Erik Per Sullivan established himself as a talented child actor well before his iconic role as Dewey in "Malcolm in the Middle." His uncredited debut in "Armageddon" (1998) led to a breakthrough performance as Fuzzy in the Academy Award-winning film "The Cider House Rules" (1999), where his touching death scene alongside Michael Caine left audiences emotional.12 His versatility shone through various roles including Miles in the horror film "Wendigo" (2001), Charlie Sumner in "Unfaithful" (2002), and voice work as Sheldon in "Finding Nemo" (2003).34

While "Malcolm in the Middle" (2000-2006) defined much of his early career with 151 episodes as the quirky youngest brother who evolved from being his siblings' target to a clever manipulator,32 Sullivan continued working in film throughout the show's run. His filmography includes "Joe Dirt" (2001), "Christmas with the Kranks" (2004), and "Arthur and the Invisibles" (2006).34 His final credited role was as Timmy in "Twelve" (2010), after which he stepped away from acting to pursue education at the University of Southern California.25 Throughout his career, Sullivan earned several accolades, including the Fright Meter Award for Best Supporting Actor for "Wendigo" and shared Young Artist Awards with the "Malcolm" cast.6

Dewey Wilkerson stands as one of the most complex and well-developed characters in "Malcolm in the Middle," experiencing remarkable growth throughout the series. Initially portrayed as the overlooked youngest brother, Dewey evolved from a quirky, wide-eyed child into a musically gifted, emotionally intelligent individual with surprising depth.12 His character arc represents the most significant development in the show, transforming from an obnoxious bratty little brother in early seasons to one of the more intelligent and selfless characters by the later seasons.3

What makes Dewey truly special is his unique blend of resilience, creativity, and empathy. Despite being constantly overlooked in his chaotic household, he developed remarkable adaptability, often manipulating situations to his advantage while maintaining a moral compass.24 His musical prodigy storyline provided a counterpoint to Malcolm's academic genius, while his leadership within the special education class demonstrated his compassion and selflessness—choosing to remain there to help others rather than pursuing his own advancement.35 Dewey's occasional POV shots offered viewers glimpses into his rich inner world, cementing him as what some fans consider "the real star of the show."5

The highly anticipated "Malcolm in the Middle" revival on Disney+ will feature most of the original cast returning for a four-episode special, with one notable exception: Erik Per Sullivan will not reprise his role as Dewey.1 Instead, young actor Caleb Ellsworth-Clark, who has previously appeared in shows like "Fargo" and "The Expanse," has been cast to play the character.23

Bryan Cranston revealed on the "Fly on the Wall" podcast that he personally reached out to Sullivan about returning. "I talked to Erik and I said, 'Hey, we got the show! It's going to come back.' He goes, 'Oh, that's fantastic!' And I go, 'Yeah, so we're looking forward to having you back,'" Cranston recounted. "He goes, 'Oh, no, no, I don't want to do it. But it's fantastic.'"4 Jane Kaczmarek, who plays Lois, has also shared that Sullivan "wasn't interested in acting at all" after leaving Hollywood in 2010.2 The revival, which wrapped filming in May 2025, will focus on Malcolm and his daughter attending Hal and Lois' 40th wedding anniversary party, where they get pulled back into the family's characteristic chaos.5