Kingdom Hearts Superfan Finds Solace in Gaming as Child Actor

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For 28-year-old actor Max Burkholder, the appeal of the Kingdom Hearts series goes beyond mere nostalgia. As a child actor, Burkholder found solace in the repetitive gameplay and emotional catharsis of RPGs like Kingdom Hearts 2, using them as a way to decompress from the stress of working on set. Burkholder, who currently stars in Peacock's Ted, speaks passionately about his gaming experiences, admitting he even wept after defeating the challenging Malenia boss in Elden Ring.

Why it matters

Burkholder's story highlights how video games can serve as a vital coping mechanism for child actors, providing an outlet to process the unique challenges of their profession. His perspective on the limitations of adapting interactive games to passive media also offers a nuanced take on the current wave of video game adaptations.

The details

Burkholder, who has been acting steadily since a young age, found that the stress of being a child actor on set didn't fade on its own. Instead, he turned to RPGs like the Kingdom Hearts series as a way to "turn [his] brain off and just process" the demands of his work. Burkholder speaks fluently about his love of the genre, championing under-the-radar favorites and even stirring the pot by claiming that "Claire Obscur blows Final Fantasy 16 out of the fucking water."

• Burkholder has been acting since a young age.
• He is currently starring in the second season of Peacock's Ted, which is currently streaming.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Burkholder's performance in the second season of Peacock's Ted is currently streaming, and fans can look forward to seeing more of his work in the future.