It’s been years since we last saw the Hecks scrambling to get through a week without the kitchen sink exploding or a blue bag being forgotten in the middle of a frantic car ride to school. Honestly, The Middle was one of those rare sitcoms that felt less like a Hollywood production and more like a mirror held up to every family that shops at a discount grocery store. It wasn't about the glitz. It was about the grind. But for the actors in The Middle TV show, that nine-year grind in Orson, Indiana, served as a massive springboard into some pretty surprising places.
You’d think after nearly a decade of playing the same characters, these actors would be typecast forever. It happens to the best of them. But looking at the cast today, you see a weirdly diverse mix of career paths, from massive sitcom re-entries to total disappearances from the limelight.
Patricia Heaton and the Post-Frankie Life
Everyone knew Patricia Heaton before she was Frankie Heck. She was already sitcom royalty from Everybody Loves Raymond. But Frankie was different. She was frazzled. She was perpetually exhausted. She was us. After The Middle wrapped up its run in 2018, Heaton didn't really take a breather. She almost immediately jumped into Carol's Second Act on CBS.
It didn't stick. The show was canceled after one season, which was kind of a shock given Heaton's track record. Since then, she’s pivoted. You’ll see her more often now talking about her book, Your Second Act, or working with her charity, World Vision. She’s been very open about her sobriety—celebrating over five years now—and she’s leaned heavily into her lifestyle brand. She isn't just an actress anymore; she’s more of a lifestyle mentor for people looking to reinvent themselves in their fifties and sixties. It’s a far cry from Frankie Heck’s "frosting for dinner" philosophy.
Neil Flynn: The Quietest Guy in Hollywood
Neil Flynn is a bit of an enigma. He played Mike Heck with such a perfect "stoic dad" energy that people forget he’s one of the most gifted improv actors in the business. Remember, this is the guy who supposedly improvised almost all his lines as the Janitor on Scrubs.
When The Middle ended, Flynn moved on to Abby's, a NBC sitcom set in an unlicensed backyard bar. It was a cool concept. It was shot outdoors in front of a live audience. But it suffered the same fate as Heaton’s show—gone after one season. Flynn isn't the type to chase the paparazzi. He’s done some voice work, notably in Superman: Man of Tomorrow, but mostly, he’s stayed out of the headlines. He seems perfectly content to be that veteran actor who shows up, crushes a role, and then goes home to live a normal life. Honestly, that’s so Mike Heck of him.
The Kids Aren't Kids Anymore
This is where things get really interesting. When we talk about the actors in The Middle TV show, the kids—Axl, Sue, and Brick—are the ones who have taken the most divergent paths.
Charlie McDermott (Axl Heck)
Charlie McDermott played the peaked-in-high-school athlete Axl with such annoying accuracy that it’s almost jarring to see him in real life. Charlie isn't Axl. He’s actually a very sensitive, artistic guy who is deeply into folk music.
- He released an album called Digital Mirror back in 2020.
- He directs.
- He does a lot of his own photography.
He’s stayed relatively low-key in the acting world lately, appearing in projects like Unbelievable on Netflix and the film Countdown. But you get the sense he’s more interested in the "indie" side of life than becoming a massive blockbuster movie star. He’s married now, living a quiet life that involves way more acoustic guitar and way fewer gym socks left on the floor.
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Eden Sher (Sue Heck)
We all wanted the Sue Heck spinoff. It was titled Sue Sue in the City. They filmed a pilot. The fans were ready. And then... ABC passed on it. It was devastating for the "Sue-niacs" out there.
Eden Sher didn't let that stop her. She’s been incredibly vocal about her life after the show, including her journey through pregnancy with twins and the struggles of being a working actor in a post-sitcom world. She’s done voice acting for Star vs. the Forces of Evil—which has a huge cult following—and recently toured with a one-woman show called I Was on a Sitcom. It’s a raw, funny look at what happens when you spend your formative years playing a character who is defined by relentless optimism while you're actually dealing with the anxieties of real life.
