Francisco James Muniz IV (/ˈmjuːnɪz/;[1] born December 5, 1985) is an American actor and professionalstock car racing driver. Muniz came to prominence in the 2000s playing the titular character of theFox sitcomMalcolm in the Middle (2000–2006), for which he was nominated for anEmmy and twoGolden Globe Awards. He also worked in the filmsBig Fat Liar (2002),Deuces Wild (2002),Agent Cody Banks (2003), andRacing Stripes (2005). At the height of his fame in 2003, Muniz was considered one of the most popular child actors and "one of Hollywood's most bankable teens".[2]
Francisco Muniz IV was born inWood-Ridge, New Jersey,[4] on December 5, 1985,[5] the son of nurse Denise and restaurateur Francisco Muñiz III.[6] Muniz's mother is halfIrish and halfItalian,[7] while his father isPuerto Rican (of Spanish descent fromAsturias).[8] He has an older sister named Cristina.[7] When Muniz was four years old, his family moved toKnightdale, North Carolina, where he grew up.[9] He was discovered at the age of eight at a talent show inRaleigh, North Carolina, playingTiny Tim in a local production ofA Christmas Carol. His parents divorced shortly after, and he subsequently moved with his mother toBurbank, California. Beginning in the sixth grade, he was homeschooled by his mother.[2][10]
Muniz appeared in commercials and made his film debut in the made-for-television movieTo Dance with Olivia (1997), starringLou Gossett Jr. In that same year, he appeared in theCBSHallmark Hall of Fame presentation ofWhat the Deaf Man Heard. A small role in the filmLost & Found (1999) led to his breakout role as the titular character onLinwood Boomer's sitcomMalcolm in the Middle, which premiered onFox on January 9, 2000. The show was successful, and it was quickly met with accolades. The pilot episode was watched by 23 million people[11] and the second episode, "Red Dress" (premiered on January 16, 2000), by 26 million.[12] He was nominated for anEmmy Award[13] in 2001,[14] and receivedThe Hollywood Reporter "Young Star Award" for his work in the series.
The following year, he contributed a character voice to the animal cast of the filmDr. Dolittle 2. Muniz was also the voice ofChester McBadBat in the first two seasons ofThe Fairly OddParents untilJason Marsden took over. He had a hit with the 2002 releaseBig Fat Liar, in which he co-starred with teen actressAmanda Bynes as a pair of students seeking revenge on a sleazy movie producer (played byPaul Giamatti). Muniz was also part of the ensemble for the gang filmDeuces Wild, released that same year. In 2003, he made a cameo appearance asCher's underage boyfriend inStuck on You. That same year, he appeared in the series premiere ofAshton Kutcher's MTV practical joke seriesPunk'd.
Muniz subsequently played the title role in the filmAgent Cody Banks as well as its sequel,Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London. The first film opened in March 2003, and grossed $47 million; the sequel, which opened a year later, grossed $28 million.[16] He trained in martial arts for the films and performed most of his own stunts. He also commented that it was the point in his career where he should "make the transition from child actor to an adult actor or a respectable actor."[17] In 2004, he wrote the teleplay of the TV showGranted, on which he was also the executive producer.
Muniz provided the character voice of a zebra named Stripes, who wishes to become a racing equine, in the 2005 filmRacing Stripes. That same year, he made a guest appearance as himself in "Mr. F", an episode of theFox comedyArrested Development. In April 2006, he began filmingMy Sexiest Year, anindependent film in whichHarvey Keitel played his father.[18] He announced, during that same month, that he would be taking a break from acting, in order to pursue a career in race car driving, under a full-time two-year deal withJensen Motorsport in the Formula BMW competition.[19][20] In 2006, he was executive producer for the movieChoose Your Own Adventure: The Abominable Snowman.
