appearances by , the film blended elements and low-budget effects to create a campy survival tale, showcasing Martini's interest in genre filmmaking. As a , Martini has collaborated on several projects, including serving as on What the Night Can Do (2020), a crime drama directed by his brother Christopher Martini, where he also acted as Marty Cole, a man confronting his past in a town. His producing credits extend to more recent thrillers like Hollywood Grit (2025), a noir crime story he co-produced and starred in as ex-cop Grit Thorn searching for his missing daughter in a seedy Hollywood scene, alongside and . Similarly, he co-produced the sci-fi Osiris (2025), in which he played commando Kelly, leading a team abducted by extraterrestrials during a mission. These efforts highlight Martini's role in fostering independent productions that often draw from his acting background and advocacy for military narratives.

Personal life

Marriage and children

Martini has been married to Canadian actress and Kim Restell since November 25, 1997. The couple met in 1996 and have maintained a private family life while supporting each other's careers in the entertainment industry. Restell has appeared in projects such as the film (1996) and has worked as a on various independent productions. Martini and Restell have two sons: Sean Carlo Martini and Leo Martini. The family resides primarily in Los Angeles, where they have owned property since 2006. Martini has occasionally shared reflections on fatherhood, describing the births of his children as among the most profound experiences of his life.

Citizenship and heritage

Max Martini holds citizenship in the United States, , and . Born on December 11, 1969, in , he is the son of Raffaelle Martini Pandozy, an Italian sculptor and reformist artist from , and Patricia, an American private investigator and parole officer from . His maternal ancestry is primarily Irish, with one-eighth English. Martini's was and director (died February 3, 2022). He has a younger brother, Christopher Martini, and a sister, Michelle. Martini was raised in Victoria, , and , and he speaks Italian fluently.

Filmography

Film

Max Martini's film career began in the 1980s with minor roles in independent features, including a part in the crime drama The Glitter Dome (1984). He continued with small appearances in comedies like Paramedics (1988) and the short film Pictures of Baby Jane Doe (1995), gradually building experience in supporting parts. His breakthrough came in the late 1990s with roles in two high-profile Hollywood productions: he portrayed a young pilot in Robert Zemeckis's science fiction film Contact (1997), opposite Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey, and played Corporal Henderson, a member of the U.S. Army Rangers, in Steven Spielberg's World War II epic Saving Private Ryan (1998). These performances established Martini as a reliable character actor capable of handling intense, ensemble-driven narratives. Following a period focused on television, Martini returned to feature films in the early with prominent supporting roles in action blockbusters. In Captain Phillips (2013), directed by , he depicted a U.S. Navy SEAL Commander leading the rescue operation, contributing to the film's tense portrayal of the . That same year, he co-starred in Guillermo del Toro's as Herc Hansen, a seasoned Jaeger pilot partnering with his brother to battle giant monsters, showcasing his affinity for high-stakes sci-fi action. Martini's military-themed roles continued in Michael Bay's 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of (2016), where he portrayed real-life CIA contractor Mark "Oz" Geist, one of the security team defending the U.S. diplomatic compound during the 2012 attack. His performance earned praise for authentically capturing the heroism and trauma of the event. In the mid-2010s, Martini expanded into other genres, taking on the recurring role of Jason Taylor, Christian Grey's stoic bodyguard, across the Fifty Shades trilogy—Fifty Shades of Grey (2015), Fifty Shades Darker (2017), and Fifty Shades Freed (2018)—which grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide combined. He also appeared in supernatural thrillers like Spectral (2016), a sci-fi , and Eli (2019), a Paramount horror entry directed by Ciarán Foy. Transitioning behind the camera, Martini made his directorial debut with Sgt. Will Gardner (2019), a drama he wrote, produced, and starred in as an veteran struggling with PTSD and reintegration into civilian life; the film premiered at the Mammoth Film Festival and highlighted his commitment to veteran stories. More recently, he featured in George Clooney's coming-of-age dramedy The Tender Bar (2021) as a family member, the thriller Hollywood Grit (2025) as Grit Thorn (which he also produced), and the sci-fi thriller Osiris (2025) as Kelly. Throughout his film work, Martini has specialized in authoritative, physically demanding characters, often in military, , or ensemble settings, amassing over 50 credits by 2025.

Television

Martini began his television career with guest roles in the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in episodes of series such as (1989, as Dana Grady), The Pretender (1996, as Todd Baxter), (1996–1997, as Larry Fortina), and The Outer Limits (1995–2000, as Curtis Sandoval). These early appearances established him in procedural and sci-fi genres, often portraying supporting characters in single episodes. In the early 2000s, Martini secured his first series regular role as Jack Wiley in the UPN sci-fi drama Level 9 (2000), where he played a key operative in a cyber-security unit combating digital threats. He followed this with guest spots on high-profile shows, including three episodes of 24 (2001, as Agent Steve Goodrich), three episodes of CSI: Miami (2003–2005, as Bob Keaton), and two episodes of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2003 and 2011, as Jason Kent and Jarrod Malone). These roles highlighted his versatility in intense, investigative formats. Martini's breakthrough in television came with his portrayal of Mack Gerhardt, a operator balancing military duties and family life, in the military action-drama (2006–2009). He appeared in 67 episodes as a series regular across four seasons, earning praise for bringing authenticity to the character's high-stakes operations and personal struggles. The series, created by , showcased Martini's ability to embody disciplined military figures, a recurring theme in his career. Post-The Unit, Martini maintained a steady presence with recurring and guest roles on network dramas. Notable among these was his seven-episode arc as Frank Stevens, a bodyguard entangled in a web of revenge and corporate intrigue, on ABC's Revenge (2011–2012). He also guest-starred on shows like Burn Notice (2007, as Gerard), Lie to Me (2009, three episodes as Dr. Dave Burns), Castle (2009, two episodes as Hal Lockwood), and NCIS: Los Angeles (2018–2019, five episodes as Arlo Turk). In 2014, he returned to series regular status as Kozlowski, a Secret Service agent in a conspiracy-laden plot, in NBC's political thriller Crisis (12 episodes). In the late 2010s and 2020s, Martini shifted toward streaming and limited series, often in lead or pivotal supporting roles within thriller and horror genres. He starred as Ryan Grant, a meticulous Purge participant, in the USA Network's The Purge anthology series (2018, 10 episodes). This was followed by his role as Edward Coventry, a professor entangled in a magical fraternity war, in Netflix's The Order (2019, 9 episodes). Other recent credits include a guest appearance as Alastair Henderson in Doom Patrol (2019), Detective Don Ellis in seven episodes of Amazon's Bosch: Legacy (2022), and Tracer, a CIA operative, in eight episodes of season 1 of Paramount+'s Lioness (2023) and season 2 (2024). These performances underscore his continued demand in ensemble-driven action and suspense narratives.

References

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