Max Adler (actor)

Max Adler
Born Max Adler
January 17, 1986
Queens, New York, U.S.
Occupation Actor
Years active 2006–present
Partner(s) Jennifer Bronstein (engaged)

Max Adler (born January 17, 1986) is an American actor, best known for his role as Dave Karofsky on the television series Glee and Tank on the television series Switched at Birth.

Early life

Adler was born in Queens, New York, the eldest son of Lisa (nėe Kobrin) and Doug Adler.[1][2] A year after Adler was born, his family relocated to Fountain Hills, Arizona, then to Scottsdale, Arizona. Adler attended Horizon High School, where he was a First Chair All-State show choir member.[3][4][5] After graduating, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting.[6] Adler has a younger brother named Jake, born in 1992.[1]

Career

After various roles in a number of productions, Adler was cast in a minor recurring role in the Fox television series Glee as school jock and bully Dave Karofsky.[4] Glee creator Ryan Murphy was impressed with his acting and wanted to write more with him.[7] In the November 2010 episode "Never Been Kissed", written to tackle the issue of LGBT youth bullying, Karofsky is revealed to be a closeted gay teen.[8][9] Adler had previously questioned his character's motivations, but was surprised by the scene in which Karofsky kisses the object of his bullying, openly gay student Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer).[4][10] He received a positive response via the social networking websites Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook, and commented that he was "glad to represent such a large group of people". He expanded on this, saying, "I've gotten so many messages from people all around the world these last couple of days thanking me because either they are Karofsky, they were Karofsky or they know a Karofsky."[4] The character eventually gives up his bullying and makes his peace with Kurt, but he remains closeted. Adler has been praised for his performance in episode 3x14, "On My Way", during which, after his character is outed, he attempts suicide.

Adler is a resident artist with The Porters of Hellsgate theatre company in Los Angeles, appearing in three Shakespearean productions with them since 2008.[11]

In October 2013 it was announced that Adler will star as Tank, Bay's college friend on Switched at Birth.

In 2014, Adler played the role of Baker in the religious satire Believe Me.

Activism

Following the Glee episode "Never Been Kissed", Adler was contacted by the It Gets Better Project, an internet based project founded by Dan Savage and his husband, Terry Miller,[12] which aims to prevent suicide among LGBT youth. Adler recorded a heartfelt video for the project, offering words of hope and encouragement for kids and teens facing bullying due to their sexual orientation. Through playing one of the most well-known bullies on television, Adler offers viewers insight and advice, telling viewers, “most bullies are extremely insecure, and want to knock you down a peg to feel better about themselves. So, being who you are is what's awesome. It's what makes you special, interesting, fun to talk to, [and] desirable."[13][14]

On November 15, 2010, Adler spoke at the Anti-Defamation League Concert Against Hate at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C..[15]

Adler has also worked with the Facioscapulohumeral (FSH) Society to help raise awareness of the hereditary muscle diseases.[16][17] Adler's mother and grandmother have died from Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, also known as FSH or FSHD. Because of the support that his mother gave him in becoming an actor, he feels that devoting time to raising money for MDA is a way for him to return the favor to her.[18]

Adler, under "Team Max" is the host of the Celebrity Charity Walk 'n' Roll for FSH Muscular Dystrophy to help raise funds directly for FSH MD research which is one of the most prevalent of all muscular dystrophies.[19] The walk is for the benefit of the FSH Society, which is the largest grassroots organization of its kind solely dedicated to finding a treatment or cure for FSH MD.

Personal life

In 2013 Adler is engaged to his longtime girlfriend Jennifer Bronstein, the actor revealed to Us Weekly. He actually popped the question over a year ago while visiting Rome.[20]