Atticus Shaffer (Brick Heck)
Brick was the heart of the show's quirkiness. Atticus Shaffer, who has osteogenesis imperfecta (type IV), brought a lot of himself to that role, minus the "whispering to his shirt" part.
Atticus has carved out a massive career in voice acting. It’s a smart move. His voice is iconic. You’ve heard him in The Lion Guard, Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh, and Harvey Girls Forever!. He’s also a huge gamer and has a YouTube/Twitch presence where he interacts with fans. He’s very open about his Christian faith and how his disability hasn't slowed him down. He’s probably the most active member of the cast when it comes to directly engaging with the Middle fanbase today.
The Supporting Cast: Where Are the Neighbors?
You can't talk about the actors in The Middle TV show without mentioning the people who populated Orson.
- Chris Kattan (Bob): His departure early in the series was always a bit weird. Kattan has since dealt with significant health issues related to his back, which he wrote about in his memoir Baby, Don't Hurt Me. He’s still doing stand-up and small film roles, but his time as Frankie's coworker was his last major TV stint.
- Brock Ciarlelli (Brad Bottig): Everyone loved Brad. Brock is still very active in the industry and remains close friends with Eden Sher. He’s become something of a social media personality, often sharing behind-the-scenes memories of the show.
- Beau Wirick (Sean Donahue): The "perfect" neighbor boy. Beau ended up marrying actress Daniela Bobadilla, who actually played Brick’s girlfriend, Lexie, on the show. Talk about a small world.
Why We Still Care About These People
There’s a reason The Middle does so well in syndication and on streaming platforms like Max or Peacock. It didn't rely on topical humor that gets old after six months. It relied on the universal truth that being middle-class is often absurd.
The actors were cast because they looked and felt like real people. They weren't the "CW" version of a family where everyone is a supermodel. Because of that, we feel a weirdly personal connection to them. When we see Atticus Shaffer posting a video from his room, we’re not just seeing an actor; we’re checking in on Brick.
The Legacy of the Orson Residents
What's fascinating is how little "drama" there has been from this cast. You don't see them in the tabloids for the wrong reasons. There are no public feuds. For the most part, they seem to genuinely like each other. Patricia Heaton often hosts "family dinners" where the former cast members show up.
It’s rare. Usually, after nine years, people are ready to sprint in the opposite direction. But the actors in The Middle TV show seem to have handled the transition with a lot of grace.
What You Should Do If You Miss the Hecks
If you’re feeling nostalgic, don’t just re-watch the same Christmas episodes. There are better ways to keep up with the cast and the "vibe" of the show:
- Follow their social media, but specifically Eden Sher and Atticus Shaffer. They are the most candid about their time on the show and what their lives look like now.
- Check out "I Was on a Sitcom." If Eden Sher brings her show to a city near you or releases a filmed version, watch it. It’s the closure Sue Heck fans never got from the canceled spinoff.
- Support Charlie McDermott’s music. If you liked the soulful, quiet moments of the show, his music hits that same chord.
- Watch "The Lion Guard" with your kids. You’ll hear Atticus Shaffer and realize just how talented that kid—now a man—really is.
The Hecks might not be on our screens every Tuesday night anymore, but the actors have managed to stay relevant without losing the "flyover state" humility that made us love them in the first place. They aren't just names in a credit roll; they’re the people who taught us that "doing your best" is usually enough, even if your best involves a half-frozen pizza and a sink full of dirty dishes.
To really dive back into the world of Orson, your best bet is to start with the early season commentaries if you can find the DVDs. The actors' insights into how they developed those specific Midwestern mannerisms explain a lot about why the show felt so authentic. Also, keep an eye on Patricia Heaton's production company, FourBoys Entertainment. She's actively developing new projects that often carry that same "everyman" spirit that made The Middle a staple of American television for nearly a decade.
Next Steps for Fans:
Start by following Eden Sher on Instagram for a reality check on post-child-star life, then head over to Bandcamp to find Charlie McDermott's discography. If you're looking for a re-watch, skip to Season 3—it's widely considered by critics and the cast themselves as the point where the show truly found its unique voice.