New York City native Jake T. Austin entered filmdom as a preteen actor; like many who achieved stardom in the 2000s before the age of 13, Austin owed much of his celebrity to The Disney Channel, whose producers made him a veritable fixture on many of their series. Austin's star shone particularly brightly with his role as mischievous, superpower-laden Max Russo on the Disney fantasy series Wizards of Waverly Place. Austin would also appear in movies, like The Perfect Game (2008), Hotel for Dogs, and New Year's Eve.