'Mini-Darth Vader' Child Actor 'Doing Very Well' After Heart Surgery
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A child actor best known for portraying Darth Vader in a Volkswagen commercial was recovering from successful heart surgery on Thursday.
KNX 1070's Vytas Safronikas reports doctors expect it won't be too long before Max Page is back in front of the cameras.
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Dr. Vaughn Starnes at Children's Hospital Los Angeles said Page is doing "very well" after the two-hour operation.
"We replaced his pulmonary valve this morning before and without any complications," said Starnes.
Page made a name for himself after his turn as the "Star Wars" nemesis in an ad that went viral after its premiere during the Super Bowl in 2011.
Starnes said the young thespian would have had trouble managing even the most mundane tasks if he had not undergone surgery to repair the leaking heart valve.
"He would've been impaired in terms of his ability to play baseball, which he loves," said Starnes. "Running and play was becoming very difficult for him, and as we know Max, he's a real competitor, so he wanted to keep up with his friends."
The new valve is expected to last Page — who was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect at 3 months old — for another 10 to 15 years before it needs to be replaced.
