Max Casella Says He Didn't Hit Puberty Until 27: How The Lion King Saved His Career

Max Casella is opening up about a chapter of his life that most actors would never discuss publicly. The 59-year-old Sopranos alum told Page Six that a growth hormone deficiency meant he didn’t go through puberty until he was 27. He described the experience as insane and humiliating, and said his acting career was pretty much dead while he was going through physical changes most people face in high school.

Instead of quitting, Casella started over. His unlikely lifeline was the original Broadway production of The Lion King, where he played Timon and danced eight shows a week. He credits that grueling schedule with helping him become an adult and rebuild his momentum in Hollywood.

These days, Casella is playing director Frank Capra in the film Jimmy, which chronicles Jimmy Stewart’s WWII combat pilot experiences and his return to Hollywood. It’s a full-circle moment for an actor whose career nearly ended before it really began. Have you ever had to start over from scratch? Tell us your story in the comments.