Mystery of Malcolm in the Middle star who disappeared revealed as cast were told to 'keep quiet'

The mystery behind the iconic Malcolm in the Middle star, who disappeared from the Hollywood spotlight, has finally been solved after cast members were told to 'keep quiet' about his whereabouts.

Malcolm in the Middle is one of the finest sitcoms of the early 2000s - I say that with my chest and I’m not taking it back.

A brilliant seven season TV show starring lead Frankie Muniz as Malcolm, delighted fans from 2000 to 2006.

If you've never heard of the show (shame on you), then let’s break it down.

It follows Malcolm Wilkerson as the genius middle brother of a poor and dysfunctional family as he navigates his teenage years.

The show was full of iconic and unforgettable characters like brothers Reese, Francis and Dewey, mother Lois and most notably father Hal, played by Bryan Cranston. Yes, Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston.

Before he was Heisenberg cooking up the finest meth in the land, he was the impulsive buffoon living in his own little world of nonsense and chaos.

But it's one of the brothers that has left fans wanting to know more about what he's been up to since the show ended.

The iconic noughties show. (Fox)

Erik Per Sullivan, who played younger brother Dewey, disappeared from public view for years and now fans finally get a hint at what he has been doing since.

Jane Kaczmarek, who played mother and tyrant Lois, recently spoke about the show in a YouTube video with Malcolm France.

While many of the cast have moved on to other shows, she reflected on Sullivan and his decision to step away from Hollywood and acting.

“He is well, he is very very well,” she began.

“We did Malcolm [in the middle] for seven years, he started when he was seven, ended when he was 14, he wasn’t interested in acting at all."

Jane Kaczmarek reflected on the show during an interview (Malcolm France/YouTube)

And she wasn't kidding.

Since the show's completion in 2006, the child actor has only had another four IMDB credits to his name, the latest being from 2010.

“He goes to school at a very prestigious American university that he has asked us all to be quiet about.

“He loves Charles Dickens, he is 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 and it's not for everybody.”

Kaczmarek said Sullivan just wasn't that interested in acting.(erik_persullivan/Instagram)

She and the host agreed that many child actors turn away from acting despite starring in very popular shows at a young age.

Kaczmarek added that she doesn’t think Sullivan would do a convention or fan meet, while emphasizing how grateful he is for the show’s success.

Sullivan's online presence also appears to be minimal with him seldomly posting to his Instagram page.

But as long as the actor is happy and thriving, as Kaczmarek suggests, I'm sure that's good enough for all the MITM super fans - myself included.