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Mary Max

1966 – 2019

American animal rights activist

Animal rights advocateAnimal rights movement
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About Mary Max

Lived 1966 – 2019 (aged 52). Mary Max was an American animal rights advocate and animal rights movement.

Mary Max (née Balkin; October 20, 1966 – June 9, 2019) was an American animal rights activist and wife of German-American pop artist Peter Max. She was a member of the board of directors of the Humane Society of the United States from 2005 until her death of apparent suicide in June 2019.

VegNews, a magazine that promotes veganism, remembered her "tireless work [as a] relentless ambassador of animal rights."

Early life and education Max was born on October 20, 1966, in Buffalo, New York, to Ruth K. Balkin.

Animal rights activism Max became active in the animal rights movement after a conversation with Italian actress Isabella Rosellini, who told her about factory farming. By her death in June 2019, Max had become a well-known figure among animal activists in New York.

In 2001, she helped organize the Farm Sanctuary's first gala and later joined the organization's advisory council. In 2005, Max co-founded Humane USA-PAC, a political action committee that promotes animal rights legislators in the United States. Their wedding was officiated by New York City's then-mayor Rudy Giuliani.

She was a vegan.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Animal rights advocate, Animal rights movement
Nationality
Education
Canisius University, Canisius College
Also known as
Mary Balkin

Family & relationships

Spouse
Peter Max

People in Mary Max's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Mary Max's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Mary Max?

American animal rights activist

When was Mary Max born?

Mary Max was born on 20 October 1966 in Buffalo.

When did Mary Max die?

Mary Max died on 9 June 2019 in Upper West Side.

What was Mary Max's occupation?

Mary Max was an animal rights advocate and animal rights movement.

What nationality was Mary Max?

Mary Max was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Mary Max

· Wikidata: Q65088505

· DBpedia: Mary Max

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Mary Max. https://biography.guide/mary-max/

MLA: "Mary Max." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/mary-max/.

Chicago: "Mary Max." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/mary-max/.

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