What happened to Dewey from Malcolm in the Middle? Fans finally have an answer. Erik Per Sullivan, the former child star who played the youngest Wilkerson brother, was recently photographed for the first time in 18 years while out and about in Boston. The sighting has reignited interest in the actor, who largely stepped away from the public eye after the hit Fox sitcom ended in 2006. Here’s a look back on Erik Per Sullivan’s career and his quiet exit from fame.
Erik Per Sullivan seen after nearly two decades
On March 26, Per Sullivan, now 33, was seen leaving his house carrying grocery bags, bundled up against the cold in a brown coat and a newsboy cap. In another photo taken the same day, he carried a coffee cup as he walked through the city, his first public sighting since 2007.
For fans of Malcolm in the Middle, seeing Per Sullivan again is a surprise, as the actor has largely avoided the spotlight since leaving Hollywood nearly two decades ago. His last credited role was in the 2010 film Twelve, where he played a troubled teen named Timmy in the crime thriller starring 50 Cent and Chace Crawford.
Why Erik Per Sullivan left Hollywood
Per Sullivan was a fan-favorite on Malcolm in the Middle, where he played Dewey, the lovable, musically gifted and often overlooked youngest brother. His character also loved opera and classical music, leading to memorable scenes where he showcased impressive vocal talent. Dewey’s witty one-liners and expressive acting made him one of the standout characters of the beloved sitcom, which ran for seven seasons from 2000 to 2006.
Sullivan’s portrayal of Dewey earned him critical acclaim, and he even won a Young Artist Award in 2003 for Best Young Actor in a Comedy Series. However, after the show ended, Per Sullivan decided to step away from acting and focus on his education, per TMZ. He briefly attended the University of Southern California before pursuing a graduate degree in Victorian literature, per E! News. His former TV mom, Jane Kaczmarek, confirmed in a 2024 interview with Malcolm France that he had lost interest in Hollywood. “He’s very, very well. He did Malcolm for seven years…started at 7, ended at 14. He wasn’t interested in acting at all,” she shared.
Is Erik Per Sullivan in the ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ revival?
While Per Sullivan may have no plans to return to acting, his former Malcolm in the Middle co-stars are gearing up for a major comeback. In December 2024, nearly 25 years after the show’s premiere, it was announced that a revival of the sitcom was in the works for Disney+.
Frankie Muniz, who played Malcolm, made the official announcement on Instagram, sharing his excitement about the project. “I have been waiting for this moment for 18 years,” Muniz said in the video. “Let’s find out where Malcolm and his family are now.” Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek will reprise their roles as Hal and Lois Wilkerson, while Justin Berfield and Christopher Masteron will return as older brothers Reese and Francis.
Disney has officially ordered four episodes of the new series, which will follow Malcolm (Muniz) and his daughter as they’re forced to attend Hal (Cranston) and Lois’s (Kaczmarek) 40th wedding anniversary party. Cranston teased that the revival is both “funny” and “heartfelt” while speaking at Variety and Apple TV+’s The Studio screening and Q&A in March.
However, as fans eagerly anticipate the April release, many noticed that Erik Per Sullivan will not be reprising his role as Dewey. Instead, actor Caleb Ellsworth-Clark has been cast in the part. Per Sullivan hasn’t publicly commented on the revival, though his legacy on Malcolm in the Middle is anything but forgotten.
