Max Burkholder

Most actors would shy away from the responsibility of portraying a character with Asperger syndrome, an autism-spectrum disorder marked by difficult social interactions and highly repetitive behavior. But Max Burkholder, who portrayed the Asperger-afflicted teen Max Braverman on NBC's "Parenthood" (2010-15), took pride in his collaboration with medical experts and researchers, and at the positive reception given by critics and audiences alike. Though comedy ruled in his debut film "Daddy Day Care" (2003), Burkholder quickly established himself as a thoughtful and talented actor. A string of minor TV appearances in the mid-2000s led the California-born actor to voice-over roles on a number of series, including "Family Guy" (FOX, 1999-2003, 2005- ) and "The Land Before Time" (Cartoon Network, 2007-08). After switching gears with supporting roles in dramas such as "Brothers & Sisters" (ABC, 2006-2011) and HBO's "In Treatment" (2008-2010), Burkholder took on the highly intelligent Max in "Parenthood." Put together with his expansion into horror in "The Purge" (2013), Burkholder proved capable of handling just about anything.