All the main actors returned for its revival miniseries — except for one.

Where is the Malcolm in the Middle cast now? See Frankie Muniz and the rest of the gang all grown up

All the main actors returned for its revival miniseries — except for one.

By Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn is a writer and editor at **. His work has previously appeared on The A.V. Club, The Guardian, The Ringer, and many other publications.

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and Allison DeGrushe

Allison DeGrushe

Allison DeGrushe is a timely SEO writer at **. She has been working at * *since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on Distractify.

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April 9, 2026 5:00 p.m. ET

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The 'Malcolm in the Middle' cast. Credit:

20th Century Fox Film/Everett

*Malcolm in the Middle* is one of this century's sweetest, silliest, and most enduring sitcoms — and it's about to make a comeback.

After years of chatter, a four-episode revival will finally reunite the dysfunctional family to celebrate the 40th wedding anniversary of Hal (Bryan Cranston) and Lois (Jane Kaczmarek).

Frankie Muniz is back as Malcolm, with Christopher Masterson and Justin Berfield returning as Malcolm's older brothers, Francis and Reese. Someone you won't see is Erik Per Sullivan as Dewey — the role is now filled by Caleb Ellsworth-Clark.

Before you binge the revival, read on to see what the cast has been up to since the show wrapped in 2006. Or don't — we're not the boss of you.

Frankie Muniz (Malcolm)

Frankie Muniz, then and now.

Deborah Feingold/FOX; Chris Graythen/Getty

Frankie Muniz was nominated for an Emmy and two Golden Globes for *Malcolm in the Middle*, which he starred in for seven seasons. He enjoyed a successful film career during the show, leading films like *My Dog Skip* (2000), *Big Fat Liar* (2002), and *Agent Cody Banks* (2003), but stepped back from the spotlight after the series ended in 2006.

Muniz made sporadic appearances in films, including a memorable turn as Buddy Holly in *Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story* (2007), while pursuing his dream of becoming a race car driver. He competed professionally as part of NASCAR's ARCA Menards Series in 2023.

In 2017, Muniz finished third on *Dancing With the Stars *season 25 with partner Witney Carson. During the show, he revealed he'd suffered nine concussions throughout his life, leaving him with memory loss. He elaborated on his condition in an interview with **, revealing that he doesn't even "remember going to the Emmys when I was nominated.'"

Though he may not remember much from the show, he remains close to his former TV family, especially Cranston. "He still reaches out to me every couple of weeks, checks in on me," Muniz said on a 2024 podcast. "He really cares about what I'm doing … he's such an inspiration, and like I said, that's what I strive to be that for someone else in the future."

In addition to starring on** **the upcoming *Malcolm in the Middle* revival, Muniz has recently appeared on *The Rookie* (2021), *Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens* (2023), and *I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Australia* (2024).**

Bryan Cranston (Hal)

Bryan Cranston, then and now.

Fox Network/Courtesy Everett; Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic

It's not easy for an actor to make the leap from sitcom stardom to celebrated dramatic actor, but Bryan Cranston managed it. Two years after *Malcolm*'s final season, he took the role of cancer-stricken chemistry teacher Walter White on** **AMC's crime drama *Breaking Bad* (2008–2013), which scored him six Emmy wins for acting and producing over five seasons.

Since then, Cranston has appeared in everything from blockbusters like *Godzilla *(2014) to awards fare like *Argo *(2012) and *Trumbo *(2015), the latter of which earned him an Academy Award nomination. He's also become a regular in Wes Anderson's troupe of A-listers, having appeared in *Isle of Dogs* (2018), *Asteroid City* (2023), and *The Phoenician Scheme *(2025).

His latest role on Apple TV's *The Studio *(2025–present) earned him another Emmy.

Cranston will also reprise his role as Hal, Malcolm's sweet, dopey dad, on the revival. "I've been wanting to do this for years, but it needed to be for a good reason," he told EW in its cover story for the revival. "The story needed to be there — otherwise we'd just be hanging out in someone's house."

