Malcolm in the Middle’s ‘Dewey’ Erik Per Sullivan spotted for first time in 18 years

This former child star looks unrecognisable as he emerges for the first time in nearly two decades after leaving Hollywood.

Malcolm in the Middle star Erik Per Sullivan, who famously played Dewey on the hit sitcom, has been spotted for the first time since 2007 in exclusive photos from The US Sun.

The actor, who became a fan-favourite as the loveable but mischievous youngest brother on the Emmy-winning series, hasn’t been seen in over 18 years after he left the Hollywood spotlight to pursue his education.

Erik, 33, is the only original main cast member of Malcolm in the Middle that will not be returning for the highly anticipated Disney+ reboot.

Erik Per Sullivan famously played Dewey on Malcolm in the Middle. Picture: Alamy

The child star appeared on the sitcom from 2000 to 2006. Picture: Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images

Frankie Muniz, 39, will be back to play the titular role while TV icons Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek are returning to play his hilarious parents, Hal and Lois.

Christopher Masterson, who played eldest brother Francis, and Justin Berfield, who was known as the troublemaking sibling Reese, are also set to return.

However, Erik won’t be there to complete the family – as his beloved role of Dewey will be recast with Fargo actor Caleb Ellsworth-Clark.

Erik, who has not been pictured publicly since 2007, chose to leave acting in the 00s and live a quieter life.

On March 26, Sullivan was seen outside his house in Boston, Massachusetts, where he now leads a quiet life. Picture: Mega Agency

He is currently attending a Massachusetts university where he is a graduate student studying Victorian literature.

In photos obtained exclusively by The US Sun, Erik looked dapper as he ran errands around his neighbourhood outside of Boston.

He was bundled up in a grey sweater with army green jeans as he unloaded bags of groceries from his gorgeous lilac home.

Erik’s hair is longer and a darker brown than fans are used to seeing from his time on the show – where he was only seven years old when the cast began to film season 1.

Other pictures show Erik wearing a grey flat cap and thick brown coat while grabbing coffee and running more errands in town.

The former child star is currently attending a Massachusetts university where he is a graduate student studying Victorian literature. Picture: Mega Agency

He also stepped out in jeans and a double-breasted coat to walk his two adorable large dogs around the streets of his suburban home.

The former child star appeared healthy and happy after trading Hollywood for life on the East Coast.

In more recent years, Erik has been working toward his graduate degree in Victorian literature.

While fans have not seen or heard from Erik in decades, his TV mum, Jane Kaczmarek, gave a rare update about him last year.

In an interview with Malcolm France, a YouTube channel dedicated to Malcolm in the Middle, Jane, 69, revealed that Erik was doing “very well.”

The Malcolm in The Middle cast consisted (clockwise from top left): Christopher Masterton, Jane Kaczmarek, Bryan Cranston, Justin Berfield, Frankie Muniz and Sullivan.

“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.”

While Jane appears to be in more contact with Erik, his TV brother, Frankie, does not seem to be close.

Berfield, Sullivan and Muniz accept the Favourite Brothers Award onstage at the 2005 Family Television Awards in LA. Picture: Vince Bucci/Getty Images

In an interview that also asked about what Erik was up to these days, Frankie admitted: “To be honest, I don’t know what he’s up to.

“I hate to say that because I’ve talked to him a few times since the show ended.

“I’ve talked to his parents a lot. When I was in the band, we went and played in the city where he lives and his parents came to the show but unfortunately he couldn’t make it.

“So I got to talk to them, and he’s been all over doing a lot of different things.

“But one thing I know, some actors or some people just got to do it when they were a kid and then they wanted to experience other things and kind of live a more normal life out of the spotlight.

“I think that’s what he wanted to do so good for him.”

The series went on to win seven Emmy Awards. Picture: Vince Bucci/Getty Images

Earlier this month, Disney+ announced that the streamer would be rebooting the Fox comedy series, which ran for 151 episodes from 2000 until 2006.

The premise of the reboot states: “Malcolm and his daughter are drawn into the family’s chaos when Hal and Lois demand his presence for their 40th wedding anniversary party.”

The four-episode special is set to begin production in the coming weeks in Vancouver, Canada.

During its original successful run, the show won seven Emmys and snagged hundreds of other prestigious nominations, including seven Golden Globes nods.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Malcolm in the Middle’s ‘Dewey’ Erik Per Sullivan spotted for first time in 18 years