Ted's Max Burkholder Played Aspergers Character in His First Big TV Role

Max Burkholder, 26, plays a young John Bennett in Seth MacFarlane's new Ted series. But, after a two-decade career (and counting), most viewers will probably know Burkholder for portraying a kid with Asperger's in 2010s show Parenthood.

Let's look back on the role as Ted fans prepare for the 11 January premiere.

Does Max Burkholder Have Asperger's Like His Parenthood Character?

Max Burkholder got his starring role on the NBC comedy-drama series Parenthood when he was about 10-11 years old. But his character, who is also named Max, is not your typical teen.

Parenthood ran for six seasons from 2010 to 2014. The show follows four grown-up siblings dealing with their own families and careers, and yet what stood out to a lot of fans is how the character Max Braverman was portrayed.

Max has Asperger's syndrome, an autism-spectrum disorder whose main characteristics are issues with recognizing, responding to and communicating emotions, trouble socializing and higher-than-average intelligence.

When he auditioned for the role, Burkholder said he knew "next to nothing about autism and Asperger's". That is until the producers on the show "brought in someone who was an Asperger's doctor" and had a son with Asperger's, to help Burkholder understand the role better.

Burkholder mentioned how the mentoring "helped a lot" as they "discuss things that Max might be doing." In the end, his portrayal was so authentic that fans began wondering whether Burkholder, like Max, had Asperger's himself.

The actor cleared that up: "I've done some research on my own for the role," but no, he doesn't have the disorder himself.

The role led to some heartfelt interactions with a fans who do have Asperger's, as he explained:

"It's pretty touching when someone who actually has [Asperger's] syndrome thinks I'm doing a good job at portraying it," Burkholder shared about getting a letter from a girl who has Asperger's, and who liked him on the show.

His Parenthood Role Received A Lot of Praise

As We See It actress Sue Ann Pien, who is also on the spectrum, admitted she cried the first time she saw Max Burkholder's Asperger's portrayal: "I had never seen myself on TV, written about authentically, with the meltdowns and everything that goes on."

Pien called characters like Max Braverman appearing on TV "an important game changer."

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Max Burkholder Plays a Younger John Bennett on Ted the TV Series

Seth MacFarlane's Ted franchise continues with a seven-episode series premiering on Peacock this week. This Ted, set in 1993, is a prequel following a 16-year-old John Bennett and his foulmouthed bear through the trials and tribulations of high school.

Burkholder describes his version of John as "a sweet kid, he is an idiot and easily corruptible but he is at his core, someone who loves his people and his family."

Meanwhile, the official synopsis for Peacock's Ted show reads:

In this comedic prequel event series to the Ted films, it's 1993, and Ted the bear's moment of fame has passed. He's now living back home in Framingharm, Massachusetts with his best friend, 16-year-old John Bennett along with John's parents, and cousin Blaire. Ted may be a lousy influence on John, but at the end of the day, he's a loyal pal who's always willing to go out on a limb for friendship.

All seven episodes of the Ted series will be available to stream on Peacock on January 11.

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