Frankie Muniz revealed that he has “never had a sip of alcohol” during a candid discussion on a recent episode of the Breakdown podcast hosted by Mayim Bialik.
The 38-year-old racer, who is “100 percent ready” for a “Malcolm In The Middle” reunion, began by saying, “I've never had a sip of alcohol” and “never done drugs.”
Bialik later asked the former child star, “Did you grow up in a tradition where there was no drinking? Don't you want to drink?…You don't have to.”
He quickly explained with a laugh, “Every member of my family drinks. And they do it for fun, you know what I mean?'
“I was trying to figure out why I didn’t because I don’t have a reason,” Frankie continued. “It wasn’t anything like a religion.”
Frankie Muniz, 38, revealed that he has “never had a sip of alcohol” during a candid discussion on a recent episode of the Breakdown podcast hosted by Mayim Bialik
“I was trying to figure out why I didn’t because I don’t have a reason,” Frankie continued. “It was not something like a religion”; Spotted in Las Vegas earlier this month
Muniz then explained, “Maybe it's my hatred of time.” When I was 15, 16 years old, I felt so old. I had experienced so much. And compared to most 15 or 16 year olds, I had experienced a lot in my life.”
The Agent Cody Banks actor explained: “But even though I was in the entertainment industry, I never saw it, so the drug use and stuff like that. 'I kind of stayed away.'
“I just went on set and did my thing,” he recalled of his time in Hollywood.
Frankie humorously added: “I grew up thinking that the only people who smoke weed were criminals on Cops, referring to the reality TV show.
“Now I talk to my dad and mom about it and they say, 'We smoked weed every day, you just didn't know.' It's weird to think back on it.”
The sports star then told Mayim that his first encounter with alcohol or drugs was when he was 18 years old. “In my head I felt like I could have gone so long without it. I thought, “Well, I’m not going to start now, even though I was only 18.”
Muniz admitted he “couldn't believe everyone's reaction” when he revealed he hadn't been drinking.
“They said, ‘Oh, we’re in a club, we have a bottle. Would you like something to drink?” to which he replied, “No, I don't drink. I'm good with water.” .'''
The racer opened up and explained, “I've never had a sip of alcohol” and “never done drugs.”
“Everyone was either shocked or horrified that I wasn't drinking.” Or they would be like, “Wow, that's so strong of you not to do that,” Frankie explained to the podcast host
“Everyone was either shocked or horrified that I didn’t drink.” Or they would say, “Wow, that’s so strong of you not to.”
“And I always thought, 'It's so strange that people react so strongly to me not drinking.' Who cares? I don't care what you do. Why do you care about me so much?' Frankie added.
“I don’t know if I made a conscious decision, but it stuck with me that I would never drink or do anything.”
Towards the end of the discussion, the actor jokingly said, “But now I'm 38 and I think I'll start tonight. 'No, I'm just kidding.'
Muniz has battled health issues over the years, including nine concussions as well as mini-strokes, which he recently discovered after an official diagnosis were migraine auras.
He also suffered a number of injuries during his time as a professional racing driver, such as a broken back.
The star notably put his Hollywood career aside to focus on racing and was briefly the drummer for a band called You Hang Up from 2012 to 2014.
Earlier this year in January, Frankie spoke to CNBC Make about his various interests in life, stating that he wants to “live the most fulfilling life I can.”
He also suffered a number of injuries during his time as a professional racing driver, such as a broken back; seen in 2016 in Long Beach, California
Earlier this year in January, Frankie spoke to CNBC Make about his various interests in life, stating that he wants to “live the most fulfilling life I can”; seen in LA in 2018
“I always felt like I was running out of time. “Even as a kid, I just felt like I had to take the opportunity to do things.”
During the recent podcast episode with Bialik, Muniz also discussed the possibility of a Malcolm In The Middle reboot.
He explained that Bryan Cranston – who played his on-screen father in the hit series – has been working with two writers for several years to create a script.
“I would love it,” he said of taking part in a possible reboot. “I actually have a greater appreciation for what the show is and was, and would love to dive in with all those people again… to do it.”
But he expressed that the reboot had to “make sense” and “be good.”
Earlier in June this year, a source told that Frankie was “100 percent up for” “any kind of reunion” when it comes to the sitcom, which aired from 2000 to 2006.
During the recent podcast episode with Bialik, Muniz also discussed the possibility of a Malcolm In The Middle reboot
Although the star has varied interests, his main focus is raising his two-year-old son Mauz, whom he shares with his wife Paige Price
“It’s such an important part of his life that it would be great to go back there, do something fun and see everyone again.”
Cranston previously expressed curiosity about where the family would be now, and Muniz “shares Bryan's thoughts” and “has his own ideas and really hopes it works out and they can do something at some point.”
“He thinks it would be great to have something for the 25th anniversary,” the insider added. “Whether it’s something [like] Friends did it, a movie or a complete reboot. “If the idea is great, it would be a given.”
Although the star has varied interests, his main focus is raising his two-year-old son Mauz, whom he shares with his wife Paige Price.