&34;The Middle&34; is the best place to be: You have love on both sides. Where is The Middle cast now? Here's what's new with the stars of the longrunning famil

"The Middle" is the best place to be: You have love on both sides.

Where is The Middle cast now? Here's what's new with the stars of the long-running family sitcom

"The Middle" is the best place to be: You have love on both sides.

Published on July 30, 2025 03:49PM EDT

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Neil Flynn, Patricia Heaton, Eden Sher, Atticus Shaffer, and Charlie McDermott. Credit:

ABC/Bob D'Amico

*The Middle* was a staple on the ABC lineup for nine years. Premiering in 2009, the sitcom chronicled the life and times of the Heck family: Frankie, Mike, and kids Axl, Sue, and Brick. Despite its extended run, the show always flew a bit under the radar, finding a devoted following but never earning an Emmy, nor landing nominations for any of its cast members.

Since it ended in 2018, however, *The Middle* has found a larger audience than it ever did during its prime-time run, thanks to streaming and reruns on Freeform. It also doesn't hurt that two of its stars host a rewatch podcast, "Middling with Eden and Brock."

It seems unlikely that there will be a revival anytime soon, based on recent remarks from star Patricia Heaton, but there are still nine seasons of Heck family misadventures to enjoy. For now, here's a look at where *The Middle *cast is now.

Patricia Heaton (Frankie Heck)

Craig Sjodin/ABC; Adela Loconte/Variety via Getty

Frances "Frankie" Heck is the very definition of a harried housewife. Her husband and three kids may drive her crazy, but there's nothing and no one that matters more to her. As for her professional side, Frankie's occupation shifts during the series, from car salesperson to dental assistant.

Having landed on *The Middle* after a decade on *Everybody Loves Raymond *(1996–2005), Patricia Heaton understandably has a soft spot for both series — though she's uninterested in any reboots.

"The way they wrapped it up, where we got to flash-forward in the lives of the Heck family and see where they all ended up, it was so beautiful," Heaton told EW in 2025. "I think people have such a good feeling about the show. It's a beautiful thing. It's like a great work of art — you don't need to go in there and touch it up or change it or do anything to it."

After *The Middle *ended, the veteran actress returned to multi-cam comedy as the star of the short-lived *Carol's Second Act* (2019–2020), playing a retired teacher with grown kids who belatedly decides to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. In recent years, she has guest-starred on the *Frasier *revival* *(2024) and booked supporting roles in *The Unbreakable Boy *(2025) and the exorcism thriller *The Ritual *(2025), alongside Al Pacino and Dan Stevens.

The Ohio native has been married to actor David Hunt since 1990. They share four children.

Neil Flynn (Mike Heck)

ABC/BOB D'AMICO; Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images

Mike is a gruff but lovable guy, a strong, silent type who likes to get up, go to work, then chill on the couch with a few beers. Sure, he loves his family, and he'd do anything for them. But it would be great if he could get a *little* time to himself...

Neil Flynn got his start in the Chicago theater scene, both drama and improv. He was later cast as the eternally unnamed janitor on *Scrubs* (2001–2009). That beloved gig also led to a few high-profile film roles, including *Mean Girls* (2003) and *Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull *(2009).

"There was a transition from *Scrubs* to *The Middle*," Flynn told EW in 2019. "The characters were quite different. I was a down-to-earth man of few words on *The Middle* and the Janitor could do or say virtually anything and it would fit the character... With a bigger part comes many, many more hours at work. But I was 100 percent happy to be there."

After *The Middle* wrapped, Flynn stepped straight into a new series, *Abby's *(2019), on NBC for 18 seasons. He has continued to work regularly, including a reunion with *Scrubs* creator Bill Lawrence for an arc on *Shrinking *(2023–2024).

Charlie McDermott (Axl Heck)

ABC/BOB D'AMICO; Charlie McDermott/Instagram

Axl is the oldest sibling, so you'd think he'd be the one leading his younger sister and brother. In truth, he's generally the last of the trio you'd want to follow.

Actually, we're not giving Axl enough credit: As *The Middle* progresses, he gradually matures, and by the time the series wraps up, he's demonstrated he's *finally* ready for adulthood.

Before *The Middle*, actor Charlie McDermott had racked up small film roles and TV guest spots. He also snagged an Independent Spirit Award nomination for his role as Melissa Leo's teenage son in *Frozen River *(2008).

*The Middle *eventually gave McDermott some experience behind the camera. He directed an episode in 2017 on the heels of his feature directorial debut, *ImagiGary *(2015).

"Directing is something I've wanted to do as long as the show's been on," McDermott told EW in 2017. "I've been shadowing on set pretty much since the show began, even on all the projects I worked on prior to *The Middle*… When the time finally came, I felt like I had a good grasp on it."

Since the conclusion of *The Middle*, McDermott has appeared in *Instant Family* (2018) and *Countdown* (2019). He's also pursuing a career as an indie folk artist, releasing his debut album in 2022.