Malcolm in the Middle finished its run on May 14, 2006. Ten days later, on May 24, Muniz appeared in the horror filmStay Alive. He expressed a desire to leave traditional Hollywood film roles behind, saying: "Growing up has never scared me until last year. I started thinking about getting older, being an adult, and it scared me. Hopefully things will work out in my career. If they don't, then it was never meant to be."[21]
Despite his earlier stated intention to take a break from acting, Muniz was reported in May 2006 to have signed on to star in the R-rated teen-sex comedyExtreme Movie.[22] The film was originally planned to be released in 2007 byDimension Films,[23] but was ultimately released straight to DVD in February 2009. In 2007, he became an associate producer of the filmChoose Connor. In late 2007, he made a guest appearance in an episode of the CBS crime dramaCriminal Minds. In December 2007, he made a cameo appearance in the movieWalk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, playingBuddy Holly. In 2008, he began work on a film with formerMissy Elliott protégéeBrianna Perry, but the project was never released.[24]
Muniz made a foray into the superhero genre with the family action filmPizza Man, in 2011. In 2012, he made a cameo appearance as himself in the second season of the comedyDon't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23. In 2015, he made another cameo appearance inThe Mysteries of Laura, in which one of the detectives (Merideth Bose) had a crush on the actor/ racecar driver (Frankie Muniz) who was competing in a drag race. The team was on anNYPD case, and suspected evidence would present itself at the drag race.[25]
In 2021, Muniz was a guest star in an episode ofABC'sThe Rookie. He played a former child actor who had become a cult leader, in an apparent parody of his former teen idol status.[26] On December 21, 2023, he starred with Kelly Elizabeth Lawera and Kyle Fecteau inSanta's Training Camp/Ford Performance.[27] In December 2024, it was announced that Muniz had reprised his role as Malcolm in a four episodeMalcolm in the Middle reboot for Disney+, alongside fellow original cast members Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek.[28] The show was initially pitched as a 2 hour movie, before altering to four 30 minute episodes.[29] Filming commenced in April 2025, with production working around Muniz' NASCAR schedule.[30] Filming wrapped in May 2025.[31]
Muniz has had a long-running interest in car racing. On February 18, 2001, Muniz drove thepace car for theDaytona 500 and metDale Earnhardt shortly before Earnhardt entered his vehicle for the race.[32] Muniz, who was also attending the race to film forMTV's documentary seriesTrue Life, witnessed the subsequent crash on the final lap whichkilled Earnhardt.[33]
Muniz's career in car racing traces back to 2004, when he ran theToyota Pro/Celebrity Race inLong Beach as a celebrity participant, finishing 7th.[34] The following year, he finished third,[35] and was the best-finishing celebrity after capitalizing onIngo Rademacher andAaron Peirsol's contact on the final lap.[36] While investigating the possibility of joining a racing team as an owner, he was granted a test in a car, and instead signed a two-year deal withJensen Motorsport as a driver. Muniz entered fourteen races during the 2006Formula BMW USA season, and failed to finish in a point-scoring position.[37] He was selected as one of the thirty-six drivers to compete in the annual Formula BMW World Final atValencia. Muniz finished 29th.[38][39] In April, he again competed in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity, finishing 11th after starting 19th.[40]
In 2007, Muniz moved up to the more competitiveChamp Car Atlantic Series,[41] where he competed in the entire season of 12 races. For the season, his best race finish was ninth place, and he officially earned a total of 41 points (for 22nd place) and $17,000 in prize money, logging 351 laps.[42] In January 2007, he placed second at theSebring Winter National race.[43] He signed with Atlantic Championship-winning teamPacific Coast Motorsports in January 2008, with a goal to consistently compete in the top ten of the points championship. He finished the 2008 season in eleventh place. At the end of the 2008 season, he won theJovy Marcelo Award, an award for sportsmanship voted on by fellow drivers named in memory of the 1991 Atlantic Championship winner who was killed during practice for the1992 Indianapolis 500. In 2009, Muniz joinedTeam Stargate Worlds, and finished in the top ten in every race he contested, with a best finish of fourth atMiller Motorsports Park; however, prior to the penultimate race atRoad America, his season was shortened by wrist surgery.[44] In 2011, Muniz returned to the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race; after starting 15th, he finished 4th.[45]
