Doogie Howser Star Max Casella Opens Up About Not Hitting Puberty Until 27

Vulnerable with Christy Carlson Romano

Today my guest is actor Max Casella. You may remember Max from Newsies, Doogie Howser, M.D., The Sopranos, Lion King on Broadway, and, currently, Tulsa King, to name a few. Let's be real, I'm a huge fan of Max Casella.

In this episode, Max and Christy deep dive into his complicated relationship with his father and how his father's disapproval didn't prevent Max from pursuing his dreams. We should all be grateful because Max has been acting for 40 years and has such diverse credits from Broadway to voice-over work to Coen Brothers film to many culturally-iconic films and television shows. With his artistry and passion for the craft, he's graced our screens and brought storytelling and entertainment to us all.

Max shared how despite how he looked, he actually wasn't a child actor. Due to pituitary dwarfism, a hormonal condition that inhibits growth, he landed roles that would suggest he was younger than his actual age. Max is currently playing Armand Truisi in Paramount +'s Tulsa King alongside Sylvester Stallone, which just premiered November 13, 2022.

It was so great to connect with a fellow 'paisan' in the industry and see how our career paths have intersected over the years. I hope you enjoy this episode.

You can follow Max @max.casella on Instagram.

Follow me, Christy Carlson Romano, on Instagram @thechristycarlsonromano, TikTok @christcarlsonromano, and subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Be sure to follow Vulnerable @thevulnerablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok.

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