Biography
Max was born in Berne, Switzerland, to Max Albert and Elvira Gertsch-Meschini and is the youngest of three siblings. After completing his Baccalauréat, he enrolled at his hometown university to study History and German but soon realized he needed a break from classrooms. His mandatory six months in the Swiss armed forces, though unwelcome, offered his first chance to develop his acting skills. Praised by his superiors and set on a career path, his portrayal of suicidal tendencies resulted in a swift and complete discharge.
Following two aimless years, he accompanied his then-girlfriend, who was passionate about acting, to her rehearsal. When he asked the group's director, Reto Nickler, about becoming an actor, Nickler informed him about acting schools, including one in Berne. Seven weeks later, after auditioning, Max was accepted into Berne's Conservatory of Music and Theatre, beginning his studies in spring 1984.
Three years later, in 1987, Max landed his first acting role in Berlin, Germany, joining the "Freie Volksbühne" in the city's western part, where he remains a content resident. Over the following years, he witnessed Berlin's reunification, joined the prestigious "Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz," and in 1991 co-founded the musical comedy troupe "Die Geschwister Pfister." The quartet—Lilo, Toni, Ursli, and Willi Pfister—became staples of Berlin's cabaret and variety scene, touring extensively for three years, winning awards before disbanding.
After this period of local fame, Max faced unemployment, but soon secured a role in the hit series "Girl Friends" (1994), playing Bendix Bast, which brought him moderate TV recognition in Germany. That same year, he had a recurring role in the crime series "Doppelter Einsatz" (RTL). Subsequent roles in "Flughafenklinik" (1995) and "Im Namen des Gesetzes" (1998) expanded his television portfolio. During this time, he developed a strong collaboration with Swiss director Christof Schertenleib, resulting in three films, the first being "Liebe Lügen" (1996), which earned Max the Best Actor Award at the Solothurn Film Festival. In 2008, the German series "Dr. Psycho," in which Max was a regular, received the prestigious Grimme Preis.
Throughout his career, Max has performed on stages nationally and internationally, including in Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, Berlin, Vienna, and Zurich. His singing and dancing talents have led to roles in musicals such as "Kiss Me, Kate" (2014) and "West Side Story" (2017), as well as operettas like "Clivia," "Bibi Balù," "Frau Luna," and "Die Fledermaus," often under director Stefan Huber. He notably portrayed Mack the Knife in "The Threepenny Opera" and Wilhelm in "The Black Rider." One of his favorite roles was Danny in Dennis Kelly's "Orphans" (2013). A recent significant and challenging role was his portrayal of Adolf Hitler in the 2020 TV miniseries "Das Weiße Haus am Rhein." In 2023, he returned to the stage as Willi Pfister, debuting his first solo show, "Homecoming," performing once again in Berlin’s club and cabaret venues.