On June 19, 2024, it was announced that Muniz would attempt hisNASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut atNashville Superspeedway, driving the No. 22Ford F-150 forReaume Brothers Racing.[55] It was also announced that Muniz would make two additional starts for the team, as well as an ARCA Menards Series start atMichigan International Speedway for the team. On October 22, 2024, it was announced that Muniz will drive full-time forReaume Brothers Racing in the No. 33 truck for theNASCAR Truck Series 2025 season, replacingLawless Alan.[56] On August 27, 2025, Muniz's season was cut short after he was involved in an accident at his home in Arizona, where he suffered a distal radius fracture in his wrist.[57] On October 13, 2025, Muniz announced that he would return to the No. 33 atTalladega after the doctors gave him the green-light. On December 8, 2025, it was announced that Muniz will return to the Team Reaume (formerly known as RBR) No. 33 truck full-time for the2026 season.[58]
In 2010, Muniz joined the unsigned band You Hang Up as a drummer.[59][60] In 2012, he joined Kingsfoil, a band based inYork, Pennsylvania, and endorsed SJC Drums and Imperial Cymbals.[59] In 2014, he left the band because of scheduling problems. In 2017, Muniz announced on Facebook that he is the manager for the York-based band Astro Lasso, which consists of Jordan Davis and Tristan Martin of his former band Kingsfoil. Muniz travels with the band, doing their monitor systems, lights, as well as being the designated driver.[61] The band opened forWe the Kings,Cute Is What We Aim For, and Plaid Brixx on the 10th anniversary of We the Kings'self titled album tour during spring of 2017.[62]
Muniz has been an active real estate investor throughout his adult life.[63] In addition to purchasing multiple residential properties, Muniz purchased parking lots in Downtown Los Angeles, specifically around theStaples Center, in the early 2000s in an effort to generatepassive income with low overhead. Muniz sold the parking lots in 2006.[64]
In 2018, Muniz and Paige Price bought Outrageous Olive Oils & Vinegars, a small specialty shop inScottsdale, Arizona. He said that he and Price had fallen into "complementary step" with Price handling the inventory andsocial media while he tackles logistics. In an interview withThe Cut, he explained his schedule: "My day this morning started at 6 a.m. getting up to go to Restaurant Depot to get products that we needed. Then I got here early to start filling bottles and to make sure all the shelves were stocked. We're not just ordering product and putting it on the shelf. We bottle everything. We label the bottles. We seal everything. We do all that ourselves here in store. It's a lot of work, but it's really rewarding when people come in and rave about the product."[65] In August 2020, during theCOVID-19 pandemic, the two sold the store; they said that Price's pregnancy was the reason for the sale, and that sales were steady despite the pandemic forcing the business into an online-only model.[66] In May 2021, Muniz spoke about his love forcarbon fiber wallets and announced a partnership withThe Ridge Wallet.[67][promotion?]
In 2005, Muniz was engaged to Jamie Gandy.[75] In 2008, he met publicist Elycia Marie Turnbow through their mutual personal trainer at aLos Angeles gym.[76] They began dating and later moved toScottsdale, Arizona.[77][78] They had a domestic dispute in February 2011, which involved the police and allegedly involved Muniz pointing a gun at his own head,[79] though he later called this a "fake overblown story".[80] They became engaged in October 2011 but later called it off.[81]
Muniz began dating actress and model Paige Price in 2016,[82] and he announced their engagement on November 18, 2018.[83] They married on October 3, 2019.[84] Their son was born on March 22, 2021.[85][86][87] Muniz is a Christian.[88]
On November 30, 2012, at age 26, Muniz was hospitalized after having a suspectedtransient ischemic attack, and spoke about the experience onKatie.[89] He was diagnosed with a second attack a year later on November 25, 2013.[90] When asked about his health in October 2017, he said that he has had no issues.[91] That same month, it was claimed onDancing with the Stars that he suffered significantamnesia, theorized to be caused (at least partially) by multiple concussions; Muniz gave the impression that he could not remember the majority of his time onMalcolm in the Middle, and that his former co-starBryan Cranston often called him to remind him about the good times they had.[92]
In 2021, as a guest on theSteve-O's Wild Ride! podcast, Muniz revealed that the mini-strokes were a misdiagnosis and he was instead suffering frommigraine auras. He also clarified that the story of his memory loss was largely misinterpreted by media sources. In the same podcast he also clarified that reports of his amnesia were false, and that they were based on a throwaway sentence: "Man, I don't remember what happened in 2001."[93] Individual gaps in his memory occurred due to a large number of concussions as a teenager.[94]
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time.Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)
^"(Twitter post)".Twitter.Hannah Newhouse. October 23, 2021.Some pop culture X racing news: @frankiemuniz is making his @SRLSWTourSeries debut in a Pro Late Model this weekend at @KernRaceway. Camera with flash: Sal Sigala Jr.