Max von Essen
{{short description|American actor}}
{{BLP sources|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Max von Essen
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|1|11|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = Long Island, New York, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality =
| education = South Side High School
| alma_mater = University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| relatives = Von Essen family
| parents = Thomas Von Essen (father)
Rita Von Essen (mother)
| other_names =
| occupation = Actor, singer
| years_active = 1997–present
| known_for =
| notable_works = An American in Paris
}}
Max von Essen (born January 11, 1974) is an American stage and screen actor, and vocalist.
Life and career
Raised on Long Island, von Essen is a graduate of South Side High School in Rockville Centre, New York. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and after graduation toured with Liza Minnelli.Weiner, Iris (January 22, 2016). [http://lipulse.com/2016/01/22/from-rockville-centre-to-paris/ "From Rockville Centre To Paris"]. Long Island Pulse Magazine. {{dead link|date=November 2023}} He is a member of the Von Essen family, who are part of the German and Swedish nobility. A son of Rita and Thomas Von Essen, who was the New York City Fire Commissioner during the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, he is the youngest of four children.[http://www.broadway.com/buzz/max-von-essen/ "Broadway Buzz"]. {{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}} He is openly gay.{{cite news| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-von-essen/trickle-down_b_2018106.html| title=Trickle-Down Bullying| first1=Max| last1=von Essen| website=HuffPost| date=25 October 2012| access-date=November 12, 2023}}
He toured Europe in West Side Story and was a cast member of the U.S. national tour of Chicago. He made his Broadway debut in Jesus Christ Superstar in 2000 as Disciple and Jesus of Nazareth understudy.{{cite web| url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-show/jesus-christ-superstar-4880| title=Jesus Christ Superstar| website=Internet Broadway Database (IBDB)| access-date=November 27, 2017}} He appeared in Les Misérables on Broadway as the replacement for Fauchelevent and other roles,{{cite web| title=Les Misérables – Broadway Musical – Original| url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/les-misrables-4443| access-date=2020-12-15| website=IBDB}} and starred in Dance of the Vampires alongside Michael Crawford in 2002.{{cite web| title=Dance of the Vampires – Broadway Musical – Original| url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/dance-of-the-vampires-13164| access-date=2020-12-15| website=www.ibdb.com}} He played the role of student revolutionary leader Enjolras (replacement) in the Les Misérables Broadway revival in 2006 at the Broadhurst Theater.{{cite web| last=The Broadway League| title=Les Misérables – Broadway Musical – 2006 Revival| website=IBDB| url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/les-misrables-413358#Replacements| access-date=2020-12-15| language=en}}
In 2006, he was a soloist at the biggest Andrew Lloyd Webber musical gala to date, held in Tallinn, Estonia. He performed in the national tour of Xanadu as "Sonny" in 2008Gans, Andrew (September 22, 2008). [http://www.playbill.com/article/broadways-stanley-and-von-essen-will-head-cast-of-xanadu-tour-com-153341# "Broadway's Stanley and Von Essen Will Head Cast of 'Xanadu' Tour"]. Playbill. and in the Roundabout Theater Company Off-Broadway production of Maury Yeston's Death Takes a Holiday at the Laura Pels Theatre in 2011.Isherwood, Charles (July 21, 2011). [https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/22/theater/reviews/death-takes-a-holiday-at-laura-pels-theater-review.html "Set Aside That Scythe, and Let's Put on a Show"]. The New York Times. In 2015, von Essen played the role of Parisian aristocrat Henri in the Broadway production of An American in Paris, for which he received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical nomination.{{cite web| title=An American in Paris – Broadway Musical – Original| website=IBDB| url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/an-american-in-paris-497695| access-date=2020-12-15}}
Film and television
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 2005
|Piano Player | |
| 2009
|Scott |1 episode |
| 2010
|Wedding Chorus | |
| 2011-14
|Cameron Dante |Netflix series, 14 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|2012
|Father Smythe |2 episodes |
| Royal Pains
|Hair |1 episode |
| 2013-14
|Stephen Delaney |2 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|2014
|Blonde |Man |Short |
| Seven Lovers
|Dan | |
| 2015
|Businessman at Starbucks #1 | |
| 2022
|Cruise Director, Waiter (voices) |2 episodes |
| 2024
|Rhett Richards |Episode: "Family Ties" |
Theatre credits
=Broadway=
Source: Internet Broadway Database
| class="wikitable"
!Year(s) !Production !Role !Location |
| 2000
| Disciple; |
| 2002
| Alfred |
| 2003
| rowspan=2|Les Misérables | Fauchelevent / Jean Prouvaire / Ensemble; u/s Marius Pontmercy {{small|(replacement)}} |
| 2007–2008
| Enjolras {{small|(replacement)}} |
| rowspan="2" |2012
| rowspan="3" |Evita | Agustin Magaldi; | rowspan="3" |Marquis Theatre |
| Che {{small|(replacement)}} |
| 2012–2013
| Agustin Magaldi; |
| 2015–2016
| Henri Baurel |
| 2017–2018
| Gleb Vaganov {{small|(replacement)}} |
| 2023–2025
| Chicago | Billy Flynn {{small|(replacement)}} |
=National and international tours=
| class="wikitable"
!Year(s) !Production !Role |
| 1997
|Liza Minnelli in Concert |Ensemble |
| 1998
|West Side Story (European tour) |Tony |
| 1999
|Mary Sunshine |
| 2008
|XanaduGans, Andrew (September 22, 2008). [http://www.playbill.com/article/broadways-stanley-and-von-essen-will-head-cast-of-xanadu-tour-com-153341# "Broadway's Stanley and Von Essen Will Head Cast of Xanadu Tour"]. Playbill. |Sonny |
| 2019
|FalsettosGans, Andrew (March 20, 2019). [http://www.playbill.com/article/national-tour-of-falsettos-starring-max-von-essen-nick-adams-eden-espinosa-opens-march-20-in-san-francisco# "National Tour of Falsettos, Starring Max von Essen, Nick Adams, Eden Espinosa, Opens March 20 in San Francisco"]. Playbill. |Marvin |
=Off-Broadway=
=Regional=
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Award Ceremony !Category !Show !Result |
| rowspan="4"|2015
|Best Featured Actor in a Musical |rowspan="4"|An American in Paris |{{nom}} |
| Drama Desk Award
|Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical |{{nom}} |
| Outer Critics Circle Award
|Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical |{{nom}} |
| Broadway.com Audience Choice Award
|Favorite Featured Actor in a Musical |{{nom}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.maxvonessen.com Official website]
- [http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=24256 BroadwayWorld: "Max Von Essen – High-Notes in High-Heels"]
- [http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=23574 BroadwayWorld: interview with Max von Essen, December 7, 2007]
- [http://www.broadwayworld.com/people/galleryphoto.php?photoid=71239&personid=7207 Max von Essen photos]
- [http://www.floormic.com/biography/10135018 Max von Essen on Floormic.com]
- {{IMDb name|id=2084298|name=Max von Essen}}
- {{IBDB name}}
- [http://lortel.org/Archives/CreditableEntity/23391 Max von Essen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406145004/http://www.lortel.org/Archives/CreditableEntity/23391 |date=2016-04-06 }} at Internet off-Broadway Database
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Von Essen, Max}}
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:American male musical theatre actors
Category:20th-century American male singers
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male web series actors
Category:Male actors from New York (state)
Category:People from Rockville Centre, New York
Category:South Side High School (Rockville Centre) alumni
Category:University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni
Category:21st-century American male singers