Max Showalter (June 2, 1917 - July 30, 2000) was an American film, television and stage actor, as well as a composer, pianist, and singer. One of Showalter's most memorable roles was as Jean Peters' husband in the 1953 film, Niagara. Showalter is also credited as Casey Adams.
Born in Caldwell, Kansas, Showalter developed a desire for acting as a toddler while accompanying his mother to local theaters where she played piano for silent movies. By the late 1930s, he had multiple stage roles under his belt, and soon made his Broadway debut in Knights of Song. Showalter also appeared in the traveling musical This Is the Army for two years and in other notable Broadway productions like Make Mine Manhattan and The Grass Harp. His most memorable stage role was as Horace Vandergelder in the Broadway hit show, Hello Dolly!. Showalter performed the role more than 3,000 times opposite Carol Channing, Betty Grable, and Ginger Rogers.
In the late 1940s, Showalter was signed to 20th Century Fox as a featured contract player. His name was changed by Fox's founder, Darryl F. Zanuck to the more "bankable" name of Casey Adams, and made his feature film debut in 1949's Always Leave Them Laughing. The same year, he made his television debut in the short lived musical variety series, The Lanny Ross Show (also known as The Swift Show). His second feature film was the 1952 biographical film, With a Song in My Heart, where he appeared in a small role as a Vaudeville performer. In the film, Showalter, along with David Wayne, sang the song "Hoe that Corn", which he also wrote. The following year, he appeared in Niagara alongside Marilyn Monroe.
During the 1950s, Showalter appeared in television shows like The Loretta Young Show and Navy Log, in addition to films like Down Three Dark Streets, Naked Alibi, and Vicki. In 1956, he co-starred in Indestructible Man with Lon Chaney, Jr.. The following year, he appeared as Ward Cleaver in the original pilot for the classic 1950s sitcom, Leave It to Beaver. Showalter portrayed Ward Cleaver for the pilot episode only and was soon replaced by Hugh Beaumont.
In the 1960s, Showalter reclaimed his original name and continued to land roles throughout the 1960s and 1970s appearing in The Twilight Zone, Surfside 6, The Doris Day Show, The Bob Newhart Show, Lord Love a Duck, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and another short lived series, The Stockard Channing Show.
Showalter made his last onscreen appearance was in the 1984 film, Sixteen Candles.
In 1984, Showalter retired from acting and moved to an 18th century farmhouse in Chester, Connecticut after falling in love with the area while filming the 1959 film, It Happened to Jane. Showalter became involved in local musical theater, including the Ivoryton Playhouse, and went on to produce, direct, write, and narrate the Christmas musical, Touch of a Child.
On July 30, 2000, Max Showalter died of cancer in Middletown, Connecticut. He was 83 years old.
