This Child Star Suffered a Stroke and Began to Lose His Memory — Inside His Life after Hollywood Pause

He was born on December 5, 1985, in New Jersey to a nurse and a restaurant owner. His father had Puerto Rican roots, while his mother was of Irish and Italian ancestry. He displayed a talent for performing from an early age. He embarked on his acting journey at the mere age of eight, but it was at 13 that he rose to prominence.

He won the hearts of many through his role in the Fox comedy TV series, “Malcolm in the Middle.” As the main character, he captivated audiences nationwide from 2000 to 2006. The series, which spanned 150 episodes, rapidly gained a loyal fan base.

“Malcolm in the Middle” was a highly popular and humorous family show in the early 2000s. The series centered around the life of a dysfunctional lower-middle-class family, with Frankie Muniz in the starring role as Malcolm, the family’s prodigy.

The character of Malcolm’s father, Hal, was portrayed by Bryan Cranston, while his mother, Lois, was played by Jane Kaczmarek. His brothers, Francis, Reese, and Dewey, were brought to life by Christopher Masterson—younger brother to Danny Masterson—Justin Berfield, and Erik Per Sullivan, respectively.

Besides his live-action roles, this actor also contributed his voice to the animated series “The Fairly OddParents.” His abilities extended beyond television. He established himself in Hollywood with parts in films such as “My Dog Skip,” “Big Fat Liar,” “Agent Cody Banks”—which also featured Hilary Duff—and “Stay Alive.”

Even with his hectic schedule, he ensures to balance his personal life and other pursuits. He is happily married and a devoted father to a child. In 2018, the actor and his then-fiancée, who is now his wife, embarked on a new business venture. They acquired a specialty store in Old Town Scottsdale named Outrageous Olive Oils & Vinegars.

The small store, which stocked premium olive oils and aged balsamic vinegar, stood in sharp contrast to the Hollywood glamor usually associated with him. However, it was in this unlikely setting that the actor discovered a new passion.

He relished the financial aspects, stating, “I love doing payroll. I love doing anything with the financials. I’m a numbers guy, so this has been like a dream come true for me.” This versatile individual is none other than Frankie Muniz, celebrated for his multifaceted talents and diverse ventures beyond his acting pursuits.

Running the store alongside his life and business partner, Paige Price, he took on an active role in their first business venture. From overseeing inventory to welcoming new customers to the store, Muniz was involved in all aspects of the business.

Price complemented Muniz’s abilities, taking on the tasks of selecting inventory, managing social media, and maintaining the store’s website. Together, they became a formidable team, each making up for the other’s areas of improvement. Muniz announced in August 2020, that they had sold the store and had moved on to a new adventure.

Outside of his acting career and running an olive oil store, Muniz has various other interests. He is an enthusiastic golfer, having been trained by his grandfather at the age of five. He also played drums in two different rock bands. But perhaps his most exhilarating passion is car racing.

Muniz’s fascination with speed began in 2001, shortly after he obtained his driver’s license. In 2004, he took part in the Pro/Celebrity race at the Long Beach Grand Prix. The following year, he returned to secure first place among the celebrity drivers. In 2006, he was back, this time aiming to win as a Pro driver.

In early 2006, Muniz inked a two-year contract with Jensen Motorsport. He competed in the Formula BMW USA championship that year, and in 2007, he was behind the wheel of car #13 in the Champ Car Atlantic series. By 2008, Muniz was racing for the PCM/USRT team and making considerable progress in his racing career, securing a top-10 finish in three races.

At 38, Muniz remains passionate about car racing, choosing it as his primary pursuit while maintaining his connection to acting. His thoughtful Hollywood headshot, hand on chin, now doubles as his NASCAR ID. Amidst recent uncertainties, Muniz delayed revealing his 2024 racing agenda until February.

Last seen in the 2023 ARCA Series, he announced he was gearing up for his Xfinity Series debut with Joey Gase Racing’s No. 35 Ford at Daytona. Muniz revealed that this year, he has no intentions of standing on the sidelines, and shared his intention to make a significant impact on the racing circuit itself.