Max Greenfield has a habit of being in the right place at

the right time. Since his network television debut in January 2005 as smirking

Officer Leo on the cult hit Veronica Mars,

Greenfield has been making like Forrest Gump and showing up in some pretty

impressive places--as Rebecca Romijn‘s tart-tongued assistant Nick Pepper on Ugly Betty and in a memorable turn as

the young Sandy Cohen on The O.C.

Now he’s appearing in a gay role, Michael, Calvin’s older

love interest, in a multi-episode story on the ABC Family Channel’s breakout

hit Greek, about the lives of a group

of frat-and-sorority-bound college students. This Monday, Greenfield even shares a couple of

surprisingly steamy kisses with Calvin’s Paul James.

The parts have sometimes been small, but it’s been

impossible not to notice the handsome actor with the seductive voice and killer

smile.

“It’s luck,” Greenfield

tells AfterElton.com of his Zelig-like ability to land supporting roles in

water-cooler shows. “I got Veronica Mars

at a really, really lucky time. I didn’t even think they would pick up the whole season, and

then the show kind of took off.”

Greenfield as Nick Pepper on Ugly Betty (left)

& Deputy Leo on Veronica Mars

For whatever reason, he’s been on a winning streak lately.

Even his rejections seem to have been for a reason; his latest roles on Ugly Betty and Greek came, ironically, after auditioning, and being rejected by

the producers, for the roles of Henry and Evan, respectively. “They kind of

just remembered me, liked me, and thank God had a little bit of faith in me

that I could do it,” Greenfield

says.

But more prominent roles have meant increased attention for Greenfield, who is the

object of multiple fan websites and whose heartbreaker good looks have been the

subject of plenty of online discussions, including here at AfterElton.com.

“It’s completely flattering,” Greenfield says. “I think the best part about

it is my Mom would go on the Internet and see all these things, and I think it

gives her more faith that my career is going well and that I’m actually doing

okay. I mean, it gives solace to my mother, which is nice.”

A smile that sweet, and he even thinks of his mother? Can

Max Greenfield really be this nice?

No Plan B

Greenfield grew up in Dobbs

Ferry, just north of New York City.

He went to college in New York

as an art major, but by the end of his first year, he had a feeling it wasn’t

the right place for him to be. “I was burned out on painting,” he says.

His family had since moved to Los Angeles, so he followed after them. He

had never considered a career as an actor, but found himself wondering if it

wasn’t something he should try.

“The Los Angeles culture is

just so inundated with it,” Greenfield

says. “I was just kind of like, well, you know, why don’t we try this out?”

He took acting classes, and his first work was as an extra,

which he hated.

“And then a few years

later, I’m like, now I’m screwed,” he laughs. “I can’t go back to New York. I didn’t have

a Plan B.”

But he gradually found more substantial work, on MTV’s

steamy college soap opera Undressed—also

a training ground for fellow hunks Adam Brody (The O.C.), Darryl Stephens (Noah’s

Arc), Brandon Routh (Superman Returns),

Bret Harrison (Reaper), and even Ugly Betty’s Michael Urie.

Next came parts on Gilmore

Girls, Boston Public, Sleeper Cell, and his “big break” on Veronica Mars. He even had a short-lived

show of his own on the WB, Modern Men,

that was cancelled when the network lost time-slots by merging to become The

CW.

Greenfield

is reluctant to say he’s “made it,” but he’s optimistic about the future of his

career. “I think I definitely would be ready to do something a little bit more

substantial,” says the 28 year-old actor. “I’m in a weird age range. You

wouldn’t buy me as a doctor or lawyer yet, but I’m also not in high school

anymore.”

So what’s next for an actor with all this buzz and momentum,

someone who seems to be on the verge of breakout stardom?

A gay role on Greek, of course.

Next Page! Gay kissing on Greek, and Max gives AfterElton.com some love!

A Glass of Merlot at a College Beer Party

Greenfield, who hasn’t yet seen Monday’s episode of Greek where he kisses Paul James, wants

to know how it looks.

“How did we rate?” says Greenfield, who is straight. “Did we

do okay?”

The kiss is definitely better than okay.

“I love it!” he says. “I’m so proud to be part of the first

gay kiss on ABC Family.”

Greenfield (left) with Paul James in Greek

Greenfield says he loved the pilot for Greek when he first auditioned. When his agent told him they’d

called to ask him to play a gay role, he didn’t hesitate. “I said, ‘Well, why

don’t you send me over the script,’ and they sent me the script, and I thought

it was really well written. I think the show was really good and I just totally

trust those producers and writers over there.”

Better still, he says he’s received nothing but a positive response

for the role, from both inside and outside the industry.

“I really don’t think it’s like it used to be anymore,”

Greenfield says. “I mean, when you have guys like Matthew Rhys on Brothers & Sisters who’s doing an

unbelievable job there. You’ve got all these shows where you’ve got these great

actors depicting gay characters, like Michael C. Hall on Six Feet Under. To be totally honest with you, when they offered it

to me and when I talked to my agent and manager about it, the gay thing really

wasn’t even a question. Honestly, it’s more about, ‘Is it gonna be good or

not?’ It’s not ‘Am I playing gay or not?’ It’s just ‘Is it gonna be good?’ And

so far, it’s been outstanding.”

So far, Calvin and Michael have tussled over their age

difference, their taste in movies, and the fact that Michael can’t get a glass

of merlot at a college beer party.

So what’s next for the would-be couple?

“I have no idea,” Greenfield admits. “I have not read the

next few scripts.”

But no matter. For an actor who’s frequently found himself

at just the right place and time, Greenfield is convinced that Greek—and, for that matter,

AfterElton.com—are exactly where he needs to be.

“I love your website!” Greenfield says of AfterElton.com.

“My mom sees it all the time and she’s like, ‘These guys love you!’ Makes

my life so much easier, believe me.”

Yes, folks, Max Greenfield really is that nice.