Why did Erik Per Sullivan leave acting? Net worth and more explored as Bryan Cranston reveals why actor turned down Malcolm in the Middle

Erik Per Sullivan earned fame as a child artist after appearing in the Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle. The show, which ran for seven seasons in the early 2000s, earned the love of critics and fans alike. Sullivan, who played the younger sibling Dewey in the sitcom, appeared in a number of films after the show ended, with his last credited performance on screen in the flick Twelve, released in 2010. After the 2010 film, Sullivan stepped away from the media spotlight.

Recently, while appearing on the podcast Fly on the Wall, actor Byan Cranston, who played Sullivan’s father in Malcolm in the Middle. He revealed the reason why Sullivan won't appear in the upcoming limited revival of the hit show, to be aired on Disney+. As per Cranston, Sullivan is currently pursuing his master’s degree at Harvard University.

During Fly on the Wall, Cranston opened up about Sullivan’s academic pursuits and said:

“He’s actually going to Harvard. He’s really, really smart, and he’s getting his master’s at Harvard right now. He said, ‘Oh God, no, I haven’t acted since I was 9 or something. So I’m not into it.'”

Sullivan did not pursue the path of acting as a career in his adult life, despite gaining fame and financial success at a young age. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Sullivan’s fortune stands at $5 million. Marca estimates that Sullivan earned the majority of his wealth while appearing on Malcolm in the Middle. He reportedly still receives residuals from the sitcom, including earnings from its syndication and placement on streaming platforms such as Hulu.

Erik Per Sullivan’s early career, explored

Before starring in Malcolm in the Middle, Erik Per Sullivan appeared in The Cider House Rules, which also featured Michael Caine. Sullivan had roles in films such as Wendigo, and played the younger version of David Spade in Joe Dirt. He also starred alongside Richard Gere and Diane Lane in 2002’s Unfaithful, as per IMDb.

After appearing in Christmas with the Kranks, Sullivan played the lead role in Mo. His last onscreen role was in Joel Schumacher’s Twelve, in which Sullivan starred alongside Chace Crawford, Emma Roberts, Rory Culkin, and 50 Cent.

Despite the fact that Erik Per Sullivan will not be appearing in the Malcolm In The Middle revival, the former actor was once asked on an online forum dedicated to the sitcom about a possible return. He was question whether he would consider appearing onscreen again if the show ever did a reunion episode. At the time, Sullivan opened up about missing the show and said:

“I miss it absolutely. When the show just ended, I would think about it all the time. I still get a little nostalgic when I talk to the guys, and would love to see the whole gang together again.”

More recently, Jane Kaczmarek, who played Sullivan’s onscreen mother Lois in Malcolm in the Middle, gave an update about Sullivan’s life off the screen. ScreenRant noted that while attending the Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show, Kaczmarek, while providing a deeper insight into Sullivan’s academic pursuits, said:

“He goes to school at a very prestigious American university that he’s asked us all to be quiet about and 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.”

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Kaczmarek also spoke about Sullivan’s interests and explained that he did not want to pursue acting.

In April, Erik Per Sullivan was spotted in public for the first time in decades, when the New York Post noted that the former actor was photographed in Boston.

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