Maximillion Drake Thieriot (born October 14, 1988) is an American actor, director, co-creator, and executive producer from Los Altos Hills, California. He is best known for creating and starring in the CBS drama Fire Country as Bode Donovan, and for his earlier role as Clay Spenser in CBS’s SEAL Team.
His family background includes a direct connection to the founding of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Who is Max Thieriot?
Max Thieriot is an American actor, director, writer, and producer working in film and television since 2004. He grew up in Occidental, a small town in Sonoma County, California, and began his career with family films before moving into drama and action television.
His IMDb profile lists over 20 acting credits, along with producing and directing credits across SEAL Team and Fire Country.
He created Fire Country in partnership with CBS and Paramount+, co-writing the pilot and also starring in the series as its lead.
Thieriot pitched the firefighter drama under the title Cal Fire in 2021. On May 12, 2022, CBS ordered the series to production with Thieriot in the lead role as Bode Donovan. His wife Lexi Murphy’s cousin, who runs an inmate fire camp in California, provided the inspiration for the show’s central premise.
Beyond acting, Thieriot has directed episodes of both SEAL Team and Fire Country, establishing himself as a multi-role creative contributor in network television.
Early Life of Max Thieriot
Max Thieriot was born on October 14, 1988, in Los Altos Hills, California. His parents are Bridgit Ann and George Cameron Thieriot. He grew up in Occidental, a small rural town in Sonoma County.
His family carries a significant place in American media history. His great-great-grandfather, M.H. de Young, co-founded the San Francisco Chronicle. His relatives Charles and Richard Thieriot later served as editors and publishers of the paper.
Thieriot has two siblings, an older sister named Aidan Thieriot and a younger brother named Frankie Thieriot.
A notable piece of family history involves tragedy. His paternal grandparents, Frances Harrison and Ferdinand Melly Thieriot, died in the sinking of the SS Andrea Doria in 1956.
Through his sister Aidan’s marriage, Thieriot is the brother-in-law of former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Michael Stutes.
Max Thieriot Age
Max Thieriot is 37 years old as of June 11, 2026, born on October 14, 1988.
His zodiac sign is Libra.
Fire Country reached its fifth season in 2026, with Thieriot continuing to star and serve as executive producer on the series.
Max Thieriot Ethnicity and Nationality
Max Thieriot holds American nationality, born and raised in California.
His ethnic background is white American, with ancestral roots in California’s journalism and publishing industry.
His family’s deep ties to Northern California, where he grew up and continues to live, run across multiple generations on both sides of his family.
Max Thieriot Height and Weight
Max Thieriot stands at 5 feet 11 inches, which equals 1.80 meters.
His weight is reported at approximately 86 kg, which is around 190 lbs.
His athletic build suits the physical roles he has played across his career, particularly the military and firefighter characters in SEAL Team and Fire Country.
Max Thieriot Education
Thieriot attended Sonoma County Day School in Santa Rosa for middle school and later graduated from El Molino High School in Forestville in 2006.
After high school, he chose not to attend college and instead pursued acting full-time, taking acting and improv classes in Los Angeles.
Catch That Kid (2004) was only his fourth audition, suggesting his transition from school into the entertainment industry was fast-moving and relatively straightforward.
Max Thieriot Career
Max Thieriot built his career across more than two decades, starting as a teenage film actor and growing into a television star, director, and producer. His trajectory shows consistent upward movement from supporting film roles to creating and leading a network drama.
Early Film Career
Before landing his first feature, Thieriot modeled for Gap and appeared in two short films. His film debut came in 2004 in Catch That Kid, an adventure comedy where he starred alongside Kristen Stewart and Corbin Bleu.
That role came after only his fourth audition, a fast start for a performer who had only recently begun taking acting classes.
The following year, Thieriot appeared as Seth in the Disney action comedy The Pacifier (2005) alongside Vin Diesel. Further film roles followed, including Nancy Drew (2007) alongside Emma Roberts, Jumper (2008), and The Astronaut Farmer (2006) with Billy Bob Thornton.
In 2009, Thieriot co-starred in the erotic thriller Chloe alongside Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson, and Amanda Seyfried.
He later appeared in My Soul to Take (2010), House at the End of the Street (2012) with Jennifer Lawrence, Disconnect (2012), and Point Break (2015).
Bates Motel and SEAL Team
Thieriot’s career shifted significantly in 2013. He joined the A&E series Bates Motel as Dylan Massett, the half-brother of Norman Bates, played by Freddie Highmore. The show ran from 2013 to 2017 as a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho.
His performance as Dylan Massett earned positive critical responses throughout the show’s five-season run.
In 2015, Thieriot also appeared in the History Channel miniseries Texas Rising as John Coffee “Jack” Hays.
In September 2017, he joined the CBS military drama SEAL Team as Clay Spenser, a Navy SEAL and Special Warfare Operator First Class. Thieriot directed two episodes of SEAL Team during its third and fourth seasons. His last appearance as Clay Spenser came in Season 6, Episode 8, titled “Aces and Eights.”
Creating and Leading Fire Country
Thieriot’s most significant career achievement has been the creation of Fire Country on CBS.
He co-wrote the pilot alongside Tony Phelan and Joan Rater, pitched the show in 2021, and starred in it as lead character Bode Donovan when CBS ordered the series on May 12, 2022. Thieriot also serves as executive producer and has directed multiple episodes.
Fire Country follows a convict who joins California’s inmate firefighter program in exchange for a shortened prison sentence. The show’s concept came directly from Thieriot’s personal connection through his wife, whose cousin runs an inmate fire camp in California.
