Justin Berfield - Biography

Justin Tyler Berfield (born February 25, 1986) is an American actor, writer and producer, best known for his portrayal as Malcolm's 2nd-oldest brother, Reese, in Malcolm in the Middle. He also starred on The WB sitcom Unhappily Ever After as Ross Malloy.

As of 2010 Berfield is Chief Creative Officer of Virgin Produced, a film and television development, packaging and production company announced in 2010 by the Virgin Group. Virgin Produced is based in Los Angeles, California.

Personal life

Berfield was born in Los Angeles County, California, the son of Gail Berfield (née Stark) and Eric "Rick" Berfield. He is the younger brother of actor Lorne Berfield. Berfield is Jewish. He bought and then later sold the house previously owned by Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica stars Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey.

Acting career

Berfield's first screen appearance was in a Folgers coffee commercial at age five. He went on to appear in 20 other nationally-broadcast American commercials as a young child. His TV debut came in the short-lived series The Good Life (1994) in which he co-starred with Drew Carey. The following year, at age nine, Berfield was among some 3000 juvenile actors who were tested for Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace to play the young Anakin Skywalker, the role that ultimately went to Jake Lloyd. More TV appearances followed in Hardball, The Boys Are Back (TV series), The Mommies (TV series) (1994–1995).

His first long-running TV role was as Ross Malloy in Unhappily Ever After (1995–1999), in which he notched up 100 episode appearances. Beginning in 2000 he gained international prominence with his role as Malcolm's trouble-making older brother Reese in Malcolm in the Middle. He appeared in all 151 episodes of that series, and with the recording of the 100th episode became the youngest actor in screen history to have appeared in 100 episodes of two different TV series. Since the conclusion of Malcolm in the Middle in 2006, Berfield has concentrated on production work, although he made a one-off appearance in the series Sons of Tucson in 2010.

Charity work

In 2001, Justin was asked to serve as a National Youth Ambassador for Ronald McDonald House Charities, in which he participated for 3 years until turning 18. He has been active with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and most recently Virgin Unite, the charitable arm of Virgin Group.

Filmography

Producer

• The Country Bears (2002) (Film) (co-producer)
• Romance & Cigarettes (2005) (Film) (co-producer)
• Blonde Ambition (2007) (Film) (producer)

Executive Producer

• Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive (2005) (TV) (executive producer)
• The Pet Detective (2007) (TV) (executive producer)
• Sons of Tucson (2010) (TV) (executive producer) (1 episode)
• An Invisible Sign of My Own (2010) (Film) (executive producer)
• Pablo Escobar (2010) (Film) (executive producer)

Chief Creative Officer

• Virgin Produced (2010 - Present)

Television

• The Good Life as Bob Bowman (1994)
• Hardball (1994)
• The Boys Are Back (TV series) as Timmy Flint (1994)
• The Mommies (TV series) as Jason Booker (1994–1995)
• Unhappily Ever After as Ross Malloy (1995–1999)
• The Nightmare Room as Josh Ryan (2001)
• Malcolm in the Middle as Reese (2000–2006)
• Sons of Tucson as Barry (1 episode, 2010) Episode #1.13

Voice work

• Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man (1996) 1 Episode
• Kim Possible as Gill (2002–2004) 2 Episodes
• The Fairly OddParents as Ving (2004) 1 Episode

Writer

• Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive (2005)

External links

• Official website
• J2 Pictures / J2TV official web site