Where The Cast Of Malcolm In The Middle Is Now

"Malcolm in the Middle" is one of the most enduring television series to debut in the early 2000s. The series was well-liked by audiences for its run, and its use of fourth wall breaks and single-camera filming style was highly influential in the way sitcoms have been produced ever since. You can count "The Office," "Arrested Development," and "30 Rock" among the many TV series that took inspiration from "Malcolm in the Middle."

Throughout its 7 season run on Fox, "Malcolm in the Middle" earned numerous accolades, including seven Primetime Emmy Awards. It established the careers of several child actors, introduced many around the world to the inimitable talents of Bryan Cranston, and so much more. A plethora of guest stars who appeared in a handful of episodes went on to become significant players in the entertainment industry, and the core cast of characters made the series unforgettable.

"Malcolm in the Middle" went off the air in 2006, so it's been a long time since we've seen Malcolm, Reese, Dewey, Francis, and Jamie get into trouble. Still, the actors who played those characters and many others haven't all been keeping quiet in the intervening years. Sadly, some have passed away, while others have faded into obscurity — occasionally on purpose. Here's what the main cast of "Malcolm in the Middle" has been doing since the series went off the air.

While many think "Malcolm in the Middle" was Frankie Muniz's first gig, he was acting for three years before landing the lead in the series. Muniz's work prior to "Malcolm in the Middle" wasn't as notable, but he appeared in a handful of television series and films before 2000. Once he was cast as Malcolm, Muniz's career was kicked into high gear as the young actor was thrust into the spotlight. He landed guest spots on other popular series and continued acting throughout the early 2000s.

When "Malcolm in the Middle" wrapped in 2006, Muniz took a break from acting to begin a career racing for Jensen MotorSport. Muniz told BBC News in 2006, "I really love racing and this is what I want to do right now and for the next two years. ... I want to want to act and, right now, I want to race. You can't really juggle both because, if you do, you just don't get enough time in the car." True to his word, Muniz focused his attention on racing, though he occasionally booked acting gigs.

Muniz did well in his new profession, placing second and third in two races. Unfortunately, he sustained injuries in a crash, as he disclosed during an appearance on "Dancing with the Stars" (via Young Hollywood). He had some health issues misrepresented by the media and has returned to acting more regularly. His work these days primarily consists of walk-on appearances on television series and movies.

Of the many amazing actors who became famous through "Malcolm in the Middle," Bryan Cranston is probably the most well-known. Cranston's career began long before he played Hal on the series, but few fans knew him from much before the 1990s. In 1998, he played a minor role in "Saving Private Ryan," and he was all over the small screen for years despite not having a prominent character role until "Malcolm in the Middle."

That said, Cranston was known to fans of "Seinfeld" for playing Dr. Tim Whatley in five episodes, so it's fair to say he worked consistently from 1980 onward. Of course, his role as Hal on "Malcolm in the Middle" made Cranston a household name. The loving father of an ever-growing family he struggled to support had him constantly getting into whacky situations, all of which elicited a ton of laughter from the audience.

When the series concluded, Cranston went on to play Walter White in "Breaking Bad," and that role is the one he's best known for these days. "Breaking Bad" was a revolutionary series that tracked Cranston's character from a meek high school science teacher to the man responsible for mastering meth in New Mexico. Cranston received four Primetime Emmy Awards for playing Walter White. He even revisited the character by returning to Hal in a short skit that combines both characters. Cranston continues to book theatrical, television, and film gigs, including "Asteroid City" in 2023.

Jane Kaczmarek began acting in the early 1980s and consistently booked gigs in feature films and television series for decades. Before her casting as Lois in "Malcolm in the Middle," she worked mostly outside the realm of comedy, which is unfortunate because her work as Lois proved she had the comedic chops to define the character. Lois is a loud, overbearing, and confident woman who absolutely loves her children and husband. She'd do anything for them, even if that meant sending them off to military school or locking them out of the house to teach them a lesson.

Kaczmarek was nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards for playing Lois, and while she didn't win any, she did take home plenty of other accolades. Her list of trophies includes one from the American Comedy Award, another from the Family Television Awards, a Satellite Award, and many more. While playing Lois was nowhere near her first role, the breakout performance brought Kaczmarek to widespread attention in the entertainment industry and opened doors for many opportunities.