Jane Kaczmarek (Lois)

Jane Kaczmarek, then and now.

Fox Network/Courtesy Everett; Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

Jane Kaczmarek received seven Emmy nominations and three Golden Globe nods for her role as Lois, Malcolm's tough-as-nails mother.

Kaczmarek bounced between film, television, and theater following *Malcolm*'s bow. In 2012, she was nominated for an Ovation Award for her role in David Lindsay-Abaire's play *Good People*. She also had a recurring role on the series *Raising the Bar* (2008–2009). Her recent work includes guest spots on ABC's *Mixed-ish* (2019) and Apple TV's The Changeling (2023).

She will reprise her role as Lois on the upcoming revival series.

Christopher Masterson (Francis)

Christopher Masterson, then and now.

FOX; Robin Marchant/Getty

Christopher Masterson played Francis, Hal and Lois' itinerant eldest son. Though Francis began the series at military school, he eventually worked his way through Alaska and the American West before landing a desk job.

Masterson followed his years on *Malcolm *with roles on *White Collar* (2011), *Men at Work* (2012), and *Haven *(2014).

He pivoted to DJ'ing in the 2010s, saying in a 2012 interview, "I deejayed in my bedroom for two years, literally two years that I’d just be whiling out in my bedroom... I just kept practicing and when I felt like I was okay I started playing at restaurants, house parties and random little places. I did that for a long time until I started playing at a bar here or there and I’d be really nervous."

He'll return as Francis for the *Malcolm *reunion series.

Justin Berfield (Reese)

Justin Berfield, then and now.

20th Century Fox Film Corp/Courtesy Everett; Michael Tullberg/Getty

After appearing in five seasons of The WB's *Unhappily Ever After* (1995–1999), Justin Berfield went right into another hit sitcom with *Malcolm in the Middle*. There, he played dim-bulb (and cooking prodigy) Reese. He mostly stepped away from acting following the finale and focused his efforts on producing.

"I realized that I had been on two shows that syndicated to over 100 episodes, and... I felt fulfilled as an actor and decided to try my hand at producing," he said in a 2011 interview. "I think people constantly are looking for fulfillment, and nothing is ever good enough, but I feel fortunate enough to have had the journey I have had so far."

When he was just barely out of his teens, he served as a producer on John Turturro's *Romance & Cigarettes* (2005) and the Jessica Simpson-starring* Blonde Ambition* (2007). He started a production company, J2TV, and then partnered with Virgin mogul Richard Branson to form Virgin Produced, for which he served as CCO. The company produced films like *Limitless *(2011) and *Bad Moms* (2016).

Berfield teased his return to the world of *Malcolm *in early February 2025, sharing a photo via Instagram of Reese behind the wheel with the caption, "On my way to meet the MITM fam. See you soon!"

Erik Per Sullivan (Dewey)

Erik Per Sullivan, then and now.

20th Century Fox Film Corp/Courtesy Everett; Jamie McCarthy/WireImage

As Dewey, Erik Per Sullivan often found himself as a punching bag for his character's older brothers.

Like Muniz, the actor had several successes on the big screen during the show's run, playing young Joe Dirt in David Spade's *Joe Dirt* (2001), voicing Sheldon in *Finding Nemo *(2003), and starring as Spike in *Christmas with the Kranks* (2004). But aside from a role in the 2010 film *Twelve*, Sullivan has mostly stayed offscreen since *Malcolm*'s finale.

In June 2025, Cranston mentioned on the *Fly on the Wall* podcast that Per Sullivan was busy pursuing a master's degree at Harvard University and wasn't interested in returning for the revival.

Kaczmarek confirmed as much in April 2026, telling *The Guardian* that the actor turned down "buckets of money to come back."

She added, "He’s studying Dickens and is an incredible student."

Where can I watch Malcolm in the Middle?

*Malcolm in the Middle *is currently available to stream on Hulu and Disney+.

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