Malcolm in the Middle is returning without Erik Per Sullivan — but where is the former child star now?
After Disney+ picked up a revival series for Malcolm in the Middle, Variety confirmed that Per Sullivan would be recast. His character Dewey will be played by Caleb Ellsworth-Clark, who is taking over the role for the four-episode special.
The rest of the cast including Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston, Jane Kaczmarek, Christopher Masterson and Justin Berfield are expected to reprise their respective characters. In addition to the main cast, Kiana Madeira, Anthony Timpano, Vaughan Murrae and Keeley Karsten have been cast in key roles as well.
“25 years since we premiered Malcolm in the Middle. I’m so excited… that I may have peed just a little bit,” Cranston and Kaczmarek said in a December 2024 announcement post. “What a delight that I get to yell at that kid again! We’re very, very excited about coming back together and seeing what this family has been up to.”
Malcolm in the Middle’s plucky attitude made it one of the most iconic TV shows of the early 2000s — and fans are still trying to keep up with the cast. The comedy, which was a faux memoir of middle child Malcolm Wilkerson (Frankie Muniz), detailed the Wilkerson family’s low-income, dysfunctional life and all the […]
The revival will be written by Linwood Boomer, who created the original series. It will chronicle Malcolm (Muniz) and his daughter as they are “drawn into the family’s chaos when Hal (Cranston) and Lois (Kaczmarek) demand his presence for their 40th wedding anniversary party,” according to a press release.
Frankie Muniz, Erik Per Sullivan in Malcolm in the Middle. Everett Collection
“Malcolm in the Middle is a landmark sitcom that captured the essence of family life with humor, heart and relatability,” President of Disney Branded Television Ayo Davis said in a statement. “Its hilarious and heartfelt portrayal of a lovably chaotic family resonated with audiences of all ages, and we’re so excited to welcome the original cast back to bring that magic to life again. With Linwood Boomer and the creative team at the helm, these new episodes will have all the laughs, pranks, and mayhem fans loved — along with a few surprises that remind us why this show is so timeless.”
Meanwhile, President of 20th Television Karey Burke released a statement as well, which read, “Malcolm in the Middle literally changed the face of the television comedy landscape when it premiered two decades ago, redefining what the genre could be. When Linwood Boomer suggested it might be time to bring everyone’s favorite dysfunctional family back for a bit of a reunion, we couldn’t think of a more iconic and influential series to revisit, along with a truly brilliant cast to reunite.”
Per Sullivan’s absence doesn’t come as a surprise. He rose to stardom playing Dewey on Malcolm in the Middle, which ran from 2000 to 2006. Per Sullivan appeared on Come on Over, Arthur and the Invisibles and Twelve.
ryan Cranston, Jane Kaczmarek, Lukas Rodriguez, and Erik Per Sullivan in “Malcolm in the Middle.” Everett Collection
The now-former actor officially retired in 2010 and hasn’t participated in any of the show’s reunions over the years. Kaczmarek, who played Per Sullivan’s onscreen mother, shared an update in 2024 during an interview, saying, “I admire it because so many people think being in show business is the greatest thing in the world. It’s not for everyone.”
Kaczmarek revealed that Per Sullivan retired from acting because he was no longer interested in the profession. He is currently a student at “a very prestigious American university” and pursuing a degree in Victorian literature.
The actress offered another update in April 2026, telling The Guardian that the retired actor is “studying Dickens and is an incredible student. They offered him buckets of money to come back, and he just said, ‘No thank you.’”
