Whatever Happened To The Cast Of Malcolm In The Middle?
The Emmy Award-winning Fox sitcom "Malcolm in the Middle" is a signature staple of early 2000s television. Following the struggles of a gifted child trying to survive in a dysfunctional family, the show ran for seven seasons from 2000 until 2006. There's no doubt that the comedy series, which was based on the life experience of creator and producer Lindwood Boomer (via The Hollywood Reporter), was the breakthrough role of many hilarious and talented actors.
Although the show concluded its run in 2006, some of the actors have reportedly stayed in touch, including Frankie Muniz and Bryan Cranston. Muniz gushed in a heart warming interview on Steve-O's podcast, "[Cranston] like literally reaches out, 'Just checking on you, hope you're well, what are you up to?' He's literally a Hollywood god and he calls me. He's the best."
These days, the ensemble cast have gone in many different directions with their careers. While some are still thriving in the entertainment industry, others have decided to focus on their families. But where exactly are they now?
Frankie Muniz has had many endeavors
Since "Malcolm in the Middle” ended in 2006, Frankie Muniz, who played the titular character, decided to take a step back from Hollywood to protect himself from its demanding environment (via Autosport). Choosing to pursue his passions, he since then has had a successful career in race car driving. However, he suffered a series of injuries and mini-strokes that damaged his long-term memory, and has stated that he is unable to remember filming most of "Malcolm in the Middle" (via Men's Health).
That being said, Muniz didn't completely throw in the entertainment industry towel, as he was a contestant on the 25th season of "Dancing With the Stars" in 2017, impressively finishing in third place. He also had a short stint as a drummer for the indie-rock band "Kingsfoil," showing off his rhythmic skills. Other acting appearances include the main character Johnathan in the 2018 horror flick "The Black String." Director Brian Hanson said of Muniz's performance in an interview with Movieweb, "He seemed to innately understand the character's loneliness, frustration and moments of dark humor."
Overall, Muniz's proudest accomplishments to this day are his wife and child. He married his long-time girlfriend, actor and model Paige Price in 2020 (via Entertainment Tonight), and welcomed their baby boy, Mauz, in March 2021 (via People). The family now resides in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Bryan Cranston is a household name
It's no secret by now that Bryan Cranston, who played the good-hearted but immature father Hal, has undoubtedly had the most successful career out of all the "Malcolm in the Middle" cast. He was able to prove his versatile acting chops in his groundbreaking main role as the cutthroat drug lord Walter White in the iconic "Breaking Bad." It is one of the most critically praised television shows of all time (via Forbes), and Cranston went on to win multiple Emmys for his portrayal of White.
Although most people will always likely associate Cranston's name with Hal or Walter White, since "Breaking Bad" concluded in 2013, Cranston has gone on to explore the stage. He has had several Broadway successes, including a 2014 portrayal of president Lyndon B. Johnson in "All the Way" and a 2018 role in the stage adaption of "Network," both which earned him Tony Awards.
In his acceptance speech, Cranston said (via Broadway World), "I would like to dedicate this to all the real journalists of the world, both in the print media and also broadcast media, who actually are in the line of fire with their pursuit of the truth."
Jane Kaczmarek is still going strong
Playing the fiery and domineering mother Lois, a role that earned her seven Emmy and three Golden Globe nominations, Jane Kaczmarek has managed to have a steady career as an actor. Although she has had many roles in film and television, such as 2016's "Mary in Wolves at the Door" and 2018's "Gloria in 6 Balloons," (via The Sun), she admitted that she feels a deeper personal connection to the stage, telling Broadway World that she finds theater acting to be more "emotionally stimulating."
Kaczmarek managed to balance her career and raise a family, as her pregnancy was written into the fourth season "Malcolm in the Middle." She and her ex-husband, "West Wing" star Bradley Witford, have three children and the two divorced in 2010 after 17 years of marriage. In a 2010 interview with The Boston Herald, she said of the divorce, "But the good thing is you realize you have the chance to completely redefine yourself and start your life over, whether you want to or not. That has also, in a funny way, reinvigorated my desire to act again."
Erik Per Sullivan has stayed out of the limelight
Like many child stars, Erik Per Sullivan, who played the musically talented second-youngest Dewey, has retired his acting talents to opt for a more normal life. Little has been heard from him since the finale of "Malcolm in the Middle," except for a small role in the 2010 film "Twelve" (via MovieWeb).
Sullivan has appeared to pursue his education, reported by a tweet from Frankie Muniz that he was attending University of Southern California in 2009, although it was unclear what he had been studying. In June 2020, Sullivan took to Instagram to share that he had received a James Joyce award while attending University College Dublin.
In 2012, Muniz Tweeted photos of a "Malcolm in the Middle" reunion, with Sullivan notably absent without explanation, and Justin Berfield holding up a photo of Sullivan's face to represent his presence (via CBS). All that being said, according to Celebrity Net Worth, Sullivan has an impressive net worth of $3 million from his "Malcolm in the Middle" days.
Justin Berfield is now a fan of the other end of the camera
Justin Berfield, who played the rambunctious second-oldest brother Reese, has found his footing in the entertainment industry as a producer. In 2010, Berfield was named as the Chief Creative Officer of Virgin Produced, a film and television production company owned by The Virgin Group. In an interview with Variety, he said, "We are developing and producing films and television shows that are far from traditional. We aren't afraid to push the envelope with content."
