Max Burkholder
A child actor who grew up on screen, transitioning seamlessly from the beloved son in 'Parenthood' to the lead in the 'Ted' series.
Born 1997 (age 29)·American actor·Birthday: November 1·Generation Z
Biography
Max Burkholder entered the collective living room as Max Braverman, the thoughtful, Asperger's-diagnosed son on NBC's 'Parenthood'. For six seasons, he delivered a performance of remarkable nuance, avoiding stereotype to portray a kid navigating family, school, and his own unique mind. This role capped off a childhood already filled with voice work for animated classics, from the adventurous Chomper in 'The Land Before Time' series to Roo in 'My Friends Tigger & Pooh'. Burkholder didn't vanish after adolescence; instead, he pivoted to film roles in thrillers like 'The Purge' and later stepped into a major franchise, playing the teenage John Bennett in the Peacock 'Ted' series, proving his comedic chops alongside a crude CGI bear.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Max was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Max Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Max's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- He played a central, series-regular role for six seasons as Max Braverman on the critically acclaimed drama 'Parenthood'.
- He landed the lead role of John Bennett in the Peacock television series 'Ted', a continuation of the popular film franchise.
- He provided the voice for the character Chomper in multiple direct-to-video films in 'The Land Before Time' series.
- He starred in the independent film 'Benjamin', playing a young filmmaker navigating a complex relationship.
Did You Know?
He is a skilled musician and plays the piano, guitar, and drums.
He began his acting career at age four with a national commercial for Kellogg's Frosted Flakes.
He is an alumnus of the Oakwood School in Los Angeles.
He voiced the character 'World' in the Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends special 'Destination: Imagination'.
“I don't want to be defined by a diagnosis, just by the work.”
