Justin Berfield took to Howie Mandel's podcast to defend his former "Malcolm in the Middle" co-star Erik Per Sullivan from renewed media attention. Sullivan, who played the youngest brother Dewey, declined to participate in the recent "Malcolm in the Middle" reboot. Despite his decision to sit out, Sullivan found himself back in the spotlight anyway, drawing paparazzi interest.
Berfield expressed genuine sympathy for Sullivan's situation. The actor felt uncomfortable that his co-star was being pursued by media despite explicitly opting out of the revival. There's an unspoken etiquette in these nostalgic reboots: if someone says no, their privacy should remain intact. Sullivan apparently didn't get that courtesy.
The tension here cuts deeper than typical casting drama. Sullivan's choice to step back from his most famous role likely matters to him. Berfield's public acknowledgment that the attention was unfair signals something the industry doesn't always respect. Not every actor wants to relive their childhood breakthrough. Not every revival needs the full original cast to work. Sometimes the most professional move is stepping aside, and paparazzi should read the room accordingly.