Malcolm in the Middle was a widely acclaimed sitcom during its seven-season run. It starred Frankie Muniz as the eponymous Malcolm, a boy who tests at genius level, and the hijinks he and the rest of his family get up to. It won seven Emmys and even a Peabody Award in 2000.
There are many familiar faces that make appearances throughout the show’s run. Some went on to starring roles in their own sitcoms later on. There are even a few big stars that might surprise you with their early bit parts. Here are 10 guest stars that we forgot about on Malcolm In The Middle.
10. Jim O’Heir
In season 3 the oldest Wilkerson brother, Francis, is trying to hitch a ride to Alaska. Who should pick up him but this familiar face from Parks and Recreation. Jim O’Heir plays a trucker who agrees to give Francis a lift. At first, he seems perfectly friendly and even helpful, giving advice on Francis’ issues with his mother.
As the episode goes on, the trucker makes Francis agree more and more ridiculous things in exchange for the ride. By the time they stop at a diner, Francis is kitted out in a wig, stuffed bra, and other accessories. Turns out several truckers were planning on holding a pageant with their hapless riders.
9. Yvette Nicole Brown
Brown, recognizable from her roles on Drake and Josh and Community, had a very minor appearance in season seven. Hal and Lois take Dewey to St. Louis for a piano competition, leaving Malcolm and Reese in the hands of Grandma Ida. Ida insists on making the boys compete in a series of challenges because Reese is ready to “become a man.”
While that excitement is happening, Yvette Nicole Brown plays an airport security guard. Her moment in the spotlight consists of her absolutely insisting on giving Lois a thorough pat down.
8. Eric Stonestreet
In one of the early episodes of season one, the Wilkerson home is plagued with an insect infestation. They have to move into a trailer owned by Lois’ coworker while their house is fumigated. The exterminator is played by Eric Stonestreet, known for his role as Cam in Modern Family.
He discovers the source of the infestation is a large amount of food someone hid in the crawlspace under the house. He speculates they might have some sort of “creepy hobo” living under there, but the Wilkersons immediately realize that it could only have been Dewey.
7. Ashlee Simpson
In the season two episode “Reese Cooks”, fellow Krelboyne Cynthia is throwing a “Be My Friend” party at her house. Malcolm thinks that no one will come and that Cynthia’s setting herself up for disappointment. He shows her some cruel graffiti he believes is about her, and she’s hurt by it.
Malcolm later discovers the graffiti is about him, and in fact, most people like Cynthia because she’s willing to put herself out there. Ashlee Simpson makes a cameo at the party as a cool older student, and the party goes well in the end.
6. Ashley Tisdale
Ashley Tisdale makes a minor appearance in a season three episode. The major plot of the episode is Lois’ jury duty. While their mother is fulfilling an important civic duty, Malcolm, Reese, and Dewey are exploring the sewer. You know, as boys are wont to do.
This was before her roles in Suite Life of Zack and Cody or High School Musical and she’s without her signature blonde hair. She only sticks around to take a verbal jab at Reese. But he was exploring the sewer, so he probably deserved it.
5. Dakota Fanning
This star was only seven years old when she made an appearance in the episode “New Neighbors.” A new family moves in next door and the Wilkersons introduce themselves and try to be welcoming. It quickly becomes clear that friendship is impossible between the families. Tina, the mother, immediately treats Lois with contempt.
Her son Josh at first seems sympathetic toward Malcolm until he’s revealed to be a pathological liar and keeps getting Malcolm into trouble. And then there’s the young daughter, Emily, planned by Fanning. She’s absolutely feral, and keeps trying to take bites out of Reese.
4. Hayden Panettiere
Before she was a cheerleader who needed to be saved, Hayden Panettiere was a babysitter for the Wilkerson boys. She was also a student at their school, one of the few Lois actually liked, and made several appearances in the show. She was the only babysitter able to keep up with, and even outwit, the Wilkerson boys.
Despite being a liar and somewhat manipulative, she seemed to have a genuine friendship with Malcolm. In one episode, she was convinced that Malcolm’s girlfriend Vicki was only using him and tried to get them to break up to protect Malcolm. Of course, she did this by telling Malcolm she had feelings for him when she didn’t, but her heart was in the right place. Apparently, to prepare for her role, Panettiere had to stop brushing her hair for several days to get the distinctive look.
3. Emma Stone
Emma Stone, still going by Emily at the time, made an appearance in the final season of the show. This was just a year before her debut in Superbad. In the episode “Lois Strikes Back” Reese is humiliated by a group of girls from school. When she goes to the school seeking justice, the principal laughs her off and she decides to take matters into her own hands. She punishes the girls one by one.
Diane, played by Stone, loves dolls. Lois decides to steal them, behead them, and then stuff the decapitated dolls into Diane’s locker at school before finally wondering if she’s maybe gone too far.
2. Patrick Warburton
The two-part episode “Company Picnic” features a lot of guest stars, but we’ve decided to just pick one. Patrick Warburton, most recently known for his role in Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events and for his timeless role as the voice of Kronk, plays the head of Hal’s company, Burt Landon.
Hal’s new boss Pratt mistakes Hal for Landon, and Hal tries to get his coworkers to play along, worried over his first impression. Eventually, Hal has to come clean and Pratt blows up at everyone. After witnessing his outburst, the real Landon decides not to hire Pratt after all.
1. Octavia Spencer
Academy Award-winner Octavia Spencer, known for her roles in films like The Help, Hidden Figures, and The Shape of Water, once had a bit part in an episode of Malcolm in the Middle. She even plays the inauspicious role of a cashier.
In the episode “High School Play”, where Malcolm gets involved with his school’s theatre group, Lois has a brief conversation with the cashier when she asks for the time. Lois realizes, disbelieving, that she has twenty-five whole minutes to herself and Spencer replies “How did you manage that? Did you leave a kid somewhere?”
