BY: CLARA SEELY-KATZ

Max Burkholder has been cutting his teeth in the industry since he could toddle, acting on film since before he could even comprehend the difference between acting and playing. Even today, for Burkholder, to act is to play—this is what gives him an edge. 

Burkholder’s most recent foray into acting, Ted (the television series), has been a critical hit. The prequel to the Ted film franchise is fun and light while not shying away from more gritty material—it stays true to the films. Although Seth MacFarlane created the world of Ted, Burkholder’s performance has breathed new life into the old story, making it a must-watch. 

Read on to learn more about Max Burkholder, his background as an actor, his real thoughts about the Ted films, and what he’s learned from being in the industry for over two decades. 

How did you get your start as an actor? Was it something you have always felt passionate about, or was it something you fell into?

A little of both! My parents had me auditioning from when I was about three years old. I was honestly barely lucid, much less able to conceive that what I was doing was anything other than playing pretend (which is still how I think about it). I got my first role in Daddy Day Care early on and had a blast doing it. Since then, acting has simply remained my favorite thing in the world to do, so I keep on doing it. 

Do you see acting as more of a passion/artistic endeavor or an interesting career?

I honestly think it's both, but if you're asking me the reason why I do it, then it's most definitely the former. It's definitely interesting; I get to travel, meet interesting people, etc. But the reason I act is because of what I get out of it emotionally and spiritually. The sense of catharsis you get after something particularly intense or the satisfaction of feeling a joke land perfectly. It's just addicting, you can't get enough. 

How did being a child actor affect how you act and how you see the industry today?

I definitely still come to work every day with the intention of being like a kid playing pretend. That's what my late great mentor, Harry Mastrogeorge, always taught me. Having been doing it since I was so little, I think, makes it a bit easier for me to tap into that sort of childlike point of view. Growing up within the industry, you see it how it really is, both for better and for worse. It's hard to bring in preconceptions about what a thing is like when you grow up with it right in front of your face.

How would you describe your acting style? Do you feel like you have to relate to the characters you are playing, or do you feel as though you enjoy embodying someone completely different from yourself?

I don’t think I have to relate to a character I'm playing, but it can often help. A part of my worldview is that I can find common ground or similarities between myself and anybody. Part of the fun of the job is that, just like no two people are exactly the same, no two parts are either. Every new character is a completely unique challenge and experience, which is part of why I love it so much. 

What is one of your favorite projects you have worked on so far and why? 

The thing that comes to mind first is something that very few people got to see. I did a play in college called Absinthe, a Polish play that we performed the first English performance of. It was an immersive kind of thing, sort of similar to Sleep No More, where all the actors were playing out different scenes in a house, and the audience could wander into them, or we could pull them along with us. My opening monologue every night was in a car parked outside, with the audience members in the passenger and back seats. It was a really interesting, super-collaborative process between the cast and the director where we all worked together on the staging, the timing, everything. Definitely one of the most engaging and challenging projects I’ve ever been a part of, and one of the most fun as well. 

What is your least favorite aspect of being an actor? 

I think it is probably the instability inherent in the profession. Having to have big gaps between projects or dry spells where no auditions are coming in for seemingly no reason at all. Don't get me wrong—it's really nice at times to have long stretches of no responsibilities other than life, but in the back of your mind, there can still be a nagging little thought of "Oh, I may just never work an acting job ever again." 

Before your recent role in the new Ted series on Peacock, had you seen the original movies? What did you think of them?

Of course! Honestly, I don't even have to lie here; I really loved both of them. I grew up watching/performing in Family Guy, so Seth’s sense of humor is integral and foundational to my own. 

If you could describe the show in three words to someone who hasn’t ever seen Ted, what would you say? 

Stupid. Idiotic. Hilarious.

Are you more of a comedy or drama person? Or both, and why?

Both, for sure. Ted was my first chance at doing straight comedy professionally, but it’s always been something I’ve been interested in. Like I said before, part of what makes this job so fun is just how different every project is from another, so why limit myself to one genre?

Who are some comedians you admire and why?

The GOAT, to me, will probably always be either Robin Williams or George Carlin. Both of them were absolutely filled with empathy and just expressed it in different ways. In terms of modern-day comedians, I adore Bo Burnham and James Acaster. They both have their own unique ways of challenging and transcending the limitations inherent in the art form.

Have you ever thought about writing or directing your own movies/shows one day?

100%. It’s been a dream of mine since I was a kid to adapt my favorite fantasy series to the big screen. I’ve slowly but surely been figuring out everything I’d need to make it a reality, but I know that that dream is still a long way away, and I’ll need lots of experience helming projects before I feel comfortable enough taking that on.

Do you have a dream project in mind? Who would you act alongside in it?

Honestly, I don't think my dream project has been written or made yet; it's something that I don't even know that I want. I certainly would love to take a crack at playing a villain. Just an absolute dirtbag. I almost pathologically avoid upsetting other people, so playing something so far removed from how I carry myself day-to-day could be really, really fun. One thing that I'm fantasizing about right now is a prestige TV adaptation of Ursula Leguin's book The Lathe of Heaven. In my head, I play George Orr, and Bryan Cranston plays Dr. Haber. I think it would be incredible.

As someone who has been around many well-seasoned actors, have you learned anything from actors who have had decades of experience?

The best of the best are always kind and always patient. When someone has true skill, they don't feel the need to lord it over anyone and can just simply be. I try to emulate their countenance, at least, knowing that real skill and art are something that I work at every day.

As a writer, I sometimes feel totally uninspired and disconnected from creativity/flow. Do you ever feel that way as an actor? If so, what do you do to work through those moments? What inspires you?

If I'm feeling disconnected from my flow, it usually means I'm disconnected from my sense of self or where I am in the world or in life. It'll often manifest as anxiety or ennui, just a total lack of equanimity. When that happens, I don't look for inspiration, as it were, but just a way of centering myself. I'll read some of my favorite poetry, watch something that'll make me laugh, or hang out with animals for a while (They just take you as you are; it's very soothing). Whatever I think will get me back in tune with my own natural rhythm, I seek out. 

In the age of social media being a big part of being an up-and-coming actor, how do you feel about navigating these platforms now that you have an audience? 

It’s really hard! I don’t really have a hardline stance against social media or anything, but it honestly just rarely pops into my mind that I should be posting anything. Social media and press are these weird, auxiliary, extra jobs attached to acting. I'm not against them or anything; they're just not exactly what I was built for, and I often feel awkward when involving myself in them. 

Do you have a favorite place in the world? If so, where? 

On my couch with my dog. Dude, you don't even know how much value I place on comfort and ease. Everything in my house is soft, warm, and cozy.

If you could choose to film anywhere in the world, where would you and why?

Honestly, I am not sure—there are so many different places I want to travel to if given the opportunity. I've wanted to go to Mongolia for the longest time so maybe there. I rode horses growing up, and they have their own distinct way of horseback riding that I'd love to learn.

As someone who has navigated the industry for a while, if you could give one piece of advice to a young actor, what would it be and why? 

Go to an acting class and do your homework! Always be in a class (though make sure the teacher is good; there are a lot of charlatans out there). Prep for each scene as seriously as you would if you were starting work as the lead role in a Spielberg movie. Same for any audition, no matter how small. Keeping your fangs sharp is crucial for anyone at any level.

If you were a book, what book would you be and why?

The book I’d want to be is the Tao Te Ching. Wise, mysterious, centered, and at peace. The book I probably actually am is A Series of Unfortunate Events or something along those lines. Very silly and easy to read with just a touch of depression.