The world isn’t the boss of Erik Per Sullivan now. In fact, the 33-year-old former child star—known for his role as Dewey in Malcolm in the Middle—has noticeably been out of the spotlight since 2007. But after nearly two decades, he has finally resurfaced.
Erik, who’s now a graduate student studying Victorian Literature, was photographed grabbing a coffee in Boston on March 26. He was bundled up for the cold weather, sporting a washed brown coat, a newsboy cap, green pants, and boots. While Erik looked cozy in his professor-inspired attire, his look is a stark contrast from his final acting role in the 2010’s Twelve.
In the 50 Cent-led crime thriller, he starred as a teen named Timmy who wore a wispy haircut and oversized clothes. But most notably, the actor made quite the impression as the short-haired Dewey on Malcolm in the Middle, which he starred in from 2000 to 2006 alongside Frankie Muniz. Last December, nearly 25 years after the show’s finale, the original cast—including Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek, who played as parents Hal and Lois Wilkerson—confirmed they would reprise their roles in a four-episode revival on Disney+. (Justin Berfield and Christopher Masteron are also coming back as older brothers Francis and Reese.)
And as fans geared up for the April release, viewers noticed that Erik’s character—who played Malcolm’s younger brother—wouldn’t be present at the Wilkerson family reunion. Instead, Caleb Ellsworth-Clark will take on his role. While Erik won’t return for the revival, he’s still in touch with his former costars. In fact, Jane shared a rare yet lighthearted update about her on-screen son last April.
“He’s very very well,” she said during her appearance at the Paris Manga Sci-fi Show at the time. “He did Malcolm for seven years. He started at 7, he ended at 14. He wasn’t interested in acting at all.” She also complimented Erik’s courage in walking away from his former career, saying, “So many people think being in show business is the greatest thing in the world, [but] it’s not for everyone.”
