A Look at Max Greenfield’s Children: Meet Lilly and Ozzie
Max Greenfield with his wife, Tess Sanchez, and their kids, Lilly and Ozzie.
Credit:
Tess Sanchez/Instagram
Max Greenfield, known for his roles in television, embraces his most cherished identity as a father to his two children, Lilly and Ozzie. The actor and producer, married to former casting director Tess Sanchez since 2008, welcomed their first child, Lilly, in 2010, followed by their son Ozzie in 2015.
Reflecting on his initial thoughts about becoming a father, Greenfield shared, “I definitely didn’t think I was ready. You’re a psychopath if you’re about to have your first child and you’re like, ‘I’m ready for this!’” he told Parents. Sanchez, on the other hand, was hesitant about having another child at first but ultimately agreed. Greenfield expressed his desire for Lilly to have a sibling, stating, “I was an only child, and I wanted her to have a sibling.”
As Greenfield transitioned into fatherhood with two children, he acknowledged the challenges that came with it. In a candid conversation with PEOPLE shortly after Ozzie’s arrival, he revealed, “There were moments of exhaustion and despair.” However, he also noted the joy that accompanied these challenges, declaring that he takes a playful approach to parenting, saying, “Point me in the direction of having fun, and I’m there. But I’m terrible at all the other stuff.”
Max Greenfield with his kids, daughter Lilly and son Ozzie.
Tess Sanchez Instagram
While contemplating the possibility of expanding their family, Greenfield humorously remarked, “Having two kids is like having 1,000. It makes everything so much harder.” Despite the challenges, he expressed contentment with his journey as a father, stating, “I couldn’t be any more into being a dad… couldn’t be more done. But so happy with these two idiots.”
Lilly Greenfield, 16
Max Greenfield takes a selfie with his daughter Lilly Greenfield.
Tess Sanchez/Instagram
Lilly Greenfield was born on January 27, 2010. At that time, Greenfield shifted focus from his acting career to full-time fatherhood. “I was out of work and ready to stop acting altogether,” he shared. Despite the initial difficulties, he humorously recalled sleepless nights, joking, “This is how they torture war criminals.”
Sanchez emphasized their approach to parenting, defining their principal rule: “be kind and have compassion.” She explained that their only strictness revolves around how their children treat others.
During the pandemic, Greenfield navigated homeschooling but found joy in using that time to bond with Lilly, producing amusing videos together. “Maybe we should really have some fun,” he remarked. Their shared humor made the experience rewarding, even if virtual schooling proved overwhelming.
The father-daughter duo has also embraced TikTok, where Lilly choreographs dances for Greenfield. He humorously noted he joined the platform to connect with her, as she is not allowed her own account.
Furthermore, Lilly seems to inherit her father’s comedic talent and performing spirit. Having appeared in school productions, she made her television debut alongside her father in a season 4 episode of The Neighborhood. Greenfield proudly noted her audition success, referring to her as “difficult to work with but an absolute joy to watch.”
Ozzie James Greenfield, 10
Max Greenfield with son Ozzie James Greenfield.
Tess Sanchez/Instagram
Ozzie James Greenfield was born on August 24, 2015. Greenfield expressed the challenge of adjusting to life with two children, referring to it as a significant wake-up call regarding time management.
In contrast to his first experience of fatherhood, when he was less busy professionally, Greenfield noted the demands of balancing parenting with his busy schedule on New Girl. Sanchez shared that she took the nighttime duties with Ozzie while Greenfield worked long hours.
Greenfield, however, embraces co-sleeping with his children, finding comfort in their presence. He observed that his son is starting to grasp his father’s profession. “My son is just starting to realize that I’m an actor, but I don’t think he really knows what an actor is,” he stated.
Ultimately, being a father has inspired Greenfield’s foray into writing. He published his first children’s book, I Don’t Want to Read This Book, in November 2021, drawing from his experiences with Lilly and Ozzie. With two additional books to his name and a fourth on the way, Greenfield has immersed himself in the joys and challenges of both parenting and authorship, finding fulfillment in the process.
Greenfield concluded, “I had so much fun writing, and it couldn’t have turned out any better.”
