“Malcolm in the Middle”’s Justin Berfield Says Daughter, 5, Is Now ‘Putting It Together’ He Was in the Show (Exclusive)

**Justin Berfield Reflects on Fame and Fatherhood at the ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ Reboot Premiere**

Justin Berfield, known for his role as the mischievous older brother Reese in the beloved sitcom **Malcolm in the Middle**, is experiencing a renewed spotlight as the show makes its return. Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE during the New York City premiere of the reboot, titled *Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair*, the actor revealed how this resurgence in fame is affecting his family life, particularly his two young daughters.

At 40 years of age, Berfield shared that his daughters are beginning to comprehend the legacy of his childhood fame. “They are excited, but they’re also kind of confused,” Berfield remarked, highlighting his elder daughter’s curiosity about the attention he garners from fans. “Outside of our hotel, there are people who have been coming up asking for photographs and autographs,” he explained, adding that his daughter recently questioned, “Dad, why are they talking to you?”

During the conversation, Berfield elaborated on the challenge of explaining his fame to his children. “I told her that people remember me from the show that I used to be on,” he recounted, attempting to clarify his relatively low-key status in the entertainment industry. “My daughter asked, ‘Are you famous?’ and I said, ‘Well, not famous, but I was on a show that’s recognizable, so people remember you from that.’”

*Malcolm in the Middle* originally aired from 2000 to 2006, captivating audiences with its portrayal of a dysfunctional family. The sitcom starred Frankie Muniz, Christopher Masterson, and Erik Per Sullivan, amongst others, with Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek as the parents. Most of the original cast is reuniting for this limited reboot series, though Per Sullivan did not return and has been replaced by Caleb Ellsworth-Clark.

Attending the premiere at the DGA New York Theater, Berfield remarked on how the experience is enlightening for his eldest daughter. “She sees a red carpet, and she sees dad get to walk down it,” he shared, suggesting that his daughter is slowly piecing together the significance of the reboot for fans of the original series. Meanwhile, he playfully noted that his two-year-old daughter is still too young to grasp the situation fully, describing her as “along for the ride.”

Since *Malcolm in the Middle* concluded, Berfield has shifted his career focus primarily behind the camera, co-founding the Los Angeles-based production company Virgin Produced with Jason Felts. His personal life has remained mostly private, especially after becoming a father. Reflecting on his experiences as he wrapped up work on the reboot, Berfield expressed his excitement for returning to family life. In a May 2025 Instagram post, he wrote, “Just reflecting on the final days on the Malcolm in the Middle revival set. It was so amazing catching up with old friends and meeting some amazing new ones! We’re so lucky that we got to come back to these characters after 20 years and see where they’ve been.”

He continued to emphasise the joy of reconnecting with the cast, while also appreciating the transition back to fatherhood. “I had so much fun getting to go back to my old life as an actor…now it’s back to carpools and diapers!” he added with a hint of nostalgia and excitement for the future.

The reboot, *Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair*, is now available for streaming on both Hulu and Disney+. Its return has been met with enthusiasm from fans eager to see how the characters they once adored have evolved over the years. With Berfield’s reflections on both his past career and his present family life, it is clear that he cherishes the balance between reuniting with his on-screen family and enjoying the joys and challenges of fatherhood.

As the nostalgia of *Malcolm in the Middle* continues to resonate with audiences, Berfield’s story reminds us that while fame may ebb and flow, the bonds of family and the joys of parenthood remain meaningful constants.