Malcolm In The Middle star Erik Per Sullivan is best known for playing Dewey in the American sitcom in the early 2000s. 

The actor, now aged 33, played Dewey in the Fox show between the ages of eight and 14.

He starred in Malcom In The Middle between 2000 and 2006, and during that time he also landed roles in Joe Dirt, Wendigo, Unfaithful, The King of Queens, Finding Nemo, Christmas with the Kranks and Come On Over.

In 2010 he did play the voice role of Timmy in Twelve.

But after starring in Malcom In The Middle he very much stepped away from the limelight and hasn’t been seen on any TV or film since.  

It was recently revealed that Erik is the only member of the main cast who will not be returning for the show’s upcoming reboot on Disney+.

The Malcolm In The Middle star – Erik Per Sullivan – (pictured) who vanished for 20 years after show and quit acting 

Instead, his role has been recast with actor Caleb Ellsworth-Clark stepping in to fill the gap.

Meanwhile, Frankie Muniz is reprising his role as Malcolm, with Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek returning as his chaotic parents. 

Christopher Masterson, who played oldest brother Francis, and Justin Berfield, who played Reese, are also confirmed to be on board.

Erik’s absence from the reboot appears to be because of his decision to move away from acting as a career altogether.

The former child star, who hasn’t been publicly pH๏τographed since 2007, opted to leave Hollywood in the 2000s in favour of a more private life. 

While his co-stars continued their careers in entertainment, Erik pursued higher education and has largely stayed out of the public eye. 

He is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Victorian literature at a university in Mᴀssachusetts. 

However he was pictured for the first time in 18 years on March 26, grabbing a coffee in Boston in a fleece and chinos.

The actor, 33, played Dewey in the beloved family sitcom for seven years, but decided to step away from acting after the show wrapped up in 2006

The former child star, who hasn’t been publicly pH๏τographed since 2007, opted to leave Hollywood in the 2000s in favour of a more private life (pictured 2006)

Although Erik has stayed out of the spotlight for years, his TV mum Jane gave an update on him last year.  

In an interview with Malcolm France, Jane, 69, revealed that Erik was doing ‘very well.’

‘He’s doing very well. He did Malcolm for seven years, he started at seven, he ended at 14. He wasn’t interested in acting, at all,’ she said of his different path.

She added: ‘He goes to school at a very prestigious American university. He loves Charles Dickens.

‘He’s doing graduate work in Victorian literature. I admire it because so many people think being in show business is the greatest thing in the world, it’s not for everyone.’

The reboot of Malcolm In The Middle of will run for four episodes on Disney+. No release date has yet been announced.

The revival was finally confirmed by Disney+ last year, with a video of Frankie, Jane and Bryan announcing the news on Instagram

The clip saw Jane and Bryan calling out the show’s signature ‘Malcom!’ before showing Frankie finally responding to say: ‘Yes I hear you. I’m coming’ 

The official logline reads: ‘Malcolm and his daughter are drawn into the family’s chaos when Hal and Lois demand his presence for their 40th wedding anniversary party.’ 

It was finally confirmed by Disney+ last year, with a video of Frankie, Jane and Bryan announcing the news on Instagram.

The clip saw Jane and Bryan calling out the show’s signature ‘Malcom!’ before showing Frankie finally responding to say: ‘Yes I hear you. I’m coming.’

Read More Frankie Muniz reveals he’s watching Malcolm in the Middle to get ready to film long-awaited revival

In a statement announcing the reboot, president of Disney Branded Television Ayo Davis said: ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ is a landmark sitcom that captured the essence of family life with humor, heart and relatability.

‘Its hilarious and heartfelt portrayal of a lovably chaotic family resonated with audiences of all ages. We’re so excited to welcome the original cast back to bring that magic to life again.

‘With Linwood Boomer [the original creator of the series] and the creative team at the helm, these new episodes will have all the laughs, pranks, and mayhem fans loved — along with a few surprises that remind us why this show is so timeless.’

‘Malcolm in the Middle literally changed the face of the television comedy landscape when it premiered two decades ago, redefining what the genre could be,’ Karey Burke, president of 20th Television said in a statement to Variety.

‘When Linwood Boomer suggested it might be time to bring everyone’s favorite dysfunctional family back for a bit of a reunion, we couldn’t think of a more iconic and influential series to revisit, along with a truly brilliant cast to reunite.’