Eden Sher (Sue Heck)

ABC/CRAIG SJODIN; Robin L Marshall/Getty

If there's one character that fans of *The Middle* tend to remember with the most fondness, it's Sue Heck… or Sue Sue Heck, to use the character's full name. The most upbeat teenager to appear on TV in recent memory, Sue may not come up the winner on a regular basis, but she has a gift for spinning things in a positive direction no matter how bad things get.

While the character's origins may have come from the series' creators, Sher can claim to have been responsible for a few of Sue's attributes.

"Sue's victory dance? I am *proud* to take credit for that dance," Sher told Bullz-Eye in 2012. "Only because it seems so ridiculous that you'd be, like, 'Wow, who made that up? I can't imagine how they would've choreographed that…' And I'm proud to say that no one did, because I do that in real life! We were thinking what would be the best way for Sue to be super-excited, since she's already super-excited all the time, anyway, and I was, like, 'Well, I don't know, but this is what I do when *I'm *super-excited.' And I launched into the dance, and they were just, like, 'Done.* *You got it*. *We're going with that.'"

Prior to *The Middle*, Sher had recurring roles on two shows under her belt — first Showtime's *Weeds* (2006), then ABC's *Sons & Daughters* (2006–2007) — and later popped up on *Party Down* and in the feature-film continuation of *Veronica Mars* (2014). Since then, Sher has guest-starred on *Superstore* (2018), *How I Met Your Father *(2023), and *Night Court *(2025), on top of a recurring role during season 5 of *Jane the Virgin* (2019).

One project we never got to see, however, would have reunited her with Brock Ciarelli: *Sue Sue in the City*, a planned spinoff of *The Middle* that, had it been picked up, would've followed Sue into her post-college life, with Brad still by her side. Ah, what might have been...

Atticus Shaffer (Brick Heck)

Bob D'Amico/ABC via Getty; Paul Archuleta/Getty

As the youngest of the Heck kids, Brick has a weirdly long history of being forgotten by his family. He's a brilliant young man, but he's also more than a little bit socially awkward, partly due to his tendency to repeat things in a whisper. (*Whisper*...)

"(*The Middle*) is something kids and adults can relate to because it is so real," Atticus Shaffer told EW in 2011. "People can relate to being tight on money and then the dryer just got destroyed or the dishwasher just exploded. They're not some family that lives in upstate New York and they're magically making money from something. It's completely different from that. It's real and it has heart and feeling."

Shaffer was the only actor from the original pilot who made it into the eventual series. In case you were wondering, yes, he's named after the hero of *To Kill a Mockingbird*. The actor also has osteogenesis imperfecta, a condition that causes fragile bones and lower-than-average height.

During his run on *The Middle*, he began to forge a career as a voice actor. You can hear him in *Frankenweenie* (2012) as well as the *Lion Guard *franchise*, Steven Universe *(2013-2018), and *Pete the Cat *(2017–2022), among others.

Chris Kattan (Bob Weaver)

Bob D'Amico/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; TheStewartofNY/WireImage

Early seasons of *The Middle* revolved around Frankie's job as a salesperson for Ehlert Motors. Although viewers were introduced to several coworkers, Bob Weaver made the biggest impression — in no small part because he was played by *Saturday Night Live *(1996–2002) alum Chris Kattan.

Although Kattan previously starred in *A Night at the Roxbury *(1998) and *Corky Romano* (2002), his stint on *The Middle *was relatively short-lived, downshifting from series regular to recurring character to occasional guest star. To be fair, it wasn't his fault; the series just gradually shifted its focus away from Ehlert Motors and more exclusively on the Heck family.

Kattan has consistently found voice work during his career, including *Hotel Transylvania 2* (2015) and TV series like *Bunnicula *(2016–2018) and *Voltron: Legendary Defender *(2017–2018). He's also had a sideline gig in reality TV as a contestant on both *Dancing With the Stars* and *Celebrity Big Brother*.

In 2023, the L.A. native got engaged to his girlfriend, Maria Libri.

Brock Ciarelli (Brad Bottig)

ABC/MICHAEL DESMOND; John Sciulli/Getty

When Brad first made his way onto *The Middle*, it was as Sue's boyfriend (although everyone else knew the relationship was never going anywhere). Sue caught on soon enough, but she and Brad remained a dynamic (platonic) duo.

In a 2015 episode, Brad quietly comes out to Sue, at which point she reveals with equal subtlety that she already knew.

"What's so cool with Brad and Sue is that you see these two friends," Ciarelli told *The Hollywood Reporter* in 2015. "They've been friends since middle school growing up, going through these milestones together, and now one of those milestones is that Brad is coming out. I think Sue's reaction speaks volumes as to the kind of character that she is. It's clear from my standpoint how loyal Brad is to that friendship and that they're there for each other no matter what, so having Sue's reaction being just one of subtle understanding … I don't know, it just brought a smile to my face."

*The Middle* was Brock Ciarelli's first professional acting gig, but he's since appeared in episodes of *Glamorous* (2023) and *Doctor Odyssey* (2024) as well as the rom-com *Bros *(2022).

