“Malcolm in the Middle”'s Justin Berfield Says Dewey's Purse Was Filled with 'Real Bricks' in Bullying Scene (Exclusive)
“Malcolm in the Middle”'s Justin Berfield Says Dewey's Purse Was Filled with 'Real Bricks' in Bullying Scene (Exclusive)
Meredith Wilshere, Brenton BlanchetSat, April 11, 2026 at 11:00 PM UTC
0
Erik Per Sullivan's character, Dewey, in 'Malcolm in the Middle'Credit: Stream on Channel 4/YouTube -
Justin Berfield confirms real bricks were used to weigh down Dewey’s purse in the iconic Malcolm in the Middle scene, but were swapped for lightweight stunt bricks during filming
The viral scene, featuring Erik Per Sullivan’s Dewey defending himself with a purse, remains a fan favorite decades later
Malcolm in the Middle returns April 10 with a mini-series, though Per Sullivan will not reprise his role as Dewey
Justin Berfield is setting the record straight on Dewey’s memorable brick-filled purse-turned-weapon.
At the Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair premiere in New York City, the actor, 40, reveals to PEOPLE that while they used real bricks to weigh the bag down, they were swapped out before Erik Per Sullivan's character started swinging.
“That was like season 1, I believe. I think they were fake stunt bricks," he shares. "I think in the scene before where they swung it, they actually used real bricks because they wanted the weight of the purse for Erik to hold. But I think when he actually swung it, it was those fake stunt bricks that are obviously very light and meant to smash over your head.”
The iconic and now-viral Malcolm in the Middle scene shows Dewey getting picked on by bullies for carrying a purse.
— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
After ruining multiple backpacks, Dewey is instructed by his mom, Lois, played by Jane Kaczmarek, to “go find something in the closet,” where he finds her floral purse.
Dewey and the purse sceneCredit: Stream on Channel 4/YouTube
Berfield — who played Reese, Dewey's older brother — watches the tween get picked on by a group of bullies before turning and smacking them with his bag. At the end of the scene, Dewey is seen taking a brick out of the purse and tossing it aside.
Berfield tells PEOPLE, “That scene came up on my Instagram account recently, and I completely forgot about that scene. I love it.”
Advertisement
Malcolm in the Middle ran for seven years from 2000 to 2006.
Justin Berfield, Jane Kaczmarek and Bryan Cranston at the "Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair" premiereCredit: Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty
The show is returning for a four-episode mini-series called Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair. All major characters from the original show will be returning, minus Per Sullivan.
In the years since the show went off the air, Per Sullivan stopped acting and chose a private life outside the public eye. He is currently getting his master’s at Harvard.
In June 2025, Bryan Cranston, who portrayed patriarch Hal, shared on the Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade podcast that Per Sullivan was not interested in stepping into Dewey’s shoes again.
"I talked to Erik, and I said, 'Hey, we got the show! It's going to come back.' He goes, 'Oh, that's fantastic!' And I go, 'Yeah, so we're looking forward to having you back.' He goes, 'Oh, no, no, I don't want to do it. But it's fantastic,'" Cranston said.
Kaczmarek also echoed his sentiments in an interview with The Guardian, claiming that producers offered Per Sullivan "buckets of money to come back" and reprise his role, but he chose to focus on academics.
Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair started streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ on April 10.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
