Max Gail has fond memories of his days on Grosse Ile.
BY BRIAN RZEPPA
Best known for his role as Stan “Wojo” Wojciehowicz in the acclaimed TV show Barney Miller, 1961 Grosse Ile High School graduate Max Gail has had an incredible career by any measure.
Beyond the roles that he has occupied on screen and on the stage though, some of Gail’s most important work has been done outside of the limelight. Through his work with Full Circle Productions, Gail has taken strides to shine light on social and environmental issues.
The son of an actress, Gail did not immediately show interest in performing. In fact, he was more likely to be found at his father’s office supply stores in Wyandotte and Detroit than he was to be found on a stage.
“Acting came by more of drift than design. I left myself open to opportunities because nothing was really calling to me. My mother had been an actress before she was married and my dad was stationed at the base in Grosse Ile. I grew up working my vacations in Detroit or in Wyandotte at our family’s stores,” Gail said.
As Gail prepared to move on to college he had the opportunity to study abroad in Germany; a decision that helped to form the rest of his life.
“I was offered the chance to be an exchange student in Germany the summer before my senior year. I was hoping to lifeguard at the (Grosse Ile) Country Club, but I couldn’t pass it up. Overall, it was an eyeopener. The piano player on the boat went to Williams College and after visiting, it just seemed like the right fit to me.”
Spending four years at Williams in Massachusetts, Gail returned to Michigan to teach for two years. He continued his college education at the University of Michigan, another decision that helped to push his life forward.
“I was looking through different opportunities and saw Theory of Acting. I thought it was going to be watching movies and writing papers, but it laid a groundwork for me. My mother had been involved in the amateur theater company in Grosse Ile, so it really wasn’t strange for me. It was after this class — and after I got my MBA — that I decided to move to San Francisco.”
Gail’s career was still in a bit of flux, as he was working in a piano bar while considering going to law school. While reading the newspaper one day, a call for understudies for a stage rendition of One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest in town stood out to Gail and he decided to audition.
“I auditioned for the show and they offered me the role of the understudy to Chief Bromden’s character. Before I could go down and rehearse, the actor who portrayed Chief Bromden had an ongoing disagreement with another actor and was fired, so I was brought on. I did that play for two years and after a few small TV and movie parts I decided to move to Los Angeles and really make a go of it.”
After spending a year in New York, Gail returned to California and landed the role that would shape his career.
“I read for the pilot for the Barney Miller Show and decided to do a half-season after the show got picked up. My intention was to move on and write songs, but I really enjoyed it and decided to stay with it. Though the show was a major part of my life, it was also a focus of mine to have a strong relationship with my wife and kids and I made sure that it didn’t take over my life.”
Now, almost 40 years since Barney Miller aired its last episode, Gail has found himself in the limelight once again. Appearing on General Hospital, Gail recently was honored with a Daytime Emmy for Best Supporting Actor. It was a bit of a different role than he had been accustomed to, but one he was excited about the challenge of taking on.
“This soap opera audition came up and in some ways soap operas are the main story form for a lot of people over a long period of years. They tell stories one day at a time and there’s some really good things about it. There was a time that if you were a film star, you didn’t do television at all but I’ve had a great time working. There’s an element of live theater to it and an element forcing you to really be present. One of the best things about it is it’s allowed me to spend all of this time with all of my wonderful grandkids.”
In addition to his work on screen, Gail’s Full Circle Productions help him contribute to causes that he cares about deeply.
“Among the many wonderful friends that I have met throughout my career, a lot of them were part of the American Indian movement. Through Full Circle, we have released several award-winning documentaries related to Native American land issues and Native American cultural concepts and we have facilitated the production and distribution of several respected Native American recording and visual artists.”
Through all of the work that Gail has done and continues to do, he feels Grosse Ile had a major impact in helping to develop all that he has become.
“Growing up in Grosse Ile gave me a wonderful take on life; it was its own sanctuary in a way for me. The times were safe, but there is a sacredness to that part of the world and I think seeing it from that view, it took me until now to fully appreciate what I saw.
“It’s wonderful to see the changes that have happened and I think connected with all of that is that if people of the area could be friendly in the streets in the winter, then they can do anything. There is something very grounded about Downriver and I’m happy to have grown up there.”