Malcolm in the Middle Star Breaks 20-Year Silence on Hollywood Exit
Justin Berfield, the actor best known for playing Reese in the beloved American sitcom Malcolm in the Middle, has broken his silence after nearly two decades away from the spotlight. In a rare interview, he revealed the real reasons behind his departure from Hollywood and his current involvement in the show's upcoming revival.
From Sitcom Star to Stay-at-Home Dad
Speaking on The Joe Vulpis Podcast, Berfield, now 40, explained that he has largely avoided interviews and podcasts since the show ended in 2006. "I've always just said no because I wasn't working on anything. I'm just like a stay-at-home dad!" he said. "So, why am I going to do a podcast? Because I'm just chilling at home with my kid. Unless I had something to talk about, I don't want to go on a podcast."
He emphasized that he has enjoyed his life away from the public eye, focusing on family rather than revisiting his past roles. "I was just like, I don't care about going on podcasts. I'm enjoying my life. Unless I have something to talk about currently, I don't want to go back in time and talk Malcolm," Berfield added.
Behind the Scenes and a Change of Scenery
Despite stepping back from acting, Berfield has remained connected to the entertainment industry by working behind the camera as an onset producer and writer on various projects. However, his decision to leave Hollywood was driven by a desire for change. After filming ended, he moved to Colorado with his wife, Liza, seeking a new environment.
"I just wanted to live somewhere else because I grew up here and I just wanted to live somewhere else," he explained. "At that time I had no kids, so I was like, this is the perfect time to do this. So we lived there for three years and then we moved back to LA."
He also noted that he was never "in demand" for acting roles after the show and never aspired to become a major star like Leonardo DiCaprio. Instead, he has cherished his role as a stay-at-home dad to his two children in recent years.
Return to Malcolm in the Middle Revival
Berfield is now set to return to the screen in the four-episode revival, Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair, which will premiere on Disney+ in April. The series will see him reprise his role as Reese, the older brother of Malcolm, played by Frankie Muniz. Other original cast members returning include Christopher Masterson as Francis, Bryan Cranston as Hal, and Jane Kaczmarek as Lois.
Reflecting on the reunion, Berfield described it as seamless. "It felt like a really, just a really long hiatus. When we were filming the show, you'd film for like eight months and then you'd take like two, three months off... And then we did this, it was obviously like 20 years since we'd seen each other for most of us. And you just kind of, it felt like time stopped, like we just got right back into it," he said.
Synopsis of the Upcoming Revival
The revival's plot centers on Malcolm, who has shielded himself and his daughter from his family for over a decade. He is dragged back into their orbit when Hal and Lois demand his presence at their 40th anniversary party. Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Not Fair is scheduled to debut on Disney+ on April 10, marking a nostalgic return for fans of the original series.