After "Malcolm in the Middle" ended, Kaczmarek continued working in films and television. Unlike her pre-Malcolm work, she took on comedic roles in a plethora of series, including voicing characters in "The Simpsons," "Phineas and Ferb," and more. While Kaczmarek hasn't been in any films or live-action TV series since 2021, she has continued performing. Kaczmarek has been active in theater, including a stint as the Narrator for "Into The Woods," in 2023.

Justin Berfield had plenty of television experience before appearing as Reese in "Malcolm in the Middle," such as playing Ross Malloy in "Unhappily Ever After" throughout the late-1990s. In addition to his TV credits, Berfield appeared in a couple of feature films before solidifying his place in television history. Landing the role of Reese was at the time simply a continuation of his impressive career, though today it is his best-known role. 

Reese is the aggressive, bullying, dim-witted older brother of Malcolm. Berfield was recognized for his work with award wins and nominations from the Young Artist and YoungStar Awards. When "Malcolm in the Middle" came to an end in 2006, Berfield could have gone on to bigger and better opportunities, but he chose to follow a different path. Berfield quit acting, and his only role since was in the 2010 TV series "Sons of Tucson." While he wasn't interested in pursuing an adult acting career, he remained in the industry as a producer.

In 2010, Berfield became the chief creative officer of Virgin Produced, which handles TV development, production, and packaging under the Virgin Group. In that capacity, Berfield produced two feature films, "Romance and Cigarettes" and "Blonde Ambition." He's also produced two TV movies and the reality show "Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive." In addition to his production work, Berfield spends a lot of time with his daughter and posts their adventures on his Instagram with her face obscured, presumably to protect her privacy.

Erik Per Sullivan was relatively young when he booked his first job, playing an unnamed child in "Armageddon." From there, he only had two credits before he played Dewey in "Malcolm in the Middle." Dewey is as intelligent as his older brother, but he's often overlooked, dismissed, or even forgotten by his family. In numerous storylines, Dewey takes center stage as he becomes a leader and de facto teacher of his class, survives a weekend after his babysitter's death, and much more.

While playing Dewey, Sullivan landed appearances in "Joe Dirt," "Finding Nemo," "Christmas with the Kranks," and more. His career was impressive throughout his childhood, but he stopped acting when he became an adult. His last credit is from 2010 when he played Timmy in "Twelve." Sullivan has retired from acting and was absent at the 20-year reunion held via Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic, though it's unclear why he didn't participate. 

Frankie Muniz spoke about him in an interview with LADbible, saying, "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 ... 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. I think that's what he wanted to do so good for him."

Christopher Masterson had more credits to his name than the other child actors on "Malcolm in the Middle," having started acting in the late-1980s. His work before "Malcolm in the MIddle" consisted of minor roles in notable films. He appeared in "Cutthroat Island," "My Best Friend's Wedding," and "American History X," to name a few. His work on the small screen was limited to walk-on roles, a six-episode stint on "The Road Home," and co-hosting duties on "What'z Up?"

When he was cast as Francis on "Malcolm in the Middle," Masterson's career was given a boost. Francis is the oldest of the kids on "Malcolm in the Middle," and he begins the series in military school. He leaves when he turns 18, lives in Alaska, gets married, and settles in the American West for a while. Francis' life is chaotic due to his issues with authority, but he's also incredibly lucky. More than a few of his problems were cleared up via a deus ex machina.

After "Malcolm in the Middle" concluded in 2006, Masterson continued working in Hollywood, though in less prominent roles. He appeared in various television series via walk-on roles, including playing Todd on "That '70s Show," and he appeared in several films, though none were particularly notable. Masterson doesn't act much these days, preferring to DJ under the name Christopher Kennedy (his middle name). He's performed at Studio Paris in Chicago, Illinois, and other popular spots.

Craig Lamar Traylor's acting career began in the film "Matilda," where he played one of the children in the titular character's class. He also appeared on "ER" the same year, and that's all he did before being cast as Stevie Kenarban on "Malcolm in the Middle." In the series, Malcolm is reluctant to hang out with Stevie until he finds they share an interest in the same comic books. 

Stevie is an asthmatic, disabled genius who becomes Malcolm's best friend, and they spend a lot of time together throughout the series. Like many of the child actors who worked on "Malcolm in the Middle," Traylor didn't use the series as a springboard to a larger acting career. He's had a few movie appearances in direct-to-video movies but appears to have largely retired from acting. That said, according to TV Cast List, he appeared in "Forgiven This Gun4hire" in 2018, which is his most recent credit.

