Frankie Muniz said leaving Hollywood ‘saved his life’ after major career change

Many people dream of being rich, famous, and starring in a TV show to make them a household name.

Frankie Muniz had just that after starring in Malcolm In The Middle, and also made the jump to the big screen too.

However, like many child actors of his era, he soon found out that fame wasn't all it was cracked up to be, and he decided to leave Los Angeles in 2008.

The star told Us Weekly how from the ages of 8 to 21, he had 'maybe 60 days off', which, if we're honest, is too much work for anyone, never mind a child, and throughout your teenage years, but he did spend a lot of time at the Playboy mansion.

Muniz opted to leave LA behind for the much less glitzy Arizona, but he seems very happy there, and credits the move as the thing that 'saved' his life.

It surprised many people when Muniz emerged with a a very different career choice in recent years.

Frankie Muniz made the move away from LA to 'save' his life (Instagram/frankiemuniz4

Yes, the actor left it all behind in order to become a professional race car driver, as you do!

Not a career choice many saw coming, but Muniz started racing in 2006, and now drives full time for the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, according to PEOPLE.

Even a bad crash in 2009 that left him with a broken back wouldn't stop him, and he took up driving again in 2023 thanks to his 3-year-old son, Mauz Mosley, who he shares with his wife, Paige.

"I went back to racing with him in mind," he said, adding, "I wanted him to see me striving for something that's difficult."

Being a good dad became the main priority for Muniz: "I love it. I am always striving to be the best dad I can be. I think I am a good dad, but I always feel like I can be better. So just trying to be there."

He joked that his son is 'completely obsessed' with him and that he 'feels bad' for his wife that his son currently only wants to be with him all the time.

He shares his love for his family online and says he got back into racing for his young son (Instagram/frankiemuniz4)

Many celebrities end up going down dark pathways of addiction due to unhappiness or the pressures of fame, and that was something Muniz was keen to avoid.

“Honestly, I did not like L.A., so I moved to Arizona, and I love it, I feel like it saved my life in the sense that I started enjoying the little aspects of life more, like hiking [and] going to the grocery store, because it was easy," he explained.

He confessed to telling his agents and managers at the time 'Don't call me!' as he wanted to leave everything behind.

Muniz said making the jump 'made me appreciate everything more'.

However, it's been revealed that he's not quit acting for good.

Last year it was revealed that Muniz will join his on-screen parents, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek, to reunite for a four-episode revival of Malcom In The Middle.