Beau Wirick (Sean Donahue)

Eric McCandless/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Morton Wealth/YouTube

Sean literally started off as the boy next door, Axl's friend and classmate. By the time *The Middle* concluded, Sean had been Axl's coworker, Sue's boyfriend, Sue's *ex*-boyfriend, and — if we're to accept the finale's flash-forward as gospel truth — Sue's husband.

Prior to *The Middle*, Wirick was a series regular on Bob Saget's *Raising Dad* (2001–2002) and had appeared on *The Bernie Mac Show* (2003), *7th Heaven* (2004), *Arrested Development* (2005), and *The Office* (2005). Since the series ended, however, he's mostly left acting, becoming a wealth advisor for the firm Morton Wealth. But he'll occasionally take on roles, including in the film *Unsung Hero* (2024).

On the personal front, Wirick has been married to *The Middle *costar Daniela Bobadilla — who played Lexie — since 2018.

Jen Ray (Nancy Donahue)

Michael Ansell/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Jen Ray/Instagram

Nancy Donahue was the perfect mom. Her house and yard were immaculate, her kitchen was always fully stocked, and she cooked regularly for her family.

Although the role of Nancy was initially small, the character ended up appearing in more than 50 episodes.

"I basically played Patricia Heaton's foil, and it was such a fun opportunity and, so far, it's what I am most proud of professionally," Ray said. "My experience is proof that you should never turn down an opportunity and that you never know who you're going to meet or impress."

Prior to *The Middle*, Ray had only appeared in a few one-off roles — though all in series of note, namely *Gilmore Girls* (2002), *Big Love* (2009), and *True Blood* (2009). In recent years, she's carved herself a soap-opera niche on *General Hospital *(2019–2025).

John Gammon (Darrin McGrew)

Danny Feld/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic

Darrin is another one of Axl's friends. He's a dependable fellow and was a devoted boyfriend to Sue, but it's fair to say his most notable attribute is… well, he's kind of dumb.

"I think it's pretty easy [to play Darrin] just because I've made dumb decisions, I think," John Gammon told *Daily Actor* in 2012. "It's not too often that you see a slack jaw with no light behind the eyes who is actually kind of intelligent... I've been plenty stupid all my life. I've done some pretty dumb things, so it wasn't much of a stretch."

Gammon's highest-profile role prior to *The Middle* was a guest spot on *CSI* (2010), but he has been mostly out of the spotlight since departing the hit sitcom.

Brian Doyle-Murray (Don Ehlert)

Richard Cartwright/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

Mr. Ehlert is a self-made businessman, so it's no wonder he's a little rough around the edges as a boss at Ehlert Motors. He's also a tad racist *and* more than a little sexist, much to Frankie's chagrin.

It was no real surprise when he eventually let her go — though that didn't exactly work out so great for Brian Doyle-Murray.

"My character fired the star, which isn't a good move, so I'm not on [*The Middle*] much any more," Doyle-Murray told *UPI* in 2013. "But they've asked me if I want to come back for their 100th episode, so I'll do that."

Indeed, Doyle-Murray did appear in the 100th episode, and he also appeared in the 200th episode, along with three other stints between them.

If you added up the box office totals of Doyle-Murray's big-screen resume, he'd be the most successful member of *The Middle*'s cast in a landslide. That includes *Caddyshack *(1980), *National Lampoon's Vacation *(1983), *Sixteen Candles *(1984), *JFK *(1991), *Wayne's World *(1992), *Groundhog Day *(1993), and *As Good as it Gets *(1997), to name a few. Sure, it helps to be Bill Murray's older brother, but it's been a long time since anyone has questioned Doyle-Murray's comedic chops.

After wrapping up his run on *The Middle*, Doyle-Murray appeared in a handful of episodes of *Veep *(2016–2017), did a reality show with his brother (*Bill Murray and Brian Doyle-Murray's Extra Innings*), and booked a key recurring role on *Lodge 49 *(2018–2019).

The Illinois native has been married to veterinarian Christina Stauffer since 2000.

Paul Hipp (Reverend Tim-Tom)

Eric McCandless/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Al Pereira/Getty

There's nothing overtly religious about *The Middle*, but at least one character is a bit of a holy roller. That would be Reverend Tim-Tom, youth minister at the Heck family's church and a guy who's almost never without his guitar. He even serves as the officiant for Sue's wedding to Sean in the finale.

*** The Middle* wasn't Paul Hipp's first time brandishing a guitar: His work with songwriter Carole King in the off-Broadway show *A Minor Incident* led to his first big splash as an actor, playing the title role in the musical *Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story*. (He's also played Elvis Presley and Gene Vincent at various points in his career.)

Beyond his work on the sitcom, Hip has been a regular in films by the controversial director Abel Ferrara, including *China Girl *(1987), *Bad Lieutenant *(1992), and *The Funeral *(1996).

He's had bit parts in several high-profile films over the years, including *Lethal Weapon 3 *(1992), *Face/Off *(1997), and *Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil *(1997). You may have seen him elsewhere on TV, from *ER *(2002) to *Scrubs *(2006) to *Ugly Betty *(2008) to a recent arc on *Bosch *(2022).

As for his ongoing music career, he released his most recent album, *Sometimes I'm Rudy*, in 2017.

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