Nancy Krulik - Frankie Muniz Boy Genius

Star of Malcolm in the Middle, one of the hottest shows on TV today, Frankies fifteen, funny, and now hes famous. Inside, youll find everything there is to know about him:

• What was the first movie he starred in?
• How old was he when he got his first acting role?
• Whats Frankies favorite food?
• Does he attend school?
• Is his zodiac sign compatible with yours?

Find out the answers to these questions and many more about Frankie Muniz, boy genius!

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Copyright 2000 by Nancy Krulik

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For Ian, a genius in his own right

The Christmas Gift

The theater was dark and silent. The small nine-year-old boy peered out from behind the curtain, squinted his big blue eyes, and struggled to see. But the bright lights prevented him from making eye contact with the few people that dotted the seats in the theater. It was Frankies first audition, and he was kind of nervous. Sure, hed seen his older sister go through this audition process a million times. But it was all new to him. He had no idea what to expect.

Amazingly, from the minute he stepped out on the stage, the young actor relaxed. He felt strangely at home. It was fun being in the footlights. That day Frankie Muniz made an astounding discoveryacting was his passion. His life would never be the same again.

Frankies comfort on the stage must have impressed the producers of the show, because they cast him. Its almost impossible to imagine Frankies shock and excitement when he was told hed be playing Tiny Tim in a regional theater production of A Christmas Carol. Getting the role of Tiny Tim was a very big deal. In the show, Tiny Tim is Bob Cratchits sickly son; the one who utters perhaps the most famous line in the entire play: God bless us, everyone.

Once he was bitten by the theater bug, Frankies whole life changed. Instead of going to school and hanging out with his friends, Frankie spent his free time going to rehearsals and squeezing in homework whenever he could. But Frankie never complained about the lack of leisure time. For him, being part of A Christmas Carol was anything but humbug! It was awesome.

Besides, the extra work was only supposed to last for a whileFrankie had planned on his life going back to normal when the shows run ended. But during rehearsals an agent came to the theater to watch one of his clients at work. Instead it was Frankie who grabbed the agents attention.

During the rehearsals an agent was watching and asked my mom if I wanted to do commercials and stuff, Frankie recalls.

Did he ever! Frankie loved acting, and he didnt want the career to end with the last performance of A Christmas Carol. He signed on with the agent, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Guess you could say that on that Christmas, Frankie received a really special gifta career in show business. oday, six years after his first audition, Frankie Muniz is a major star in Hollywood. As the title character of the sitcom smash Malcolm in the Middle, hes being touted as the boy who saved the Fox network. Hes also performed in well-regarded plays like The Death of Papa, starred in a hit film, My Dog Skip, and shouldered a highly praised made-for-TV movie called Miracle in Lane 2. Oh, and he also manages to keep up a straight A average and a darn good golf game.

With all of that success, Frankie Muniz might bring out more than just a little jealousy in kids his own age. (Not to mention in adults!) After all, he seems too perfect! But once you meet Frankie, you discover its impossible to be anything but happy for the guy. Hes just so unfazed by the whole celebrity thing. Frankies pretty much the same kid he was six years ago when he first walked out on that stage in North Carolina. He still loves playing golf, still hates cleaning his room, and still loves eating candy. (The first thing he grabs when he walks on the set of Malcolm in the Middle each morning is a Snickers bar!)

I play all sports. I hang out with my friends. I go to the movies. I go to the mall, just like normal people do. Im normal, he recently assured Teen Celebrity magazine.

In real life, Frankie Muniz is a lot like the character of Malcolm, whom he plays on TV. Malcolms a genius with a 165 IQ, which sets him apart from the other kids at his school. But he still manages to be just your typical guy.

The irony of playing someone so like himself isnt lost on Frankie. Hes a kid who wants to be normal. Although hes normal, hes also smart, Frankie says of Malcolm. Its weird. Its me but not me, too.

Thats Frankiea kid whos normal, and very special, too. Hes just your average kid, with a little something extra. This is his story.

A Star Is Born

Francisco Muniz IV was born on December 5, 1985. His proud parents, Denise and Frank, took their baby boy home to their house in New Jersey. Unlike the character he plays on TV, baby Frankie was not followed by any younger sibs. Theres no Frankie in the middle. He only has an older sister, Cristina. o this day, Frankie remains the baby of the Muniz clan.

Growing up, Frankie was especially close to his grandfather. Frankies grandpa took the young boy under his wing and taught him to play golf, a game which has become Frankies lifelong passion. Frankie started learning the sport at a nearby driving range when he was only in kindergarten, and hes been whacking the little white balls ever since.

Ive been golfing since I was five. I love it, Frankie says. Its fun to play, relaxing. My grandfather taught me to play, but now I can outdrive him because hes getting older. He doesnt mind.