These days, Traylor looks nothing like his character in "Malcolm in the Middle" thanks to his ear gauges and tattoos. His newest career ambitions are modeling, tattooing, and writing (per Digital Spy). Unfortunately, Traylor is absent on social media, and the few accounts with his name appear to be made by fans, so there's not a lot of information about what he's been up to post-COVID.

David Anthony Higgins' long career began on the silver screen, but he didn't receive much attention until he landed the role of Joe Farrell on "Ellen," which he played through most of the '90s. He followed that with guest roles on numerous television series throughout the 1990s before being cast as Craig Feldspar in "Malcolm in the Middle." While he didn't appear in every episode, Higgins knocked out nearly 40, and he often added comic relief to some of the most unrealistic situations on the show.

Craig is romantically smitten with Lois, who tolerates his advances despite their regularity at work. He often gets involved with the kids, resulting in the loss of his cat and the destruction of his home and body. Following his time on the series, Higgins appeared in a handful of short films while spending most of his time jumping from one television series to another.

Higgins played notable guest characters on "Mike & Molly," "Big Time Rush," and "American Horror Story: Murder House." While he hasn't appeared in a film since 2014, he scored a leading role in "B Positive," which ended in 2022. When he isn't working, Higgins enjoys cooking and engaging with his fans on social media. He often posts pictures of his dishes on Instagram and shout-outs to his colleagues on Twitter, where he hasn't been afraid to get political.

"Malcolm in the Middle" featured a ton of impressive actors, and Kenneth Mars is one of maybe two who had a truly amazing career before he was cast. Long before taking on the role of Otto Mannkusser in "Malcolm in the Middle," Mars worked with Mel Brooks on "The Producers" and "Young Frankenstein." He also appeared in two Woody Allen films, "Radio Days" and "Shadows and Fog." In addition to playing numerous live-action characters, he lent his impressive voice to a plethora of animated characters.

Mars voiced King Triton in "The Little Mermaid" and its sequel. He also voiced Littlefoot's grandfather in "The Land Before Time" franchise, so the man had a lot of impressive credits to his name. As Otto, Mars brought a great deal of comedy to a character who lets anyone and everyone take advantage of him because he's probably the nicest guy in the world. He employs Francis for a stretch and is involved in many of his hijinks.

Mars worked on other series while working on "Malcolm in the Middle," including an episode of "Hannah Montana" and continued voicing Grandpa Longneck on "The Land Before Time." This work came after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which kept him from returning to "Malcolm in the Middle" for Season 6. His roles for King Triton and Grandpa Longneck were recast, and the Los Angeles Times reports that Mars died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 75 on February 12, 2011.

Most fans probably know Hayden Panettiere from one of her films or TV roles and not from "Malcolm in the Middle." On the show, she played Jessica, a young girl who manipulates the boys to get what she wants, and only appears in four episodes. Panettiere was young on the show, and she's one of those people you might be surprised to learn was on the series, as she doesn't look much like herself — especially with the frizziest hair she could possibly have.

Fans of Panettiere know her as Claire Bennet, aka the Cheerleader on "Heroes," which was her breakout performance. She had similar success on "Guiding Light" and "One Life to Live," so Panettiere found fans all over the place. When her four-episode stint on "Malcolm in the Middle" was over, she kept on working as an actress. She eventually landed her part as Juliette Barnes in "Nashville," which is arguably her most prominent role in recent years, at least on the small screen.

Panettiere is no stranger to feature films, having appeared in 2011's "Scream 4" and its 2022 sequel. Outside of acting, Panettiere does some modeling and singing. In 2006, she became the Neutrogena cover girl and has since modeled for other brands. Her early singing career involved songs recorded alongside her work and a Read Along, which earned her a Grammy Award nomination for "A Bug's Life." She released several singles for "Nashville" and made concert appearances to promote the show. 

Daniel von Bargen's career began in the 1970s on television, and by the 1990s, he landed a role in "The Silence of the Lambs." Granted, it wasn't a big part, but he continued to appear in significant movies throughout his life. His credits include "Basic Instinct," "Six Degrees of Separation," and "Crimson Tide," among many others. Throughout the '90s, von Bargen was all over the small screen with appearances on "Seinfeld," "Party of Five," and "The X-Files."

Von Bargen was a talented character actor, and his role in "Malcolm in the Middle" was somehow serious and hilarious at the same time. Von Bargen played Commandant Edwin Spangler, the man in charge of the cadets at Marlin Academy, where Francis spends much of his time. He and Francis often went up against one another, and in the end, Francis accidentally chops off the Commandant's hand, which wasn't great, seeing as he lost the other hand sometime in the past.

