<Tr> <Th> Years active </Th> <Td> 2003--present </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> www.jaketaustin.com </Td> </Tr> <P> Jake Austin Szymanski (born December 3, 1994), known professionally as Jake T. Austin, is an American actor . Beginning a career as a child actor at the age of seven, Austin is a five - time Young Artist Award nominee, best known for his role as Max Russo on the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place, and as the voice of Diego on the Nickelodeon animated series Go, Diego, Go! . Austin was also the original actor who portrayed Jesus Foster on the ABC Family family / teen drama series The Fosters . </P> <P> Austin was born in New York City, the son of Giny Rodriquez Toranzo and Joe Szymanski . His middle initial, "T", is taken from his mother's maiden name . His mother is of Puerto Rican, Argentine, and Spanish descent, and his father is of Polish, Irish, and English ancestry . Austin embraces his Puerto Rican heritage, though he has said that he is not fluent in Spanish . He has a younger sister, Ava . </P>

Who plays max on wizards of waverly place