ax von Essen is an American musical theatre, television actor, and vocalist. 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.He is openly gay. Raised in Long Island, Max 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.