After "Malcolm in the Middle," von Bargen worked intermittently while afflicted with diabetes. He lost a leg to the disease and would also lose several toes. Per ABC News, In February 2012, von Bargen survived an apparent suicide attempt, which he explained to the emergency dispatcher occurred because he didn't want to go to the hospital, where he was set to undergo additional amputations. The Washington Post reports that Von Bargen died in March 2015 of undisclosed causes.

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

It may surprise his fans to learn that Cameron Monaghan played Chad on "Malcolm in the Middle." Monaghan was very young when he portrayed the boy forced to wear a sign not to touch him (he bites), and he doesn't look much like the actor does as an adult. Still, he played the character in six episodes shortly after beginning his career. Monaghan's first acting work came in 2002 in "The Wishing Stone," and he appeared in the TV film version of "The Music Man" in 2003. 

Most fans likely know Monaghan from one of two projects: "Shameless" or "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order." In the former, he played Ian Gallagher for a decade. Monaghan's work in "Shameless" earned him a Critics Choice Television Awards nomination, and he was a standout among the impressive cast of "Shameless" throughout its run. For "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order," Monaghan portrayed the Jedi, Cal Kestis, which he did through voice and motion capture.

Another iconic role of Monaghan's is that of Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska in "Gotham," which is an adaptation of the Joker — though not in name. That performance earned Monaghan a Teen Choice Award in 2019, which he may have put on his mantle beside his Young Artist Award for playing Chad in "Malcolm in the Middle." Monaghan's career has been absolutely stellar during and after appearing on "Malcolm in the Middle," and he remains a force to be reckoned with in film and TV.

Emy Coligado's acting career began with an appearance on "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." She worked throughout the early 2000s, but her casting as Piama Tananahaakna in "Malcolm in the Middle" brought her to the forefront of pop culture. Piama was the marriage bomb dropped on Lois and Hal in the episode "Hal's Birthday," in which Lois surprises Hal with a visit from Francis, who shocks everyone when he introduces his wife. In typical sitcom mom fashion, Lois treats her like garbage, and Piama doesn't stand for it.

Coligado remained on the series as Francis' wife for 28 episodes and often had storylines revolving around her Native American heritage, her unwillingness to back down from any fight, and her impact on Francis. While playing Piama, Coligado found work on "Everybody Loves Raymond," "Grey's Anatomy," and "Crossing Jordan," which featured her in 30 episodes. When "Malcolm in the Middle" ended, Coligado continued acting in films and television.

Her most notable film role is playing Ling in "The Three Stooges," and she showed up in three films in 2020. Her television work has slowed down during the COVID-19 pandemic, but she landed a guest spot as Helen Yung on "Archive 81" in 2022. When she isn't busy on the small screen, she's posting about her life, her love of man's best friend, and her one-eyed dog, Butters, on Instagram. Of course, she also shares news of her latest acting gigs, but Butters is well-represented throughout her page.

Eric Nenninger's acting debut came in an episode of "The X-Files" in 2000. He had a couple of jobs that year, including appearances on "ER," "Opposite Sex," and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." 2000 is also the year Nenninger was cast as cadet Eric Hansen in "Malcolm in the Middle." Eric is involved with most of Francis' adventures at Marlon Academy, but more than that, he is the impetus for Francis' decision to drop out. Eric led the way to Alaska to make his fortune — although it didn't work out that way.

When Francis finally links up with him, Eric is in shambles, working for nothing and living in squalor. Eric is forgotten about as Francis transitions to married life, so he only sticks around for 28 episodes. Still, it was an excellent start to a prominent career, and Nenninger has continued to work in television ever since. His work after leaving "Malcolm in the Middle" includes nearly 30 series, many of which he returned to for more than one appearance.

Some of his notable appearances include "24," "Bones," and "Weeds," but he's probably best known outside his "Malcolm in the Middle" work for "Jeepers Creepers 2," "One Day at a Time," and "The Flash." Nenninger has consistently worked in Hollywood since his first episode of "The X-Files," and there's no indication he's looking to retire. He's fairly active on social media, and his Instagram shows an active lifestyle filled with food, fun, and family.

