After an impressive nine-season run, the beloved ABC comedy "The Middle" wrapped in 2018.
But what has the cast been up to since? Who almost got a spin-off series? Keep watching to find out.
"The Middle” centered on Indiana mom Frankie Heck, played by Emmy winner Patricia Heaton.
Heaton scored more TV roles after the show, including a starring one in the series "Carol's
Second Act," portraying 50-something Carol Kenney as she switches careers to become a doctor.
Unfortunately, the 2019 show, which Heaton also executive produced, lasted only one season.
But Heaton has had her hands full pursuing other creative endeavors, including authoring
the similarly titled memoir "Your Second Act." As she told Watch! Magazine in 2019,
"It's important to keep the creative juices flowing and not get complacent."
Heaton has channeled part of that creative energy into the home and kitchen industry.
The food enthusiast — who previously hosted her own Daytime Emmy-winning Food Network show,
"Patricia Heaton Parties" – debuted the housewares line Patricia Heaton Home at Walmart.
Fans of Neil Flynn likely remember the comedic actor for his portrayal as the
janitor on "Scrubs." While still on the popular show,
Flynn landed the role of the Heck family patriarch, Mike, on "The Middle," which
he played throughout the series from 2009 to 2018. Flynn told Entertainment Weekly in 2019,
"There was a transition from 'Scrubs' to 'The Middle.' 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."
"Floor’s wet. You know, I liked the way the blonde haired doctor looked."
The actor has continued to work in television since "The Middle,"
voicing characters in a few animated shows and appearing in the 2019 comedy "Abby's."
Charlie McDermott started playing Axl Heck, the oldest of the three Heck siblings, on "The Middle"
when he was just 18 years old. While fans of the show became familiar with Axl, the character was
far from McDermott's personality. McDermott told The Philadelphia Inquirer in a 2017 interview,
"Axl is an enigma to me for the most part. [...] I think generally
he makes decisions that I disapprove of, but he's fun, too, in that aspect."
McDermott has acted here and there since the series finale of "The Middle.'" In 2018,
he appeared alongside Mark Wahlberg in "Instant Family,"
and he played Ty in the Netflix mini-series "Unbelievable" the following year. However,
the actor has since shifted his focus to other pursuits, specifically music. He explained,
"I would like to keep acting. But acting is so spontaneous [...] When I was younger, I really
wanted to have like a specific trajectory, but now it just seems impossible to ever do that,
so I just want to keep working, and, hopefully, enjoy what I'm getting to do."
"The Middle" fans might be surprised to learn actress Eden Sher wasn't an
immediate shoo-in for Sue Heck. In a 2016 Gold Derby interview, Sher explained,
"It is a miracle I was cast; it was not an easy process."
After playing the Heck sister for nine years, the actress almost continued the
role in a spin-off that focused on Sue. Sher told TVLine in 2018,
"We are shooting a pilot. [...] I hope it gets picked up. I think it's going to be great."
Unfortunately, the series never made it to the small screen,
but that didn’t stop Sher. She kept busy.
"Let me tell you something about me: I never, ever give up."
Aside from a few guest appearances, the actress voiced the empowered titular
princess in the animated Disney show "Star vs. the Forces of Evil" for four seasons.
In June 2021, Sher announced via her Instagram that she and her husband were expecting twins.
The following November, she posted the first picture of her and her husband with the twins,
which was simply captioned, "Family."
When 11-year-old Atticus Shaffer began playing the eccentric character Brick Heck
on "The Middle," viewers and critics alike quickly gravitated to the youngest character
and all of his quirks. Shaffer told The New York Times in 2010,
"People just like Brick because he follows the beat of his own drummer. [...] He's different,
and he's quirky, and people seem to think that's adorable. Trust me because I know. It's my life."
While his role on "The Middle" wasn't his first — he notably appeared in the Will Smith movie
"Hancock" — his portrayal as Brick was a standout part. Since the "Middle" finale, Shaffer has
racked up a steady stream of voice acting gigs, which he also did during the show's run. He's
worked on several popular animated series, such as Disney's "The Lion Guard," and "Pete the Cat."
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