Where Are They Now? The Shocking New Lives Of The Actors On Malcolm In The Middle (2025 Update)

It has been nearly two decades since the chaotic, high-IQ, and utterly relatable Wilkerson family—or is it Nolastname?—left our screens, but the legacy of Malcolm in the Middle continues to resonate with fans across the globe. The groundbreaking sitcom, which ran from 2000 to 2006, launched the careers of its young stars and gave its veteran actors a new platform for success. As of late 2025, the buzz is louder than ever, fueled by major career moves and the confirmed news of a highly anticipated revival.

The cast members have scattered across Hollywood, the racetrack, and even academia, each forging an unexpected path. From a multi-award-winning superstar transitioning into major 2025 film roles to a former child star who completely vanished from the public eye only to be recently spotted, here is the definitive, up-to-date look at what the actors on Malcolm in the Middle are doing now.

The Wilkerson Family: From Sitcom Stars to Hollywood Power Players (2025-2026)

The core cast of the Wilkerson family has experienced some of the most dramatic career shifts in television history. Their recent projects and personal updates prove that life after the show has been anything but ordinary, with many of them actively involved in the rumored Malcolm in the Middle revival.

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Bryan Cranston (Hal Wilkerson)

Bryan Cranston’s transformation from the goofy, immature, yet loving Hal to the terrifying Walter White in Breaking Bad is legendary, but his career trajectory continues to ascend in 2025. Cranston is arguably the most successful actor to emerge from the series, becoming an Oscar-nominated, Emmy, Tony, and Golden Globe-winning powerhouse.

• Full Name: Bryan Lee Cranston
• Born: March 7, 1956 (Age 69 in 2025)
• Role on Show: Hal Wilkerson (The father)
• Key Post-MITM Projects: Breaking Bad, Argo, Trumbo, Isle of Dogs, Your Honor, Asteroid City
• Latest Projects (2025/2026): Cranston has a busy slate of upcoming projects, including the highly anticipated Apple TV+ movie The Studio, which is set for a 2025 release. He is also slated to appear in the Lionsgate film Everything's Going to Be Great and has been attached to a concept trailer for a movie titled Heisenberg, a nod to his iconic Breaking Bad character.
• Revival Status: Confirmed to return and is a driving force behind the Malcolm in the Middle revival.

Jane Kaczmarek (Lois Wilkerson)

Jane Kaczmarek's portrayal of the strict, overworked, and iconic mother Lois earned her seven consecutive Emmy Award nominations. After the show, she continued a successful career in both voice acting and live-action roles, often playing powerful female figures.

• Full Name: Jane Frances Kaczmarek
• Born: December 21, 1955 (Age 69 in 2025)
• Role on Show: Lois Wilkerson (The mother)
• Key Post-MITM Projects: The Changeling, Raising the Bar, The Middle (cameo as a different character), Jake and the Never Land Pirates (voice role)
• Latest Projects (2025): Kaczmarek recently co-starred with LaKeith Stanfield in the Apple TV+ limited series The Changeling. More recently, she is set to appear with Alfred Molina in a new, currently untitled Netflix project from the Duffer Brothers, the creators of Stranger Things.
• Revival Status: Confirmed to return for the Malcolm in the Middle revival.

Frankie Muniz (Malcolm Wilkerson)

The titular star, Frankie Muniz, has arguably had the most diverse and surprising career trajectory, transitioning from a leading Hollywood actor to a professional race car driver. His life has been a whirlwind of acting, music, and motorsports.

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• Full Name: Francisco Muñiz IV
• Born: December 5, 1985 (Age 40 in 2025)
• Role on Show: Malcolm Wilkerson (The middle child/genius)
• Key Post-MITM Projects: Dancing with the Stars, Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!, various independent films.
• Latest Projects (2025/2026): Muniz made headlines in late 2025 when he announced he was postponing his planned retirement from racing. He is committed to running full-time in both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the SRO GT4 America series in 2026, citing "unfinished business" on the track.
• Revival Status: Confirmed to reprise his role as Malcolm and is actively involved in the show's return.

Christopher Masterson (Francis Wilkerson)

Christopher Masterson played the rebellious eldest brother, Francis, who spent most of the series away at military school and various dead-end jobs. After the show, Masterson largely stepped away from acting to pursue a career as a professional DJ.

• Full Name: Christopher Kennedy Masterson
• Born: January 22, 1980 (Age 45 in 2025)
• Role on Show: Francis Wilkerson (The eldest brother)
• Key Post-MITM Projects: Various DJ gigs, independent films like Made for Each Other.
• Latest Projects (2025): Masterson's focus remains on his music career, but his most significant news is his return to his acting roots.
• Revival Status: Confirmed to return for the Malcolm in the Middle revival, reuniting with his on-screen family.

