Erik Per Sullivanis not reprising his role as Deweyin theMalcolm in the Middlerevival.
The former actor portrayed the hilarious, musically gifted second youngest Wilkerson son on all seven seasons of the beloved Fox sitcom, from 2000 to 2006.
But, for nearly two decades, Per Sullivan has led a private life away from Hollywood. In June 2025,Bryan Cranston, who portrayed patriarch Hal Wilkerson, shared on theFly on the Wallwith Dana Carvey and David Spadepodcast that Per Sullivan wasearning his master’s degreeat Harvard whileMalcolmwill return for a limited four-episode run on Disney+.
Cranston shared that his on-screen son is not interested in stepping into Dewey’s shoes again.
"I talked to Erik and I said, 'Hey, we got the show! It's going to come back.' He goes, 'Oh, that's fantastic!' And I go, 'Yeah, so we're looking forward to having you back.' He goes, 'Oh, no, no, I don't want to do it. But it's fantastic,' " Cranston revealed.
In April 2026, Lois actress Jane Kaczmarek confirmed Cranston's account and toldThe Guardian, “He’s studying Dickens and is an incredible student – they offered him buckets of money to come back, and he just said: ‘No thank you.' "
Here’s everything to know about Erik Per Sullivan and where theMalcolm in the Middlealum is now.
Who is Erik Per Sullivan?
Per Sullivan is a former American actor. Born in Worcester, Mass., on July 12, 1991, his first big role came in 1999’sThe Cider House Rules.
He appeared in the pilot of the brief ABC medical dramaWonderlandbefore landing the role of Dewey onMalcolm in the Middle. The Fox sitcom remains his best-known role.
What was Erik Per Sullivan’s role onMalcolm in the Middle?
Per Sullivan portrayed Dewey onMalcolm in the Middle. The Massachusetts native appeared in all seven seasons of the Fox show’s original run, which ran for 151 episodes from 2000 to 2006.
Dewey was the humorous, smart, musically-inclined second youngest son of the Wilkerson family.
Did Erik Per Sullivan act afterMalcolm in the Middle?
During his time on the sitcom, Per Sullivan appeared in films like 2001’sJoe Dirt, 2003’sFinding Nemoand 2004’sChristmas with the Kranks.
His last credited role onIMDbwas as Timmy in the 2010 filmTwelve, starring50 Cent,Chace CrawfordandEmma Roberts.
The actor retired from the industry in 2010, leaving Hollywood to focus on his education.
Will Erik Per Sullivan return for theMalcolm in the Middlerevival?
Per Sullivan has never participated in aMalcolmreunion, and he will not returnfor the revival, as he is retired from acting.
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Malcolm in the Middleis returning as a four-episode, limited-run series on Disney+, the streamer announced in December 2024. In the new series, Dewey is portrayed byCaleb Ellsworth-Clark.
While Per Sullivan has not publicly commented on the revival or recasting, Cranston and Kaczmarek have. On a June 2025 episode of theFly on the Wallwith Dana Carvey and David Spadepodcast, theBreaking Badstar shared that Per Sullivan was “the only one who didn’t come back to act in the show.”
"He's really, really smart, and he's getting his master's at Harvard right now," Cranston said. "He said, 'Oh, God no. I haven't acted since I was 9 or something, so I'm not into it.' "
Cranston did note that though Per Sullivan didn’t want to do the revival, he did think “it’s fantastic” thatMalcolmwould be returning.
Where is Erik Per Sullivan now?
Per Sullivan leads a private life.
In 2007, he earned the James Joyce Award from the Literary and Historical Society of University College Dublin. He also made a handful of public appearances that year, attending the New York City premiere ofArthur and the Invisibles, Boston’s Oscar Night America and his mother Ann’s naturalization ceremony in Boston.
After leaving the entertainment industry in 2010 to pursue academia, he briefly attended the University of Southern California.
“I talked to Erik Per Sullivan (Dewey) today for the first time since Malcolm finished filming 4 years ago. He's going to USC... crazy!” Frankie Muniz, who portrayed Dewey’s big brother Malcolm, wrote onXin December 2009.
During an April 2024interview with Malcolm Franceat the Paris Manga Sci-fi Show by TGS, Kaczmarek revealed that her on-screen son was now studying Victorian literature at "a very prestigious American university,” though she didn’t reveal which school. On theFly on the Wallpodcast, Cranston named the university as Harvard.
In April 2025, Per Sullivan wasspotted running errands in Boston. In the photos, he’s seen wearing a peacoat and cap while holding onto a to-go cup of coffee.
What did Jane Kaczmarek say about Erik Per Sullivan?
In an April 2024interview with Malcolm France, Kaczmarek explained that Per Sullivan's interest in acting changed over time.
"He's very, very well," she said. "He didMalcolmfor seven years. He started at 7, he ended at 14. He wasn't interested in acting at all."
"I admire it too because so many people think being in show business is the greatest thing in the world. It's not for everyone," she added.
In April 2026, Kaczmarek added that Per Sullivan reportedly turned down a large offer to come back as Dewey.
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