Max Casella

Max Casella (born Maximilian Deitch; June 6, 1967) is an American actor. He is known for his roles on the television series Doogie Howser, M.D., The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, Vinyl, Cro and the voice of Daxter in the Jak and Daxter video game series.

Early life Casella was born June 6, 1967, in Washington, D.C., the son of David Deitch, a newspaper columnist, and Doris Casella, a social worker. His father is Jewish and his mother is of Italian descent. He grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts and attended Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, where his classmates included Traci Bingham, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon. Casella has growth hormone deficiency, which accounted for his ability to play characters much younger than his actual age. His brother also shares the condition. He did not go through puberty until the age of 27 after medical intervention. His physical changes caused him to gain weight and he was dropped by his agents. He then had to completely reinvent himself as an actor.

Career Casella played Vincent "Vinnie" Delpino in the television series Doogie Howser, M.D. from 1989 to 1993 with Neil Patrick Harris. In 1992, Casella played Racetrack Higgins in Newsies, which was based upon true events in the 1899 newsboys strike against Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. He appeared in WindRunner: A Spirited Journey, starring Margot Kidder and Russell Means as Jim Thorpe's ghost. In 1997, Casella played Timon in the original Broadway production of The Lion King; a performance for which he was awarded a Theatre World Award and received a Drama Desk Award nomination. From 2000 to 2001 he returned to Broadway as Marcellus Washburn in the revival of The Music Man. Casella portrayed Pvt. Dino Paparelli in Sgt. Bilko. He joined the cast of the HBO series The Sopranos during its third season, as Benny Fazio. Casella also starred in Ed Wood and Analyze This. In 2007, Casella portrayed Dick Howser in the ESPN mini-series The Bronx is Burning. He also voiced Tip in The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea, Zini in the CGI film Dinosaur and the titular character in ABC's Cro. In 2008, Casella played Mack Steiner in Leatherheads and Dennis, one of the main characters in Scaring the Fish. He also played Leo D'Alessio in season one of the HBO series Boardwalk Empire.

From 2022 to 2024, Casella portrayed Armand Truisi on the Paramount+ series Tulsa King.

Personal life Casella married Leona Robbins in 2002, and has two daughters, Mia and Gioia. They lived in New York City, and they separated in 2018.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1992 Newsies Racetrack Higgins 1994 Ed Wood Paul Marco 1996 Sgt. Bilko Spc. Dino Paparelli 1997 Trial and Error Dr. Brown 1999 Analyze This Nicky Shivers Freak Talks About Sex Freak's High School Friend 2000 The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea Tip (voice) Direct-to-video Dinosaur Zini (voice) 2005 The Notorious Bettie Page Howie 2006 Bristol Boys Donny 2008 Leatherheads Max Steiner Revolutionary Road Ed Small 2011 Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son Anthony Canetti Somewhere Tonight Fred 2012 Killing Them Softly Barry Caprio 2013 Inside Llewyn Davis Pappi Corsicato Blue Jasmine Eddie The Last of Robin Hood Stanley Kubrick Fading Gigolo Guy at Counter Oldboy James Prestley 2015 Wild Card Osgood Applesauce Les Christmas Eve Randy 2016 Jackie Jack Valenti Live by Night Digger Pescatore 2017 Wonder Wheel Ryan 2018 Night Comes On Mark 2019 Late Night Burditt 2020 The Rhythm Section Leon Giler Paper Spiders Gary 2021 This Is the Night Police Officer Uncredited The Tender Bar Chief 2022 Allswell in New York Tim 2024 Lake George Harout TBA Special Delivery Man Short; post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes 1983 Don't Look Now! Max Deitch 3 episodes 1988 The Equalizer Streak Episode: "The Child Broker" 1989 Kate & Allie Mike Sheridan Episode: "Chip's Notes" 1989–1993 Doogie Howser, M.D. Vinnie Delpino 97 episodes 1993–1994 Cro Cro (voice) 20 episodes 1995 The Cosby Mysteries Simon Cosler Episode: "Comic Book Murder" 1995–1996 The Adventures of Hyperman Studd Puppy (voice) 13 episodes 1996 Hey Arnold! Tony B. / Philly D. (voices) Episodes: "Benchwarmer/Cool Jerk" 1997 Pepper Ann Emmit Swink (voice) Episode: "Crunch Pod" 1998 Working Quinten McCracken Episode: "Greenery" 2001–2007 The Sopranos Benny Fazio 28 episodes 2002 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Nicky Episode: "Shandeh" Courage the Cowardly Dog The Beaver (voice) Episode: "A Beaver's Tale" 2003 Queens Supreme Christopher Schiffer Episode: "Case by Case" 2007 The Bronx Is Burning Dick Howser 4 episodes 2009 Medium Joel Tiernan Episode: "Soul Survivor" 2010 Hawaii Five-0 Joey Episode: "Malama Ka Aina" Boardwalk Empire Leo D'Alessio 7 episodes 2011 The Confession Eddie 2 episodes 2016 Vinyl Julian "Julie" Silver Main cast; 10 episodes The Night Of Edgar Episode: "The Art of War" Crisis in Six Scenes Barber Episode #1.1 2017–2022 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Michael Kessler 5 episodes 2017–2018 The Detour Joe Delicious 13 episodes 2018 Shades of Blue Capt. Daniel Pines 2 episodes Ray Donovan Emerson Lake 6 episodes 2019 The Blacklist Henry Morris Episode: "Lady Luck (No. 69)" 2021 The Good Fight Danny Trumpet 2 episodes 2022 WeCrashed Detective Donny Episode: "Masha Masha Masha" 2022–2024 Tulsa King Armand Truisi Main role 2023 Kaleidoscope Taco Episode: "Pink" (6 Months After the Heist)2026Law & OrderSteven DelvecchioEpisode: "Once Burned"

Video games Year Title Role 2001 Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy Daxter 2003 Jak II 2004 Jak 3 2005 Jak X: Combat Racing 2006 Daxter Daxter, Hotelier 2007 Pain Daxter 2009 Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony Union Official 2011 PlayStation Move Heroes Daxter 2012 PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale