"Young and the Restless" child actor to have open heart surgery

Max Page stands on stage at The Golden Theatre on Feb. 7, 2011, in New York.

/ Getty

(CBS/AP) Max Page, the 7-year-old actor known as the boy behind the Darth Vadar mask in Volkswagen's popular 2011 Super Bowl commercial, is having open heart surgery.

He also plays Reed on the top-rated CBS soap opera "The Young and the Restless." CBS spokeswoman Elise Bromberg says he will have surgery Thursday at Children's Hospital Los Angeles to replace his pulmonary valve and repair a hole in his heart.

Max was born with a congenital heart defect and has undergone multiple surgeries.

Bromberg says that Max told his mother that he didn't have a choice, and that he "might as well go through it with a good attitude."

Max is expected to be hospitalized for about five days.

Go here to send your well wishes to Max.