Ryan Brennan

Ryan played Maxwell for 5 years, before the character disappeared from the show.

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Maxwell Brady

Ryan is pictured here with his sister Meghan. Ryan was only 1 1/2 years old in this pic.

When Ryan was cast as Max, the character changed from a "kid from the street" to a higher class child. Max no longer had that scruffy look, but instead looked like a kid who'd spent his childhood with a loving family, rather than in foster homes and orphanages.

In early 1987, Frankie went off on his senior trip and he and Jennifer got separated from their group and didn't return with the rest of the class. When he called home, Max answered and was excited to hear from him, but asked him why he hadn't called.

Frankie said there was no time to talk and told him to get Mrs. Brady. Max then called for Mrs. Brady to come and get the phone. Frankie was no longer on the phone when Caroline answered it.

Shawn {Frank Parker} and Caroline {Peggy McCay} took Max to the Hortons so he could describe the phone conversation to them and they could find out about Jennifer. They asked Max what Frankie said, and Max replied, "He said Hello..."

Abe {James Reynolds} arrived to get more information about the phone call, hoping to track down Frankie and Jennifer. He asked Max if he had heard any strange noises in the background and Max said, "No." Ryan had some of the cutest expressions in this scene. He really seemed to be worried about Frankie and Jennifer.

Shawn listened to Max as he told about the call. Then he gave him a hug for doing such a good job and telling them about it.

Max was very excited when Frankie returned. He has missed his "big brother." Max asked Frankie if he had missed him. Frankie said, "I sure did."

When Caroline said to Frankie that they were very worried about him and he should have called, Frankie snapped back at her, saying, "No, you're not my parents." Frankie told them that he didn't have to answer to them.

Frankie and Max went to Shenanigans where Max told Frankie about all the things he did with the Bradys while he was gone. He made cupcakes with Mrs. Brady and went fishing with Mr. Brady out on his boat two times.

"Frankie, listen I was thinking..."
"Oh no, here we go," as Frankie rolls his eyes.
"You know how you just said Mr. and Mrs. Brady aren't our parents? Well, what do parents feel like?"

Frankie told Max that parents are people who are in charge. "They make sure you're all right and take care of you. They love you and want you to be happy." Max listened very closely, thinking all the time.

Max thought that sounded a lot like Mr. and Mrs. Brady. He said to Frankie, "Well I wanted to know if it would be alright if I called them Momma and Poppa, you know, like how Kimberly and Kayla do?"

Frankie told Max it was alright to do that if that's what he wanted.

When Frankie and Max got home, Frankie apologized to the Bradys for what he had said earlier. Max then said to Shawn, "I told Frankie you and I might take him fishing tomorrow. Wanna do that Pop?"

Shawn couldn't believe his ears..."What did you say to me Max?" Max explained his thinking and Shawn said it was the "best darn thing he'd ever heard."

Shawn then called Max a "Grand Lad" in that wonderful Irish accent of his. Max gave Frankie a wonderful look, as if to say that he was finally home.

When this pic was taken in 1987, Ryan was seven. He wanted viewers to know the following: He likes playing Maxwell ("He's a funny character.") and is a real whiz at playing Monopoly and Chutes and Ladders. He is a baseball fan--his favorite team is the Dodgers--and he plays all outfield positions and second base.

Ryan sports his famous spike haircut, which he got after on-screen big brother Frankie {Billy Warlock} got his cut the same way.

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Thanks to: The picture of Ryan at the 1989 anniversary party is courtesy of Stacy Krugman

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