Justin Berfield, who played Reese on ‘Malcolm In The Middle,’ calls for respect for Erik Per Sullivan’s (Dewey) decision not to return for the revival
The premiere of ‘Malcolm In The Middle: Life Is Still Unfair’ has the paparazzi once again exposing Erik Per Sullivan’s (Dewey) private life, even though he has left the acting world.
The return of ‘Malcolm In The Middle’ in the form of a four-episode revival has been one of the biggest television events of 2026. However, this long-awaited return has been somewhat marred by a major absence: Erik Per Sullivan, who played Dewey in the original series, did not return because he is no longer acting. Despite countless pleas from fans, we must respect his decision, and this is precisely what Justin Berfield, who played Reese in the series, asked for in a recent interview.
The actor who played Reese on ‘Malcolm In The Middle’ defends his “little brother” Dewey off-screen: “I actually feel bad because he wants to stay out of the business”
On April 10, the highly anticipated ‘Malcolm In The Middle: Life Is Still Unfair’ premiered on Disney+, the revival of the legendary ‘Malcolm In The Middle,’ one of the most notable sitcoms of the early 2000s. Its main draw was offering a glimpse into one of television’s most dysfunctional families… twenty years later, allowing viewers to see what became of these beloved characters. Although much of the original cast returned, including many supporting actors such as David Anthony Higgins as Craig, one absence was notable: that of Erik Per Sullivan, the original actor who played Dewey, who was replaced by Caleb Ellsworth-Clark.
It has been several years since Per Sullivan left the acting world to devote himself to a purely academic life, even politely turning down an offer to return despite being offered “a substantial sum,” according to Jane Kaczmarek, who played Lois on the show. Even so, the premiere of ‘Malcolm In The Middle: Life Is Still Unfair’ has put both fans and paparazzi back on his trail, even though he no longer wishes to be in the spotlight. In this regard, Justin Berfield, who played Reese on the show, has come forward to defend the life choices of his “little brother” on the small screen.
As reported by Variety, Berfield had this to say about the situation: “I know they asked him a whole bunch. They asked him like four or five times, and every time he was like, ‘No.’ He’s a good guy, and I love Eric, I actually feel bad because he wants to stay out of the business and I’ve been seeing paparazzi shots of him. And I’m like, just leave Eric alone. He didn’t want to come back to the show. No hard feelings.”
What is described here is one of the main downsides of show business: anyone who has ever been part of a major audiovisual production becomes a public figure, even if they retire or decide to change careers while still relatively young. Despite this, and as Berfield points out, common sense and respect must prevail when the person in question does not want their image exploited in any way, since they themselves do not do so either, because they are no longer involved in the industry.
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In short, although Erik Per Sullivan’s absence in ‘Malcolm In The Middle: Life Is Still Unfair’ is palpable, Caleb Ellsworth-Clark does a commendable job filling in, thanks mainly to his striking physical resemblance to Per Sullivan as a child—he passes for the part almost perfectly. Even so, this situation invites reflection on where the freedom of photographers and onlookers ends and where the right to privacy begins for someone who simply wants to live a quiet life away from the media spotlight.
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