Max Casella BIO
Max Casella is an American actor known for his work in theater, film, and television. Born in Washington D.C. in 1967, Casella grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and began his acting career in the late 1980s.
Casella's Broadway debut came in 1992 when he appeared in the original production of "The Lion King." He played the role of Timon, a meerkat who befriends the young lion Simba. Casella's performance was praised for its energy and humor, and he received a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical.
Following his success in "The Lion King," Casella continued to work in theater. He appeared in the Broadway productions of "The Music Man" in 2000 and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" in 2005. He also played the role of Leo Bloom in the national tour of "The Producers" in 2004.
In addition to his work on stage, Casella has had a successful career in film and television. He is perhaps best known for his role as Benny Fazio in the HBO series "The Sopranos." Benny was a member of the DiMeo crime family and worked as a driver for Tony Soprano. Casella's performance was praised for its intensity and complexity, and he appeared in 22 episodes of the series.
Casella has also appeared in a number of films, including "Ed Wood" (1994), "Newsies" (1992), and "Blue Jasmine" (2013). In "Ed Wood," he played the role of Paul Marco, an actor who appeared in a number of low-budget horror films directed by the titular character. The film was directed by Tim Burton and received critical acclaim.
Casella's work in television has also been notable. In addition to "The Sopranos," he has appeared in a number of popular series, including "Boardwalk Empire," "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," and "Ray Donovan." He also had a recurring role as Vinnie Delpino in the ABC series "Doogie Howser, M.D." from 1989 to 1993.
Casella has also worked in music. He played the role of Crutchie in the original Broadway production of "Newsies" in 1992. The musical, which tells the story of a group of newsboys who go on strike against their newspaper bosses, was a critical and commercial success. Casella's performance was praised for its heart and vulnerability.
In addition to his work as an actor, Casella is also a writer and director. He wrote and directed the short film "The Confession" in 2005, which starred his "Sopranos" co-star Michael Imperioli. The film tells the story of a man who confesses to a priest about a crime he committed as a child. It received critical acclaim and was screened at a number of film festivals.
Casella has also been involved in a number of charitable organizations. He is a supporter of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and has participated in a number of their fundraising events. He has also been involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
In conclusion, Max Casella is a talented actor with a wide range of experience in theater, film, and television. His work in "The Lion King" and "Newsies" on Broadway was particularly notable, and his performance as Benny Fazio in "The Sopranos" was a highlight of his television career. In addition to his work as an actor, Casella is also a writer and director and has been involved in a number of charitable organizations.
Max Casella Movies
Race Against Tomorrow
[ 1991 ] Max
Newsies
[ 1992 ] Racetrack Higgins
Ed Wood
[ 1994 ] Paul Marco
Windrunner
[ 1994 ] Denny LeBlanc
Sgt. Bilko
[ 1996 ] Spc. Dino Paparelli
The Lion King
[ 1997 ] Timon
Trial and Error
[ 1997 ] Dr. Brown
Analyze This
[ 1999 ] Nicky Shivers
Freak Talks About Sex
[ 1999 ] Freak's High School Friend
Behind the Seams
[ 2000 ] Jeff
Dinosaur
[ 2000 ] Zini
King of the Open Mics
[ 2000 ] Heckler
The Notorious Bettie Page
[ 2005 ] Howie
Bristol Boys
[ 2006 ] Donny Brcorelli
Revolutionary Road
[ 2008 ] Ed Small
Scaring the Fish
[ 2008 ] Dennis
Leatherheads
[ 2008 ] Mack Steiner
Somewhere Tonight
[ 2011 ] Fred
Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son
[ 2011 ] Canetti
Killing Them Softly
[ 2012 ] Barry Caprio
Blue Jasmine
[ 2013 ] Eddie
Trust, Greed, Bullets & Bourbon
[ 2013 ] Tyler
The Last of Robin Hood
[ 2013 ] Stanley Kubrick
Inside Llewyn Davis
[ 2013 ] Pappi Corsicato
Oldboy
[ 2013 ] James Prestley
Fading Gigolo
[ 2013 ] Guy at Counter
Julie Taymor's A Midsummer Night's Dream
[ 2014 ] Nick Bottom
Applesauce
[ 2015 ] Les
Wild Card
[ 2015 ] Osgood
Christmas Eve
[ 2015 ] Randy
Live by Night
[ 2016 ] Digger Pescatore
Wonder Wheel
[ 2017 ] Fishing Buddy
Night Comes On
[ 2018 ] Marcus
Late Night
[ 2019 ] Burditt
The Rhythm Section
[ 2020 ] Leon Giler
Paper Spiders
[ 2020 ] Gary
That Cold Dead Look in Your Eyes
[ 2021 ] Andy
Scenes from an Empty Church
[ 2021 ] Paul Ruccio
The Tender Bar
[ 2021 ] Chief
Allswell
[ 2022 ] Tim