Thieriot initially did not plan to act in the show. His wife Lexi told him directly that he had to take the lead role, and he followed her advice.
The series has continued through at least five seasons as of 2026, airing on CBS on Fridays. A spinoff titled Sheriff Country is also in development with Thieriot involved.
Thieriot attended the 2024 CMT Music Awards in Nashville on April 7, 2024, where he presented the Breakthrough Female Video award.
Max Thieriot Filmography
Key acting credits include Catch That Kid (2004), The Pacifier (2005), The Astronaut Farmer (2006), Nancy Drew (2007), Jumper (2008), Chloe (2009), My Soul to Take (2010), House at the End of the Street (2012), Disconnect (2012), Texas Rising (2015), Point Break (2015), Bates Motel (A&E, 2013-2017), SEAL Team (CBS, 2017-2022), and Fire Country (CBS, 2022-present).
He also directed episodes of SEAL Team (Seasons 3 and 4) and multiple episodes of Fire Country. His producing credits include Fire Country and the upcoming Sheriff Country.
Max Thieriot Awards and Recognition
Thieriot earned consistent critical praise for his role as Dylan Massett on Bates Motel and further recognition for his portrayal of Clay Spenser on SEAL Team.
Fire Country earned him his most prominent role to date as both lead actor and executive producer of a network drama that reached five seasons.
His work as co-creator of Fire Country alongside his on-screen performance positioned him at the 2024 CMT Music Awards as a presenter, reflecting the show’s crossover appeal with country music audiences.
Max Thieriot Wife
Max Thieriot married Lexi Murphy in 2013. The couple first met in 2005 while both were on separate family vacations in the Caribbean. They were 16 years old at the time.
Max and Lexi attended junior prom together and dated for seven years before Thieriot proposed. He took her back to the same spot in the Caribbean where they first met to propose.
Lexi Murphy grew up in Santa Rosa, California, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and Human Resources from Loyola Marymount University, which she completed in 2010. She later worked at Heritage Wine Society before joining Max’s family vineyard, Senses Wines, on the marketing team.
Lexi also played a direct role in inspiring Fire Country. Her cousin runs an inmate fire camp in California, which gave Thieriot the concept for the series. She also encouraged Thieriot to take the lead acting role when he had initially planned only to create the show.
Max Thieriot Children
Max Thieriot and Lexi Murphy have two sons. Their eldest son, Beaux Thieriot, was born on December 7, 2015. Thieriot announced the birth on December 27, 2015, via Instagram, writing that Christmas had come early.
Their second son, Maximus Thieriot, was born in January 2018. Thieriot revealed the pregnancy on Instagram shortly before the birth, describing the family’s upcoming arrival as a source of joy for the year ahead.
The family of four are avid Bay Area sports fans. In October 2024, they walked the field at Levi’s Stadium to cheer on the San Francisco 49ers. In May 2026, Thieriot shared a rare Instagram video of his sons at the Indianapolis 500.
Max Thieriot Net Worth
Max Thieriot’s estimated net worth is $2 million as of 2026. His income spans acting in major network television productions, executive producing credits, directing fees, and his involvement in Senses Wines, the family vineyard business in Sonoma County.
His shift from supporting actor to lead and executive producer on Fire Country placed him in a significantly more financially advantageous position than his earlier television work. The series continues to air on CBS through at least Season 5.
Max Thieriot Social Media
Max Thieriot posts regularly on Instagram as @maxthieriot, where he shares updates on Fire Country, personal family moments, and life on the Sonoma County vineyard.
He uses the platform selectively, keeping his sons’ lives largely private while offering occasional glimpses of family outings and sporting events. His most-shared content involves professional updates from Fire Country production.
He also maintains a presence on Twitter/X under @MaxThieriot, where he posts updates on his work and engages with fans.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Max Thieriot’s net worth?
Max Thieriot’s estimated net worth is $2 million as of 2026, earned through acting, executive producing, and directing across Bates Motel, SEAL Team, and Fire Country, alongside his involvement in Senses Wines.
How old is Max Thieriot?
Max Thieriot is 37 years old as of June 11, 2026. He was born on October 14, 1988, in Los Altos Hills, California.
Who is Max Thieriot married to?
Max Thieriot married Lexi Murphy in 2013. The couple met in 2005 while on separate family vacations in the Caribbean at age 16.
What is Max Thieriot famous for?
Max Thieriot is best known for creating and starring in the CBS drama Fire Country as Bode Donovan, and for his earlier roles as Dylan Massett in Bates Motel and Clay Spenser in SEAL Team.
Where was Max Thieriot born?
Max Thieriot was born in Los Altos Hills, California, on October 14, 1988. He grew up in Occidental, a small town in Sonoma County.
What awards has Max Thieriot received?
Thieriot earned critical recognition for his performances on Bates Motel and SEAL Team, and has transitioned into producing and directing Fire Country, which has aired through at least five seasons on CBS as of 2026.
The Bottom Line
Max Thieriot co-created, executive produced, and starred in Fire Country, which CBS ordered to series on May 12, 2022, and which ran through at least five seasons by 2026. His role as lead and creator marks a clear evolution from his early career as a supporting film actor.
He grew up in Occidental, California, with family ties to the founding of the San Francisco Chronicle through his great-great-grandfather M.H. de Young. His wife Lexi Murphy both inspired the concept for Fire Country and persuaded him to take the lead role.
Thieriot is also developing the spinoff Sheriff Country and continues to direct and produce alongside his acting work on the Fire Country franchise.
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