IN CONVERSATION WITH MAX BURKHOLDER
interview by JANA LETONJA
Max Burkholder has grown up in front of audiences, and now he’s stepping fully into the spotlight. Currently starring as John Bennett in Seth MacFarlane’s critically acclaimed series TED, the hit prequel to the beloved film franchise, he anchors the show as the awkward, big-hearted teenager navigating adolescence with the help (and chaos) of his foul-mouthed teddy bear best friend. The series debuted as Peacock’s most-watched original title ever in its first three days and returns for its highly anticipated second season this March. With a career that spans major film, television, and voice work, from his groundbreaking performance on Parenthood to leading roles across drama and comedy, Max’s latest chapter reflects both his range and his arrival as a fully realized leading actor.
TED has been a massive success. What did it feel like seeing the response when the series premiered?
I knew the show was funny. I knew it was good. I had no idea just how popular it was going to be, though. Every new metric that came in wowed me again, but more than the data or the metric, I found myself totally wowed by people’s individual responses. The highlight of the response to me has been the DMs I get on instagram of people telling me that the show made them smile during a tough time, or got them through a stressful life event. That’s been the real treat.
John Bennett is a younger version of a very iconic character. How did you make the role your own?
The character’s DNA is largely the same as it was in the movies, obviously, but it’s been really fun to play around with the looser areas where I can. Finding the spots that were less fleshed out than the films was a lot of fun, and it’s just my luck that those spots are mostly the ones where I’m a loser, dweeb, geek, dork, etc.
Comedy often looks effortless onscreen. What’s been the most challenging part of playing John?
The sprinting. I’m really not sure why or how, but this is easily the most physically demanding role I’ve ever had. Even more than in season one, where there is a lot of running, I feel like every other episode in season 2 I’m sprinting rapidly away from someone who wants to beat the living shit out of me. There was a two and a half week period where I was sprinting every shoot day.
How do you balance the heart of the character with the outrageous humor of the show?
In all honesty, I don’t think there’s all that much to balance. I think the humor, a lot of the time, comes from how sincere John is as a character. How seriously he takes even the silliest things is exactly where a lot of the comedy comes from.
Season two is on the way. How does John evolve as he grows up a little more?
He doesn’t really. It’s a good, solid question, but the evolution of the character doesn’t really come from his “growing up”. When we meet him in the first TED movie, he’s a manchild who really hasn’t changed much since high school, and we’re just giving everyone a look at what he was like in high school. Any evolutions we see for John’s character in season 2 come from him getting weirder, not wiser.
You’ve been acting since you were very young. When did acting shift from something you did to something you chose?
Maybe around six years old? That’s how old I was when I started to actually understand what it is that I was doing. My parents always made it very clear to me that I could stop whenever I wanted, and luckily it just kept being my favorite thing to do.
You’ve moved fluidly between comedy and drama. Which challenges you more at this stage?
They’re both challenging, of course, just in very different ways. That being said, the way to approach them remains very similar to me. I think the best way to punch up the comedy in any situation is by making sure people know you’re taking every single silly little action extremely seriously.
How has your relationship with the industry changed as you’ve grown from child actor to adult lead?
More and less than I might’ve hoped, I suppose. It’s hard to look outside of yourself that much as a kid, you just don’t have the bandwidth. As you grow up in the industry, and really just the world in general, you start to realize what a small part you actually play in the grand scheme of things. Realizing that can be freeing, and it can be distressing. I’ll let you know if I ever land on one for good. I’d say something that’s stayed largely the same as an actor has been the frustration of having to wait around for work and the rejection from things that you just know you’re right for. That’s started to become less of an issue now that I’ve been making my own stuff.
Looking back, was there a project that pushed you outside your comfort zone the most?
A movie I did called Babysitter when I was 16. That or the first play I ever did in college. I had no idea what I was doing in a theatrical sense.
How do you stay grounded while working on shows with such massive reach and fandoms?
Luckily my hair is completely different in TED than it is in real life, and I’m wearing heaps of makeup in it so I’m not recognized everywhere I go. But even if I was, which I was a lot more when I was younger, I’m still just a dude. I’m filling these questions out on my couch right now while eating beef jerky in my sweatpants and watching a comedy special. It’s hard to get more grounded than that.
What kind of stories or characters are you most excited to pursue next?
As much fun as it is, after having done nothing but straight comedy for three years, I’d love to move onto something at least a bit more serious. Whether that looks like TV, film, or theater, I’m unsure. I just want to work with talented, kind people, doing work that’s fun and fulfilling. No one’s more aware than me that that’s a lot to ask for, but I’m going to keep working my hardest every day to achieve it.
TEAM CREDITS
talent MAX BURKHOLDER
photography THE RIKER BROTHERS
interview JANA LETONJA
editor TIMOTEJ LETONJA