Kyle Sullivan had an impressive list of credits to his name when he joined the "Malcolm in the Middle" cast as Dabney Hooper. Having started acting in the mid-late 1990s, Sullivan appeared in "Soldier," "Tuesdays with Morrie," and "Seinfeld" before becoming a series regular. On the show, Dabney was one of the many Krelboynes in Malcolm's class and one of his closest friends. He always spoke in a voice-cracking pubescent way as he often predicted disaster or dissatisfaction with whatever was happening.

Sullivan continued acting in other series while continuing to play Dabney, and his TV appearances include "Fillmore!" and "Whatever Happened to... Robot Jones?" After leaving "Malcolm in the Middle," he found work on "All That" and "The War at Home," both of which featured Sullivan in more than 35 episodes. When "The War at Home" was over, Sullivan did something few do in his industry — he retired.

Sullivan opted to leave his acting career behind as he pursued his education. He attended Columbia University, where he studied film. After completing his B.A., Sullivan became a partner in Rainfall Ventures, a venture capital firm in Los Angeles, California. Unfortunately, it's unclear what he does with Rainfall Ventures, but according to his LinkedIn, that's what has kept him busy since January 2014.

Tania Raymonde became a professional actor in 2000 when she appeared in episodes of "Providence" and "The Brothers Garcia." The following year, she booked the role of Cynthia Sanders on "Malcolm in the Middle," first appearing in a Season 2 episode as the eponymous "Krelboyne Girl." Cynthia shows up to school in the middle of the year and puts the main characters (all of whom are pubescent boys) on edge. There's a sort of early romance between Cynthia and Malcolm, but he screws it up.

Since her time on "Malcolm in the Middle came to an end, Raymonde has been actively working in Hollywood. While she continued working throughout the 2000s, she didn't gain much attention until she played Alex Rousseau on "Lost." That series propelled the actor to new heights, and Raymonde was consistently busy from that point forward. 

Most recently, Raymonde played Brittany Gold on the Amazon Prime series "Goliath" from 2016 to 2021, and in 2022, she nabbed a lead role in "Futra Days." In an interview with Authority Magazine, Raymonde described the film as a "do-over sci-romance about a guy who tries to remake his relationship with his ex-girlfriend in a mind-bending reality." She also mentioned a southern gothic thriller she shot called "The Stenographer," set for release in 2023.

Cloris Leachman is the most veteran of all the actors cast in "Malcolm in the Middle," and her impressive career goes all the way back to 1946. She began as a model, having competed in the Miss America pageant. That opened doors to the theater, which she pursued vigorously. Leachman played Celia in "As You Like It" in 1950 and returned to the theater 40 years later. She transitioned to film and appeared in hundreds of television series and movies over the years.

Most notable of her film work included "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "Young Frankenstein," and "The Last Picture Show," which earned her an Academy Award for best supporting actress. On television, she was a mainstay on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," and eventually found her way to "Malcolm in the Middle" playing Lois' mother, Ida Welker. Ida was a mean, ornery woman who disliked her family and put Lois through unnecessary tortures over the years.

Leachman continued working for years after "Malcolm in the Middle," with appearances in "American Gods," numerous voice roles in animated series and films, and "Raising Hope," where she played a leading role. Leachman died in her sleep in January 2021 at the age of 94. People reports that she died of a stroke, which was exacerbated by an infection of COVID-19. Her final credit is Donna in "Not to Forget," an apt title if there ever was one to describe this Hollywood legend.

Gary Anthony Williams got his start in acting in an episode of "In the Heat of the Night" in 1990, and he's consistently worked ever since. Long before he landed the role of Abe Kenarban on "Malcolm in the Middle," Williams was busy with film work that includes "Radioland Murders," "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," and "End of Days." In 2000, he was cast as Abe, and he remained on the series throughout its run despite only appearing in 18 episodes.

Abe is Stevie's father and Hal's best friend, though he's a professional — something — and lives a very different life compared to his buddy. Regardless, they got along well enough and played poker in several episodes. Additionally, Abe somewhat assisted Francis when he delivered Jamie despite being creeped out by the endeavor. Williams' time on "Malcolm in the Middle" was just one credit in a long list the actor has built over his decades-long career.

He went on to score recurring roles on "Boston Legal," "The Goode Family," and "Unsung," which he narrates and has done so since 2009. He's also done a considerable amount of voice-over work, lending his talent to a myriad of animated characters. He's also kept himself busy with "Whose Line Is It Anyway?", which he's been on since 2013. The majority of his recent work includes voice roles on "American Dad!", "Rick and Morty," and "The Patrick Star Show."