Erik Per Sullivan is a former American child actor with an estimated net worth of $5 million. He is best known for portraying Dewey, the soft-spoken yet sharp younger brother on the hit Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle. Although Sullivan stepped away from acting more than a decade ago, his work on the long-running series and several successful films continues to define his career and financial legacy.
| Erik Per Sullivan Net Worth | $5 Million |
| Date of Birth | July 12, 1991 |
| Place of Birth | Worcester, Massachusetts |
Early Life
Erik Per Sullivan was born on July 12, 1991, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is the only child of Fred Sullivan, an Irish-American restaurant owner, and his Swedish-born mother, Ann. Because of his mother’s heritage, Sullivan speaks some Swedish and has spent time visiting Sweden.
From a young age, Erik showed a strong interest in academics and the arts. He studied piano and saxophone, earned a black belt in Taekwondo, and attended prestigious schools including Mount Saint Charles Academy in Rhode Island and Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. In 2009, he enrolled at the University of Southern California.
Malcolm in the Middle
Sullivan rose to international fame in 2000 when he was cast as Dewey on Malcolm in the Middle. The show followed the chaotic lives of parents Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) and Hal (Bryan Cranston) and their four, later five, sons.
Initially portrayed as the quiet and sensitive youngest child, Dewey’s character evolved over the series into a more clever and occasionally mischievous figure. Malcolm in the Middle ran for seven seasons, ending in 2006, and became one of Fox’s most successful sitcoms.
Sullivan’s performance earned him multiple Teen Choice Award and Young Artist Award nominations, helping cement his reputation as one of the standout child actors of the early 2000s.
Film and Voice-Acting Career
In addition to television, Erik Per Sullivan appeared in several notable films. His early career included uncredited roles in major productions such as “Armageddon” and “The Cider House Rules.”
His film credits include:
- “Joe Dirt” (2001) – as the younger version of David Spade’s character
- “Unfaithful” (2002) – playing the son of characters portrayed by Diane Lane and Richard Gere
- “Christmas with the Kranks” (2004) – alongside Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis
- “Mo” (2007) – starring as a boy with Marfan syndrome
- “Twelve” (2010) – his final acting role
Sullivan also had success in voice acting, most notably voicing Sheldon the Seahorse in Pixar’s blockbuster “Finding Nemo” (2003). He later voiced characters in “Arthur and the Invisibles” and other animated projects.
Stepping Away from Hollywood
After appearing in Twelve in 2010, Erik Per Sullivan quietly retired from acting. Unlike many former child stars, he chose a life outside of Hollywood and has remained largely out of the public eye.
He does not maintain a public social media presence and has declined to participate in Malcolm in the Middle reunions or media retrospectives, reinforcing his desire for privacy.
Erik Per Sullivan Net Worth
Erik Per Sullivan net worth is estimated to be $5 million.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel

