Malcolm in the Middle actor Erik Per Sullivan is headed to Harvard University, according to his TV dad Bryan Cranston.

‘He’s actually going to Harvard,’ Cranston, 69, said of Erik to the Fly on the Wall podcast regarding the revival of the Fox series on Disney+ for four episodes.

The actor, who played Hal Wilkerson on the series, told hosts Dana Carvey and David Spade that Erik, 33, was ‘the only one who didn’t come back to act in the show.

‘I talked to Erik and I said, “Hey, we got the show! It’s going to come back,'” said Cranston. ‘He goes, “Oh, that’s fantastic!” 

He added: ‘And I go, “Yeah, so we’re looking forward to having you back.” He goes, “Oh, no, no, I don’t want to do it. But it’s fantastic.”‘

Erik, a native of Worcester, Massachusetts, played the role of Dewey Wilkerson on Malcolm in the Middle over 151 episodes from 2000–2006. 

Malcolm in the Middle actor Erik Per Sullivan (now 33) is headed to Harvard University, according to his TV dad Bryan Cranston. The former child star pictured in 2006

Malcolm in the Middle actor Erik Per Sullivan (now 33) is headed to Harvard University, according to his TV dad Bryan Cranston. The former child star pictured in 2006 

Malcolm in the Middle aired for 151 episodes from 2000–2006 on Fox

Malcolm in the Middle aired for 151 episodes from 2000–2006 on Fox

Cranston said of Erik: ‘He’s really, really smart, and he’s getting his master’s at Harvard right now. 

Cranston said Erik told him he’d been out of the Hollywood loop for decades.  

He said, ‘Oh God, no, I haven’t acted since I was 9 or something. So I’m not into it.’  

He previously attended the University of Southern California from 2009–2010. 

Cranston said he was astounded digesting the passage of time in reuniting on the set of the series.

‘It’s amazing how these boys who were my boys on that show are now around the same age I was when we first started, and they’ve got children of their own,’ said Cranston.

Other members of the cast of the Emmy-winning series slated to return for the revival include Frankie Muniz, Justin Berfield, Christopher Masterson and Jane Kaczmarek. 

Actor Caleb Ellsworth-Clark, who has been seen on shows such as Wynonna Earp, The Expanse and Joe Pickett, will play the role of Dewey. 

Bryan Cranston, who played Hal Wilkerson on the series, spoke to hosts Dana Carvey and David Spade about his one-time co-star. Pictured in NYC Tuesday

Bryan Cranston, who played Hal Wilkerson on the series, spoke to hosts Dana Carvey and David Spade about his one-time co-star. Pictured in NYC Tuesday

Erik told Cranston that he was focused on his education, and hadn't been in front of the cameras for decades

Erik told Cranston that he was focused on his education, and hadn’t been in front of the cameras for decades

Erik pictured on the red carpet in Hollywood in October of 2006

Erik pictured on the red carpet in Hollywood in October of 2006

Cranston went onto play the iconic role of Walter White on Breaking Bad in the years following his time on the family comedy.

Cranston said that he had been in talks with creator Linwood Boomer about rebooting the series for a decade based on feedback from passionate fans.

‘It’s something I was pushing for for the last 10 years,’ he said, ‘because I thought that the audience is there.’

Cranston told the podcast: ‘I just started wearing [Boomer] down until he said, “I’ve got an idea.” I said, “good.”‘

Last month, Cranston spoke with Indie Wire about how much he enjoyed reuniting with his castmates for the revival of the popular sitcom.

‘Seeing the family was the best part,’ Cranston said. ‘It’s been 20 years since we said goodbye, and now we’re seeing the family again and each person.

‘All the boys were around the same age, now, that I was when I started 25 years ago. They’ve got kids of their own. It’s just great to see.’

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