Where Are They Now: Catching Up With The Cast of The Middle

Introduction to The Middle

The Middle was a popular family sitcom that aired on ABC from 2009 to 2018. The show centered around Frankie Heck, played by Patricia Heaton, and her middle-class family living in the small fictional town of Orson, Indiana. The Middle became known for its realistic and relatable portrayal of middle-class family life in middle America.

The show was created by Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline, who chose to set it in Indiana because that's where they both grew up. The show's creators wanted to spotlight the struggles parents and kids face and the overworked people like Frankie who never seem to get ahead. Over its nine season run, The Middle attracted millions of loyal viewers who loved the funny and eccentric cast of characters.

Now that the show ended its successful run a few years ago, many fans wonder what happened to the talented cast. Where are the stars of The Middle today and what projects have they been working on lately? Read on to find out where the cast of the popular family sitcom The Middle are now.

Patricia Heaton as Frankie Heck

Patricia Heaton played the role of Frances "Frankie" Heck, the stressed-out and overworked matriarch trying to keep her family and job together. Frankie works as a car salesperson and is known for being disorganized and constantly frazzled while simultaneously caring deeply for her family.

Since her time as Frankie ended, Patricia Heaton has stayed very busy with roles on TV and in movies. She starred in the series Carol's Second Act from 2019-2020 and also had a recurring role on Fox's Bless This Mess. Heaton has appeared in several Christian faith-based films like Moms' Night Out. She is a devout Catholic and co-host of the podcast Motherly Insider. Heaton has been married since 1990 and has four sons.

Neil Flynn as Mike Heck

Neil Flynn portrayed Mike Heck, Frankie's husband and father to the three Heck children. Mike worked at a quarry and served as the family's pragmatic and cynical patriarch who balanced out Frankie's high-strung nature. Mike's sarcastic one-liners became a trademark of his character.

Known for past roles on Scrubs and in The Fugitive film, Neil Flynn has remained active after The Middle ended. He starred in the comedy series Abby's in 2019 and also appeared in several episodes of Magnum P.I. Flynn does commercials for repeating his janitor character from Scrubs. He is married with two children.

Charlie McDermott as Axl Heck

Charlie McDermott played Axl Heck, the eldest child of Frankie and Mike. Axl was an athletic and often self-absorbed high schooler who grew into a silly and kind-hearted man as the show progressed. His on-again off-again relationship with Sue was a major plotline.

Charlie McDermott now stars as Dr. Morgan Reznick in the hit medical drama The Good Doctor. He also appeared in the horror film Unbelievable! in 2020. McDermott is dating his former The Middle co-star Eden Sher, who played Sue Heck.

Eden Sher as Sue Heck

Eden Sher portrayed the enthusiastic, socially awkward middle Heck child Sue who was always upbeat despite adversity. She first appeared wearing headgear to correct her teeth and braces on her legs. Eden brought plenty of humor and heart to the role.

Sher has landed main roles on the series Star vs. the Forces of Evil and Bravest Warriors since The Middle ended. She also voices characters for Animaniacs and has a podcast called The Sher Show. As mentioned, she dates former co-star Charlie McDermott.

Atticus Shaffer as Brick Heck

Atticus Shaffer played the quirky youngest Heck child, Brick, who loved to read and was introverted and philosophical beyond his years. From repeating what he whispers to himself to his safe word “folderol,” Brick was an oddball known for spouting random facts.

Shaffer has remained active in Hollywood since wrapping up The Middle. He has landed guest roles on shows like The Rookie, American Housewife, and Disney's Bizaardvark. Shaffer does charity work for Actors for Autism when not acting.

Supporting Cast

While the Heck family were the main stars, The Middle also featured some memorable supporting characters. Fans of the show also wonder what happened to some of these actors since the show ended.

Chris Kattan as Bob Weaver

Bob Weaver was Frankie's on-and-off again boss and potential love interest at the car dealership where she worked. Bob was goofy, insecure, and inept but had a big heart underneath it all. He was played by Chris Kattan, known for Saturday Night Live.

Since his time on The Middle, Chris Kattan appeared as a contestant on season 24 of Dancing with the Stars. He was the first celebrity eliminated. Kattan has also acted in independent comedy films like The Ridiculous 6 and Therapy Dogs. He starred in the 2020 thriller Angel of Mine.

Brian Doyle Murray as Don Ehlert

Don Ehlert was the grumpy, insensitive owner of the quarry where Mike worked for many years. Don was cheap, demanding, and treated Mike poorly, but they eventually developed an almost friendly rapport. Don was portrayed by Brian Doyle Murray.

Veteran actor Brian Doyle Murray has accumulated over 230 acting credits during his career dating back to the 1970s. Since The Middle, he has lent his voice to shows like Dream Corp LLC and 3Below: Tales of Arcadia. Murray also appeared in Ant-Man as an elementary school teacher.

