Former child actor Frankie Muniz, now 40, says leaving Hollywood while he was at the top of his career was one of the best decisions he ever made.
“I honestly didn’t like living in LA,” Muniz told Us Weekly. “I moved to Arizona and it changed everything.
I started enjoying small things in life again, like hiking or just going to the grocery store. I didn’t have to deal with traffic or valet parking anymore.”
Muniz became famous playing the lead role in Malcolm in the Middle from 2000 to 2006. In 2008, he decided to leave Hollywood and focus on racing cars, a passion sparked when he won the 29th annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race.
“I always loved racing, but I never thought I’d actually become a race car driver,” he explained. “Crossing the finish line first was an amazing feeling, and I wanted more of that thrill.”
The Emmy-nominated actor also starred in popular films like Agent Cody Banks and Big Fat Liar. Muniz wanted to give his new career his full attention.
“I realized I had already made a lot of money and could step back if I wanted. I needed to put my heart into this new path.”
He shared that his childhood was full of work. Between ages 8 and 21, he had only about 60 days off. “When Malcolm in the Middle started, my mom would wake me up at 5 a.m. for interviews and fan events before heading to set. It was a lot, but that’s just how it went.”
Despite the busy schedule, Muniz doesn’t feel like he missed out on a normal childhood. “People ask if I regret missing prom, but I got to do cool things like visiting the Playboy Mansion and hanging out with Amanda Bynes and other stars.”
He also said he was lucky to grow up before social media took over, which made his teenage years more private.
While racing has been his main focus, Muniz hasn’t completely left acting behind. Over the years, he has appeared in guest roles on TV and recently confirmed he will return as Malcolm in the upcoming four-episode Malcolm in the Middle reboot on Disney+, set for December.
The reboot will also bring back Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek as Hal and Lois, alongside Christopher Masterson and Justin Berfield reprising their roles as Francis and Reese.
