‘Sopranos’ alum Max Casella reveals how ‘insane’ medical condition nearly derailed his career: ‘Humiliating’

See more of our coverage in your search results. Max Casella’s acting career nearly came crashing down in his mid-20s due to a growth hormone deficiency. The “Sopranos” alum, 59, revealed that he didn’t go through puberty until he was 27, following medical intervention. “It was insane,” he told Page Six at the Cinema Society screening of “Jimmy” earlier this week. “Wouldn’t have been my choice, but you know, given the cards you’re dealt. You make the best of it.” Max Casella spoke to Page Six exclusively at a screening of “Jimmy” on Tuesday. Page Six The actor shared that a growth hormone deficiency almost derailed his career. Getty Images Casella played Neil Patrick Harris’ sidekick in “Doogie Howser, M.D.” ©ABC/Courtesy Everett Collection Casella, who played Benny Fazio on the hit HBO series, admitted that his career “was pretty much dead” after he began experiencing the awkward physical changes most people go through as teenagers. “I went through the awkward phase that most people go through in high school” while already an established actor, he explained. “I had to start all over again. It was a humiliating experience,” he said. The “Doogie Howser, M.D.” alum confessed that he struggled to adjust to his changing appearance. “I didn’t wear it well right away,” he shared. “You know what happens to especially boys when they go through puberty. They get awkward and zits and fat, chubby, whatever.” He ended up going through puberty in his mid-20s and had to restart his career. ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection He also played Benny Fazio in “The Sopranos.” HBO However, Casella credited landing the role of Timon in the original Broadway production of “The Lion King” with helping him navigate the difficult transition. “I was dancing 8 times a week,” he explained, “and I completely became an adult.” Casella now stars in “Jimmy,” a biographical film chronicling Jimmy Stewart’s experiences as a combat pilot during World War II and his eventual return to Hollywood, where he starred in the beloved 1946 film “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Want more celebrity and pop culture news? Start your day with Page Six Daily. Thanks for signing up! He now plays Frank Capra in “Jimmy.” “Jimmy” delves into the making of “It’s a Wonderful LIfe,” which was directed by Capra. Courtesy Everett Collection Casella portrays “It’s a Wonderful Life” director Frank Capra opposite KJ Apa, who plays Stewart. The “Boardwalk Empire” alum told Page Six that he immersed himself in research to prepare for the role. “I read his book,” he said. “I watched some documentaries about him. What I was really trying to find out is how to play him. What kind of a person is he? How does he smoke a cigarette? How does he sit in a chair?” “Just get a vibe from, you know. There’s not a lot of footage of him at the time when he was younger, so it was challenging.” Other guests at the screening and afterparty at The Skylark included Apa, Lucy Liu, Dan Abrams, “Riverdale” star Trinity Likins, “1923” star Jamie McShane and “Stranger Things” star Catherine Curtin. Community Guidelines Welcome to the Page Six Community! Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas in a safe space. In order to do so, we've created a simple set of rules that will improve your experience. Simply put, keep it civil. Your post will/might be rejected if it contains: Spam Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language and threats of any kind Attacks on the identity of other commenters or the article's author User accounts will/might be blocked if we notice: Continuous attempts to re-post comments that have been previously moderated/rejected Racist, sexist, or homophobic comments Attempts or tactics that put the site security at risk So, how can you be a power user? Stay on topic and share your passion. Feel free to elaborate to get your point across. 'Like' or 'Dislike' when you are filled with emotions! Protect your community. Use the report tool to alert us when someone breaks the rules. Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Don't forget, freedom of speech is not the freedom of reach!