Brock Ciarlelli as Brad Bottig

Brad was Sue Heck's friend and fellow social outcast at school. Brad was sweet, talented, and open about being gay. He helped give Sue dating advice and moral support. Actor Brock Ciarlelli played Brad for all nine seasons.

Since the show ended, Brock Ciarlelli has appeared in episodes of The Good Doctor, This Close, and Partners. He is also in the comedy movie Moonshot currently in post-production. Ciarlelli advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and mental health awareness.

Why The Cast Had So Much Chemistry

One of the reasons The Middle was so enjoyable to watch was the natural chemistry between the cast, especially when acting as members of the same family. So what was the secret sauce that enabled the cast to interact so effortlessly and hilariously as the fictional Heck family?

According to Patricia Heaton and other cast members, a major factor was that they genuinely liked each other and got along as friends off-camera as well. There was a lot of mutual love and respect between the actors.

Neil Flynn shared how Patricia Heaton welcoming him when he joined the show in season two really set the tone. The child actors also grew up together on the set which added realism to their sibling banter and interactions.

The cast has described the atmosphere on set as fun, warm, and drama-free. This enabled them to joke around together while portraying both the ups and downs of family life in a believable way audiences loved.

Realistic Parenting Issues

Another reason The Middle resonated so much with viewers was that it depicted parenting and family dynamics in a very honest and authentic way. Show creator Eileen Heisler drew from her own background and experiences as a parent for story inspiration.

The Middle showed Frankie and Mike as financially struggling parents barely keeping it together while trying their best to raise three very different kids. The storylines focused on realistic and relatable parenting challenges that everyday moms and dads face.

From messy houses to forgotten homework assignments to rebellious teens, Frankie and Mike dealt with it all. Parents found the show and characters deeply sympathetic. The Middle's warm, comedic take on middle-class family life hit home with millions of viewers.

The Show's Legacy

During its long run from 2009 to 2018, The Middle drew consistently strong ratings and became ABC's second highest rated comedy series after Modern Family. The show earned several awards and nominations, including multiple Primetime Emmy nods.

TV critics praised the show for its funny, authentic take on middle America family life. After rallying support from devoted fans, The Middle had a nice send-off with a one-hour series finale special.

While the down-to-earth comedy never got as much buzz as higher concept shows, it earned an enduring legacy. The Middle remains beloved for its blue collar Midwestern charm and relatable, quirky characters.

The show was groundbreaking in subtly portraying issues like unemployment, economic anxiety, gay relationships, and elderly care. Actress Eden Sher believes The Middle paved the way for other shows to explore the real struggles average Americans face.

Now that the show has ended, The Middle lives on in reruns and on streaming platforms, allowing old fans to revisit the Hecks and new audiences to discover the show's heartfelt humor. The warm, funny spirit of the series continues to captivate viewers.

Where Are They Going From Here?

While The Middle now lives on only in syndicated reruns, the talented cast has continued pursuing new projects since saying goodbye to the Heck family and Orson, Indiana. Most of the actors remain active in the entertainment industry.

Patricia Heaton has landed popular recurring TV roles along with smaller films. Neil Flynn continues to act in TV guest appearances. Eden Sher and Charlie McDermott star on medical dramas while dating each other in real life.

Atticus Shaffer, still just in his 20s, also pops up on various shows. The Middle kids seem intent on shedding their youthful images from the sitcom that made them famous as they take on more mature roles.

Fans eager to see the cast reunite may be heartened to know the stars have expressed openness to reviving The Middle for some kind of reunion special down the road. For now, cast members are enjoying flexing their acting abilities in new directions.

Conclusion

During its impressive nine season run on ABC, The Middle won over millions with its hilarious and heartwarming portrayal of middle-class family life in the Midwest. While the show ended in 2018, the legacy lives on through continued reruns and future generations of viewers discovering the series online.

The Middle launched the careers of talented actors like Eden Sher and Charlie McDermott who have gone on to earn acclaim in other projects. While the cast has scattered since their time playing the Hecks, fans hold out hope they will come together again somehow in the future.

For now, fans can re-watch their favorite episodes and reminisce about one of the most relatable, quirky, and lovable TV families to ever grace the screen. The Middle left an enduring mark by making us laugh while depicting the universal struggles of parenthood and family relationships in a charming yet honest way that resonated with the average viewer.

FAQs

What character did Patricia Heaton play on The Middle?

Patricia Heaton played the role of Frankie Heck, the stressed-out matriarch trying to balance her job and family life.

Who played Mike Heck on the show?

Mike Heck, Frankie's pragmatic husband, was played by actor Neil Flynn.

Which actor who starred on The Middle was on Saturday Night Live?

Chris Kattan, who played Frankie's boss Bob Weaver, was previously a cast member on Saturday Night Live.

What characters did the actors Charlie McDermott and Eden Sher play?

Charlie McDermott played eldest child Axl Heck and Eden Sher portrayed enthusiastic middle daughter Sue Heck.

Who played the quirky youngest Heck kid Brick?

The odd but endearing character of Brick Heck was played by actor Atticus Shaffer.