Max Page, the 7-year-old who played a mini Darth Vader in Volkswagen's popular 2011 Super Bowl spot for the Chattanooga-made Passat, will undergo open-heart surgery today for a congenital heart defect, according to Adweek.
Citing VW's ad agency Deutsch, Adweek said the surgery will replace his pulmonary valve and fix a hole in his heart.
In May 2011, at the grand opening of the Chattanooga plant, the young actor dressed in "Star Wars" garb and marched to the front of a big room set up for the dedication and filled with onlookers. He utilized "the Force" to help officials press a button and open a large wall, showing off the inside of the plant and a large group of applauding VW workers.