Max Schneider Bio
Maxwell George Schneider (born June 21, 1992) is an American performer who works as an actor and recording artist. Known professionally as Max in his music career, Schneider has combined theatre, television and recorded music since his professional debut in 2008.
Early Life and Background
Maxwell George Schneider was born in Manhattan, New York, and grew up in Woodstock, New York. He began performing at a very young age and acquired his first agent as an early teenager, developing stage experience that included modeling and commercial work during his adolescence.
Schneider was raised in a Jewish household; his family background included a father from a Jewish family and a mother who converted to Judaism. He trained through performance opportunities in his community and onstage training that led to a professional entry into musical theatre and screen work.
Path to Celebrity
Schneider’s early professional steps included understudy and swing work on Broadway. He covered multiple roles in the Broadway musical 13 in 2008 and 2009, which gave him formal stage credit and visibility among casting directors and industry peers.
Beyond theatre, Schneider expanded into television, film and modeling, appearing in commercial campaigns and in projects for young audiences. These early credits included work that connected him with television producers and touring artists, setting the stage for recurring television roles and screen lead parts that followed in the early 2010s.
Max Schneider Career
Early Career (2008–2014)
Schneider’s first professional credits date to 2008 with the Broadway musical 13 and other stage and modeling opportunities. He moved into television and family entertainment by the early 2010s, securing screen roles and writing credits for youth-oriented programs.
In 2012 Schneider co-wrote songs for television series and played the lead role of Charlie Prince in the Nickelodeon original movie Rags, and he portrayed Zander on the Nickelodeon series How to Rock. During this period he also toured with established young stars and contributed songs to other artists’ projects, broadening his exposure in both music and television.
Breakthrough (2015–2019)
From 2015 Schneider began releasing music under the stage name Max and signed with a record label to support broader release plans. His studio album Hell’s Kitchen Angel, released in 2016, included the single “Lights Down Low,” a sleeper hit that brought him mainstream attention and helped raise his profile beyond youth television audiences.
Following that album, Schneider toured with established rock and pop acts and collaborated with other contemporary artists. His 2018 and 2019 singles, including collaborations and the track “Love Me Less” featuring Quinn XCII, reached commercial radio and streaming audiences and led to a 2019 nomination for Best New Pop Artist at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.
Continued Work and Recent Releases (2020–2024)
Schneider released the studio album Color Vision (2020) after signing with Arista Records, marking a steady evolution of his recorded work and expanding production partnerships. He continued to release collaborations and featured on releases by other artists, maintaining a visible presence on television appearances and late-night performances tied to single promotion.
In 2024 Schneider released the album Love in Stereo, continuing his recording output while also remaining active in screen projects and songwriting for other performers. His music work in this period included collaborations with producers and artists from multiple markets, reflecting a blend of pop, soul and contemporary production values.
Notable Works and Milestones
Schneider’s signature works span stage, television and recorded music: early theatrical coverage on Broadway, lead parts in youth television such as How to Rock, the Nickelodeon film Rags, and the commercial breakthrough of the single “Lights Down Low” from Hell’s Kitchen Angel. Those projects represent the core milestones that shaped his cross-medium career.
Max Schneider Award Nominations
Across his career Schneider has received industry recognition for his work in music. The most prominent verified nomination in the public record is a 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards nomination for Best New Pop Artist, reflecting his commercial emergence in the late 2010s.
Max Schneider Awards Won
Schneider’s documented honors include his early recognition in the performing arts: he won the YoungArts Theater award in 2010, a distinction given to emerging young artists that supported his early artistic development and visibility in theatre circles.
| Award | Wins | Year |
|---|---|---|
| YoungArts Theater | 1 | 2010 |
Max Schneider Family
Schneider married Emily Cannon in 2016; the couple wed in a courthouse ceremony in April of that year. They have one child together, a daughter named Edie Celine, who was born in 2020.
Schneider has described collaborative relationships in music as an important part of his creative life; he is an only child, which he has said shaped how he connects with other artists through joint projects and songwriting partnerships.
Personal Life
Schneider was raised in Woodstock and maintains ties to the region where he grew up; he was raised Jewish and his family background includes both Jewish heritage and a parental conversion to Judaism. These details have been part of his public biographical profile.
In 2018 Schneider underwent surgery that required an extended period of vocal rest, a public health episode that he disclosed in interviews and that influenced his subsequent recording and touring schedule. He continues to balance acting and music work, using the stage name Max for his musical releases while maintaining screen credits under his full name.