Other notable projects include being an executive producer for the upcoming television series "Muscle Shoals," an ABC project about a legendary music scene in Alabama (via Deadline). He also has a producer credit on the 2022 E! reality show "Relatively Famous: Ranch Rules," which follows the premise of sending children of celebrities to work on a ranch in Colorado (via The Sun).
However, Berfield has proven to be a proud family man. He got married to his girlfriend Liza in 2017, and welcomed a baby girl in 2020 (via The Sun).
Christopher Masterson is dabbling in the music industry
In a 2012 interview, Christopher Masterson, who played the quick-witted yet chaotic oldest brother Francis, revealed that he changed directions from acting to becoming a DJ. "I deejayed in my bedroom for two years, literally two years that I'd just be whiling out in my bedroom" (via A Drink With). He stated that he enjoys playing in restaurants, bars and house parties all across the country.
Other acting credits include George Middleton in a 2019 thriller film called "Beneath the Leaves," Eddie in "I'd Like to be Alone Now" and Trevor in the 2015 dark comedy "Bad Roomies." According to US Weekly, Masterson dated "That '70s Show" star Laura Prepon for eight years, from 1999 to 2007.
Like his co-stars Frankie Muniz and Justin Berfield, these days, Masterson is also a proud husband and father. In 2019, he married actor Yoland Pecoraro and the two welcomed a baby girl in April 2021 (via People).
Craig Lamar Traylor is a passionate artist
Although the character Stevie Kenerban, Malcolm's best friend, was riddled with health issues in the show such as a missing lung, he managed to be optimistic about his life, much like Craig Lamar Traylor, the man who played him. Traylor has dabbled in the acting industry since the show ended, but with minimal exposure. The roles in smaller films include Lil Ryat in the 2011 comedy "Dance Fu," and Tyrone MC in 2012's "The Bitter Earth."
However, he found his true love in the jewelry making business. More specifically, he is invested in the world of wire wrapping, an ancient type of handmade jewelry making technique that involves wrapping wire around itself to create a cohesive piece (via Handmade Artists and Beadaholique). In a 2017 interview with the Museum of the African Diaspora, Traylor talks about his creative process, inspirations, and struggles as an artist. "I'm trying to shoot towards a different audience. I don't really want to be involved in the underground community that does it. I want to get out of that and let them see it. I'm trying to think outside of the box." He said when asked about his future plans for his craft.
In the video, he is seen sporting a plethora of sleeve tattoos and stretched ears, an edgy look that is clearly a departure from his days as the innocent hearted Stevie.
David Anthony Higgins is still in the acting business
David Anthony Higgins, who played Craig Feldspar, Lois's romantically obsessed coworker, has had many successful roles in the comedy television industry to this date. After the show ended in 2006, he went on to be cast as Reginald Bitters in the Nickelodeon's "Big Time Rush." Other notable roles include "Mike and Molly," "American Horror Story," "Last Man Standing," and the television adaption of "School of Rock" (via Buzzfeed).
In 2020, he appeared on the CBS series "B Positive," which follows a man's desperate search for a kidney donor. In the sitcom, Higgins plays the recurring role of Jerry, a dentist with heart problems who is a friend of the main character (via Deadline).
However, acting isn't his only passion. He has several writing credits on the 2013-2015 show "International Ghost Investigators." The actor is also very active on his social media accounts, especially Twitter, avidly using them to connect with fans. He also has two children with his wife Julia, who he married in 2000 (via TVOverMind).
Tania Raymonde has had a successful career
Tania Raymonde, who played Cynthia, Malcolm's brainiac friend and classmate, is still thriving in the acting industry. She is well known for her roles as Alex in ABC's "Lost" and Zara in the Freeform drama "Switched at Birth" (via The Hollywood Reporter and TVLine). From 2015 until 2021, Raymonde played Brittany Gold in the Golden Globe-winning Amazon thriller "Goliath."
As for what that actor's up to these days, a 2021 interview with US Weekly walked fans through an exciting vacation she took to a Mediterranean island called Corsica where her family resides, revealing that she also dabbles in writing and directing. She enthusiastically told the outlet, "I'm visiting my family in Corsica, so this is me enjoying a very tiny coffee at my Grandma's balcony for breakfast. It's got a great view overlooking the square called La Place St. Nicholas. I could sit and watch the ships come into the port all day."
It looks like Raymonde is living her best life!
Emy Coligado is still in television
Although playing Francis's hot tempered wife Piama may have been Emy Coligado's most notable role to this date, she has had other widely known gigs in the television industry. One of them includes the recurring role of Emmy, a medical examiner's assistant, in the NBC crime drama "Crossing Jordan" (via MyPlainView). She also appeared on episodes of well known shows like as "Shameless" and "Fresh off the Boat" (via Looper).
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Coligado is worth a whopping $4 million. These days, you can see spot in multiple commercials, including a popular Toyota ad. She has also dabbled in the world of musical theater, singing in the Broadway production of "Miss Saigon." It certainly seems like this "Malcolm in the Middle" alum is a woman of many talents.
When it comes to her personal life, Coligado is active on her official Instagram account with almost 20,000 followers. She frequently posts pictures of her one-eyed rescue dog, Butters.