Reclusive Malcolm in the Middle star reveals reason for 20 year acting break before reboot return

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Justin Berfield, best known for his role in “Malcolm in the Middle,” thought his acting days were over after a twenty-year break.

Forty-year-old Berfield is reprising his role as Reese in a new four-part continuation of the popular 2000s show, Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, which launched on Friday. The revival also features original cast members Bryan Cranston, Jane Kaczmarek, Frankie Muniz, and Christopher Masterson.

In a new interview with Us Weekly, the famously private actor discussed why he left acting and what it’s been like returning to the industry.

I decided it was time for a change because I’d been acting since I was five years old. Luckily, I had a lot of work, and then I landed a role on ‘Malcolm in the Middle,’ which lasted for seven years, Berfield explained.

‘I just grew up working constantly, and I wanted to try something different.’

After dedicating several years to raising his two children, Berfield ventured into producing, contributing to films like The Country Bears, Romance and Cigarettes, Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive, and Sons of Tucson.

He also spent some time traveling and exploring, but then his life took another turn.

Honestly, life just happened so fast! I got married, had a couple of kids, and suddenly, two decades had flown by. It’s crazy! But we’re so lucky now to finally be able to revisit all of this again – it feels like a dream come true!

Mark Berfield and his wife, Liza Almeida, have two children: a daughter born in 2020 and another child born a few years after. He generally prefers to keep his children’s lives private, but occasionally shares glimpses of them on Instagram.

It felt good to let my oldest daughter see me at work, rather than just watching TV. She was able to see what I do firsthand, on the set itself.

The actor maintained he had little to no jitters walking back in front of the television cameras.

‘I’d stepped away from acting for 20 years now, so I didn’t have a lot of pressure,’ he said.

I definitely felt the pressure to perform well and make the show enjoyable for everyone. But honestly, I was mostly focused on having fun myself. It was a surprisingly relaxed experience for me – a lot less stressful than I expected.

Because we used the original cast, crew, and series creator Linwood Boomer, the process was very smooth.

The actor felt confident the project would be good, explaining that the director wouldn’t revisit something he wasn’t proud of. He added that when the director was involved, he collaborated with some of the original writers of ‘Malcolm’.

I had a feeling it would be hilarious, and definitely feel like the usual antics from this family. Because of that, I wasn’t worried at all.

Berfield shared his thoughts on Instagram as the reboot wrapped production in May of last year.

He shared his thoughts on wrapping up the ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ revival, saying it was wonderful reconnecting with the original cast and getting to know new people. He also expressed gratitude for the chance to revisit these beloved characters and see what their lives have become after two decades.

It was really enjoyable to return to acting for a bit, but now it’s back to the everyday routines of being a dad – school runs and changing diapers! he said.

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2026-04-11 02:50