Max von Essen

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 began touring with Liza Minnelli. 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, and also starred in Dance of the Vampires alongside Michael Crawford. He also played the role of student revolutionary leader "Enjolras" in Les Misérables at the Broadhurst Theater on Broadway. In 2006, he was a soloist at the biggest Andrew Lloyd Webber musical gala to date, held in Tallinn, Estonia. He worked on the national tour of Xanadu as "Sonny", and in the Roundabout Off-Broadway production of Maury Yeston's Death Takes a Holiday at the Laura Pels Theatre in New York. As of 2015, von Essen plays the role of Parisian aristocrat Henri in the Broadway mounting of An American in Paris, for which he received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical nomination.

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 and is openly gay.

• Brooklyn Lobster, Piano Player, 2005
• The Beautiful Life: TBL, Scott, 1 episode, 2009
• Sex and the City 2, Wedding Chorus, 2010
• Submissions Only, Cameron Dante, 14 episodes, 2011–2014
• Gossip Girl, Father Smythe, 2 episodes, 2012
• Royal Pains, Hair, 1 episode, 2012
• The Good Wife, Stephen Delaney, 2 episodes, 2013–2014
• Blonde, Man, 2014 (short)
• Seven Lovers, Dan, 2014
• The Intern, Businessman at Starbucks #1, 2015

Off-Broadway

• Hello Again, The Soldier, 2011, Transport Group
• Finian's Rainbow – 2004 – Irish Repertory Theatre
• John & Paul – 2001 – New Victory Theater
• The Fantasticks – 2000 – Sullivan Street Playhouse
• "Yours Unfaithfully" - 2017 - Beckett Theatre at Theatre Row (New York City)

Regional

• Xanadu – 2009 – National Tour
• Sweeney Todd – 2008 – Sacramento Music Circus
• West Side Story – 2008 – Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera
• Mame – 2006 – The Kennedy Center
• Cabaret – 2005 – Sacramento Music Circus
• The Baker's Wife – 2005 – Paper Mill Playhouse
• Dorian – 2004 – NoHo Arts Center
• Jesus Christ Superstar – 2004 – Sacramento Music Circus
• Auntie Mame – 2004 – Ogunquit Playhouse
• Auntie Mame – 2004 – Bay Street Theatre
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – 2003, 2010 -Sacramento Music Circus
• My Fair Lady – 2003 – Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera
• My Fair Lady – 2002 – Paper Mill Playhouse
• Hair – 2001 – Bay Street Theatre
• Blood Brothers – 2001 – Downtown Cabaret
• Jesus Christ Superstar – 1999 – Connecticut Repertory Theatre
• A Christmas Carol – 1997 – Mill Mountain Theatre

National and international tours

• Chicago – 1999
• West Side Story – 1998
• Liza Minnelli in Concert – 1997

• 2015 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for An American in Paris (nominated)
• 2015 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for An American in Paris (nominated)
• 2015 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for An American in Paris (nominated)
• 2015 Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Featured Actor in a Musical for An American in Paris (nominated)