Max Thieriot: Biography, Age, Net Worth, and Why He Left SEAL Team

Few actors manage to build a career that spans from childhood roles to creating their own TV series. Max Thieriot is one of them. Born in 1988 in Los Altos Hills, California, he started acting as a teenager and now stars in and co-created CBS’s Fire Country. Here’s a look at his journey, his family, and why he left SEAL Team.

Full name: Maximillion Drake Thieriot ·
Born: October 14, 1988 ·
Age: 37 (as of 2025) ·
Height: 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) ·
Children: 2 ·
Net worth: Estimated $4 million

Nine facts about Max Thieriot, one pattern: the data behind his rise from teen actor to showrunner.

What is the real name of Max Thieriot?

His full birth name is Maximillion Drake Thieriot, a detail confirmed by Paramount Press Express (official CBS talent page). He was born on October 14, 1988, in Los Altos Hills, California.

What ethnicity is Max Thieriot?

Thieriot is White (American) by ethnicity. His family background is rooted in Northern California, where he grew up watching friends join Cal Fire, the state’s firefighting agency that later inspired Fire Country (Television Academy (industry authority)).

How old is Max Thieriot?

As of 2025, Thieriot is 37 years old. He was born on October 14, 1988.

What is Max Thieriot’s height?

Thieriot stands 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) tall, according to multiple entertainment profiles.

The implication: Thieriot’s identity is publicly locked down, down to the exact spelling of his birth name. That makes the gaps in other areas – like his wife’s profession – stand out more.

How many children does Max Thieriot have?

Thieriot has two children with his wife Lexi Murphy: a son and a daughter. Paramount Press Express confirms the number but notes the children’s names are not publicly disclosed.

Does Max Thieriot have any children?

Yes – two. He has a son and a daughter, both with his wife Lexi Murphy. The children’s names and birth years have not been revealed in official sources.

The pattern: Thieriot values family privacy, even as his public profile grows.

What does Max Thieriot’s wife do for a living?

His wife is Lexi Murphy. Her profession is not widely reported; some sources list her as a real estate agent, others as a talent manager. Paramount Press Express does not mention her career, leaving the field open to speculation.

Who is Max Thieriot’s wife?

Lexi Murphy, Thieriot’s wife, is a private figure. The couple married in a small ceremony. Her exact profession remains unclear across entertainment databases.

The trade-off: Thieriot’s openness about his children contrasts with the quiet around his wife’s work. For a celebrity profile, that’s unusual – it suggests he values her privacy.

What languages does Max Thieriot speak?

Thieriot speaks English as his primary language. No sources in the research notes indicate fluency in any other language, and his public interviews are exclusively in English.

Why this matters: For a star who created a show about California firefighters, the language limitation is irrelevant. But for fans asking about his heritage, the absence of a second language is notable – his ethnicity is plainly American, not bilingual.

Why did Max Thieriot quit the SEAL Team?

Thieriot left SEAL Team to focus on his own CBS series Fire Country, which he created and stars in. He played Clay Spenser on the military drama from 2017 to 2022. Television Academy reports that he was already appearing in season six of SEAL Team while Fire Country was launching. The move was not a resignation but a career pivot: Thieriot co-created Fire Country with Tony Phelan and Joan Rater (German Wikipedia (community-edited bio)).

Which actor on SEAL Team was a real seal?

No actor on SEAL Team was a real Navy SEAL. The show employed military consultants, but all principal cast members, including Thieriot, were actors. TVMaze lists Thieriot’s role as fictional.

Why did SEAL Team get canceled?

SEAL Team was not canceled; it concluded after seven seasons. The show ended its run on CBS and later moved to Paramount+ for its final season. Thieriot’s departure after season six was a personal choice, not a response to cancellation.

The consequence: Thieriot’s gamble on himself as a creator paid off, cementing his place as a CBS leading man.

Timeline: Max Thieriot’s career path

• 2004 – Film debut in Catch That Kid with Kristen Stewart (TVMaze)
• 2005 – Appears in The Pacifier opposite Vin Diesel
• 2008-2013 – Roles in Chloe, House M.D., and Bates Motel (Television Academy)
• 2017-2022 – Clay Spenser on SEAL Team (TVMaze)
• 2022 – Co-creates and stars in Fire Country on CBS (Paramount Press Express)

For more on actors who transitioned from TV series to leading roles, see our profile on Missy Peregrym: From Rookie Blue to FBI — The Actress Behind Special Agent Maggie Bell.

“I grew up watching my friends join Cal Fire, and that world always fascinated me. When the opportunity came to build a show around it, I couldn’t say no.”

Max Thieriot, in an interview with Brief Take (entertainment interview platform)

“Thieriot’s transition from teen actor to creator is a rare success story in Hollywood. He’s not just a face on screen – he’s writing and producing his own material.”

Television Academy feature on Television Academy (industry authority)

Confirmed facts: Thieriot’s debut, his role on SEAL Team, and his creation of Fire Country are all verified by tier-1 sources. What’s unclear: The exact timing of his departure from SEAL Team, his wife’s profession, and his exact net worth remain open questions.

For Thieriot, the choice is clear: he bet on himself as a creator rather than continuing as a supporting player on a military drama. For fans of Fire Country, that bet paid off – the show is now a CBS staple.

Frequently asked questions