Justin Berfield (Reese Wilkerson)

Justin Berfield played the dim-witted, impulsive, and bullying middle brother, Reese. Unlike his co-stars, Berfield made a decisive move behind the camera almost immediately after the series ended, focusing entirely on production.

• Full Name: Justin Tyler Berfield
• Born: February 25, 1986 (Age 39 in 2025)
• Role on Show: Reese Wilkerson (The second eldest brother)
• Key Post-MITM Projects: Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Virgin Produced, a film and television production company under the Virgin Group, which has produced films like Limitless and Jobs.
• Latest Projects (2025): Berfield remains a successful executive producer and entrepreneur in the entertainment industry.
• Revival Status: Confirmed to return for the Malcolm in the Middle revival, marking a rare return to acting for the former child star.

The Mystery of Dewey: A New Life Outside of Hollywood

The fate of the youngest Wilkerson child, Dewey, has long been a subject of intense curiosity among fans. Erik Per Sullivan, who played the intelligent and philosophical youngest brother, completely left the acting world and has maintained a nearly two-decade-long absence from the public eye.

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Erik Per Sullivan (Dewey Wilkerson)

Erik Per Sullivan's last acting credit was in 2010, and he has consistently been absent from all cast reunions, fueling rumors and speculation. His recent updates reveal a commitment to a life outside of the entertainment industry.

• Full Name: Erik Per Sullivan
• Born: July 12, 1991 (Age 34 in 2025)
• Role on Show: Dewey Wilkerson (The youngest child)
• Key Post-MITM Projects: Arthur and the Invisibles (voice role in 2006), Twelve (2010).
• Latest Projects (2025): After attending the University of Southern California, Per Sullivan is currently pursuing a career in academia. He is a graduate student, and in a rare public sighting, he was seen for the first time in nearly 18 years, confirming his commitment to a private life away from the spotlight.
• Revival Status: His involvement in the revival remains unconfirmed, given his long retirement from acting.

The Supporting Cast: Where Are Stevie and Caroline Now?

No discussion of the show is complete without the memorable supporting characters who added layers of absurdity and heart to the series. The careers of Malcolm’s best friend, Stevie, and his first teacher, Caroline, have also taken interesting turns.

Craig Lamar Traylor (Stevie Kenarban)

Craig Lamar Traylor played Stevie Kenarban, Malcolm's asthmatic, wheelchair-bound best friend who spoke in gasping, drawn-out syllables. Since the show, Traylor has shifted his artistic focus dramatically.

• Full Name: Craig Lamar Traylor
• Born: March 19, 1989 (Age 36 in 2025)
• Role on Show: Stevie Kenarban (Malcolm's best friend)
• Current Career: Traylor is now a creative professional who works as a model and is an aspiring tattoo artist, showcasing his work and unique style on social media. He also hosts a horror review channel, demonstrating a passion for the genre.

Catherine Lloyd Burns (Caroline Miller)

Catherine Lloyd Burns played Caroline Miller, Malcolm’s eccentric and encouraging teacher who first discovered his genius. She was a key character in the first two seasons, eventually leaving to have a baby.

• Full Name: Catherine Lloyd Burns
• Born: April 19, 1961 (Age 64 in 2025)
• Role on Show: Caroline Miller (Malcolm's teacher)
• Current Career: Burns is a versatile professional, working as an actress, screenwriter, and author. She has appeared in various films and television series, maintaining a consistent career in the industry.

The Confirmed Malcolm in the Middle Revival: What We Know

The biggest news for fans in 2025 is the confirmed production of a Malcolm in the Middle revival. Bryan Cranston has been open about his desire to bring the family back, and the project is now moving forward.

The revival is set to bring back the majority of the original Wilkerson family, including Bryan Cranston (Hal), Jane Kaczmarek (Lois), Frankie Muniz (Malcolm), Christopher Masterson (Francis), and Justin Berfield (Reese). This means audiences will get to see where the family is now, nearly two decades after Malcolm was accepted into Harvard and Hal was finally forced to get a real job.

The return of the core cast, especially Justin Berfield and Christopher Masterson, who have focused on behind-the-scenes work and DJing, respectively, is a major coup for the production. The only major question mark remains the involvement of Erik Per Sullivan, whose commitment to a private, non-acting life suggests his return is unlikely, though not impossible. Fans are eagerly awaiting details on the plot, which is expected to explore the family dynamic as the boys navigate adulthood and parenthood, perhaps with Hal and Lois finally getting a taste of the quiet life—or more likely, a new form of chaos.