Filmography

List of acting credits, with role, year and related notes
Title Role Year Notes
The Big Bang Theory Zombie 2015 Episode 175: "The Intimacy Acceleration"
Blue Bloods Andy Fisher 2015 Episode 104: "Power Players"
Switched at Birth Tank 2014 TV series Recurring
Believe Me Baker 2014
Detention of the Dead[21] Jimmy 2013
23 Blast Cameron 2013
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Kyle Banks 2013 Episode 301: "Passed Pawns"
Last Resort Lt. Stern 2012 Pilot Episode
The Glee Project Himself 2011 Guest Judge/mentor
Sweet Old World Groom #3 2011
Wolf Town Ben 2010
The Defenders Robert 2010 Episode 1: "Pilot"
Glee Karofsky, DaveDave Karofsky 2009–2012,2014-2015 Recurring
Chuck Groomsman 2009 Episode 222: "Chuck Versus the Ring", Uncredited
Cold Case Rookie '94 2009 Episode 134: "Into the Blue", uncredited
Valley Peaks Guthrie, Anderson LordAnderson Lord Guthrie 2009 Episode 1: "Welcome to the VP"
Viva Laughlin Chuck 2007 Episode 2: "What a Whale Wants"
Demons Guy #2 2007 TV pilot
Ghost Whisperer Craig 2006 Episode 32: "Giving Up the Ghost"
What About Brian Guy #1, FratFrat Guy #1 2006 Episode 10 : "What About Denial..."
Pepper Dennis Guy, FratFrat Guy 2006 Episode 3 : "Frat Boys May Lose Their Manhood — Film at Eleven"
Curt's Brain Thompson 2006 Short

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Velez, Tiana. "Glee Bully Shares a Softer Side". Quest Magazine. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  2. ↑ Bloom, Nate. "Jews in the News". Let My People Grow. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  3. ↑ "Horizon High School Show Choir a Real-Life Glee". KSAZ-TV. Fox Broadcasting Company. October 18, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Nguyen, Hanh (November 11, 2010). "'Glee' bully Max Adler kisses and tells about Kurt, Karofsky". Zap2it. Tribune Media Services. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  5. ↑ Keck, William (Apr 18, 2011). "Keck's Exclusives: Glee's Max Adler on Karofsky's Future". TV Guide. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Exclusive Interview: Glee's Max Adler – The Kiss That Still Has Lips Flapping". RadarOnline. November 23, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
  7. ↑ Mead, Mike (February 11, 2011). Gay Times (389): 49. If you look back at season one we set it up in the Lady Gaga episode when Kurt is particularly attacked by one football player. I thought the actor was so good I wanted to write more. Missing or empty |title= (help);
  8. ↑ Itzkoff, Dave (November 9, 2010). "Ryan Murphy Brings a Bullying Story to ‘Glee’". The New York Times. Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  9. ↑ Itzkoff, Dave (November 10, 2010). "Teenage Dreams and Nightmares: Talking ‘Never Been Kissed’ With Ryan Murphy of ‘Glee’". The New York Times. Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  10. ↑ Warner, Kara (November 16, 2010). "'Glee' Bully Max Adler 'As Shocked As Anyone' By Kiss Scene". MTV. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Meet the Porters". The Porters of Hellsgate Official Website
  12. ↑ "Authors @ Google: Dan Savage and Terry Miller on the It Gets Better Project". Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  13. ↑ Flandez, Raymund (November 16, 2010). "‘Glee’ Bully Max Adler Becomes Anti-Gay Bullying Advocate". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  14. ↑ Holmes, Linda (November 16, 2010). "Remember That Bully From 'Glee'? He's Got An 'It Gets Better' Video". NPR. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Popular TV Show Cast Members Take a Stand Against Bullying". WTTG. Fox Broadcasting Company. November 15, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  16. ↑ Keck, William (Apr 18, 2011). "Keck's Exclusives: Glee's Max Adler on Karofsky's Future". TV Guide. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  17. ↑ "MDA Matters Spring 2011". Quest Magazine Online. Muscular Dystrophy Association. March 31, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  18. ↑ Velez, Tania (July 1, 2011). "Glee's Bully Shares a Softer SIde with MDA". Quest Magazine Online. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
  19. ↑ http://www.niams.nih.gov/news_and_events/Spotlight_on_Research/2011/fsh_musc_dist.asp
  20. ↑ http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/glee-star-max-adler-is-engaged-to-longtime-girlfriend-jennifer-bronstein-2013209
  21. ↑ Schillaci, Sophie (May 17, 2011). "'Detention of the Dead' brings 'Glee,' 'Twilight,' 'Greek' and 'Hard Times' alumni together". Zap2it. Tribune Media Services. Retrieved August 4, 2011.

External links