The actor who played Dewey on Malcolm in the Middle has been photographed for the first time in nearly 20 years as Frankie Muniz opened up about why he left the spotlight.
Erik Per Sullivan, best known for playing the fourth child of Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) and Hal Wilkerson (Bryan Cranston), hasn’t acted since 2010 and won’t be returning for the new four-episode Malcolm in the Middle reboot coming to Disney+.
The 32-year-old is the only main cast member not involved, with the role of Dewey now being taken over by Fargo actor Caleb Ellsworth-Clark.
The US Sun captured recent images of Sullivan near his home outside Boston, Massachusetts.
In one picture, he’s seen wearing a grey sweater with army green jeans while unloading groceries. In another, he’s dressed in a brown coat and grey flat cap during a coffee shop visit — his first public appearance in 18 years.
Muniz, who will reprise the title role in the reboot alongside Cranston, Kaczmarek, Justin Berfield (Reese), and Christopher Masterson (Francis), previously addressed Sullivan’s long absence from public life.
Speaking candidly in an interview years after the show ended, Muniz admitted: “To be honest, I don't know what he's up to. I hate to say that because I've talked to him a few times since the show ended.”
He continued: “I've talked to his parents a lot. When I was in the band, we went and played in the city where he lives and his parents came to the show but unfortunately he couldn't make it. So I got to talk to them, and he's been all over doing a lot of different things.
“But one thing I know, some actors or some people just got to do it when they were a kid, and then they wanted to experience other things and kind of live a more normal life out of the spotlight," he continued. "I think that's what he wanted to do, so good for him.”
Sullivan’s decision to walk away from Hollywood appears to have been intentional.
Kaczmarek, 69, previously told fan site Malcolm France: “He’s well, he’s very, very well… He did Malcolm for seven years, he started at seven, he ended at 14. He wasn’t interested in acting, at all.”
She added: “He goes to school at a very prestigious American university that he’s asked us all to be quiet about, and he loves Charles Dickens. He’s doing graduate work in Victorian literature. I admire it because so many people think being in show business is the greatest thing in the world, it’s not for everyone.”
Despite playing a fan-favorite character, Sullivan has kept an incredibly low profile over the years, with no verified social media accounts and no acting credits since his early teens.
While an Instagram page exists that features older photos of him, it’s never been confirmed to be run by the actor himself.
Meanwhile, the rest of the cast have continued in the public eye, with Cranston’s legendary run as Walter White in Breaking Bad and Muniz’s recent pivot to motorsports.
As for the Malcolm in the Middle reboot, Disney+ hasn’t confirmed a release date, but the official logline teases more mayhem as Malcolm and his daughter are drawn "into the family’s chaos when Hal and Lois demand his presence for their 40th wedding anniversary party," BBC News reported.
Keeley Karsten from The Fabelmans will star as Malcolm’s daughter, Leah.
Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, said: “Malcolm in the Middle is a landmark sitcom that captured the essence of family life with humor, heart, and reliability.
“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,” he concluded.
Karey Burke, president of 20th Television, added: “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."