Malcolm in the Middle star who played Dewey seen for first time in 18 years

Erik Per Sullivan, best known for playing Dewey in the iconic sitcom Malcolm in the Middle, has been seen in public for the first time in years.

The former child star has managed to steer clear of any media attention since the show wrapped in 2006, very much living his own life with no intention to return to Hollywood in any capacity.

A fan-favourite character in the TV series, fans have long been wondering what Per Sullivan has been up to in the almost two decades since the show's close.

His Malcolm in the Middle co-stars have previously explained that he wants to remain out of the spotlight, and that he was actually studying Victorian Literature at University.

Sadly for fans of the sitcom, it was confirmed that the child actor would not be returning for the show's reboot, which is set to be released on Disney Plus.

Not to fear though, as the rest of the main cast, that being Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston, Jane Kaczmarek, Christopher Masterson and Justin Berfield, are set to reprise their roles as Dewey's parents and brothers.

As well as this, the role will be reprised by a different actor - Caleb Ellsworth-Clark - who is more or less the spitting image of the character.

But fans are still desperate to know what the graduate student is doing when he's not reading texts from the 1800s.

Now, Per Sullivan has recently snapped while out and about getting some coffee in Boston on 26 March.

He can be seen wearing a thick grey jumper and green pants while holding some shopping bags.

It's been 15 years since the actor has been on the big screen, having made an appearance in crime-thriller Twelve back in 2010. However, he hasn't been snapped outside of that since 2007.

Erik Per Sullivan was recently seen out and about in Boston (The US Sun / News Licensing)

While fans of the classic 2000s show will be gutted that Per Sullivan is giving the show's long-awaited return a miss, they'll be happy to know that he is still in touch with many of the show's co-stars.

He did grow up with them, after all.

Speaking about the retired actor in April 2024, Kaczmarek - plays the character's mum, Lois - said ‘he wasn't interested in acting, at all.’

She went on to say: “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.”

Per Sullivan will not be making an appearance in the Malcolm in the Middle reboot (Fox)

Star of Malcolm in the Middle Frankie Muniz has also spoken out about his on-screen brother's career choices, saying: “To be honest, I don't know what he's up to. I hate to say that because I've talked to him a few times since the show ended.

"I've talked to his parents a lot. When I was in the band, we went and played in the city where he lives and his parents came to the show, but unfortunately he couldn't make it.

"So I got to talk to them, and he's been all over doing a lot of different things.

"But one thing I know, some actors or some people just got to do it when they were a kid and then they wanted to experience other things and kind of live a more normal life out of the spotlight.”