Frankie Muniz is opening up about the decision that changed the course of his life.
The former child star, now 39, reflected on how the nonstop pace of Hollywood eventually pushed him to walk away.
From his early years starring in Malcolm in the Middle and Agent Cody Banks, Muniz shared that between the ages of 8 and 21, he “maybe had 60 days off.”
That intense schedule, he told Us Weekly in a Sept. 3 interview, began to wear him down.
In 2008, at what many considered the peak of his career, Muniz chose to leave Los Angeles and move to Arizona, a decision he now credits with saving him.
“Honestly, I did not like L.A. So I moved to Arizona, and I love it,” he said.
“I feel like it saved my life in the sense that I started enjoying the little aspects of life more, like hiking [and] going to the grocery store, because it was easy.”
Although there were times when he wondered what life might look like if he had stayed in Hollywood, Muniz recalled telling his agents and managers,
“Don’t call me.” Stepping away, he believes, gave him the clarity he needed.
“I’m so lucky taking that step back happened, because it made me appreciate everything more,” he explained. “It allowed me to do other things and realize a lot more about myself.”
Today, Muniz has built a new chapter in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he lives with his wife of nearly six years, Paige Muniz, and their 3-year-old son, Mauz Mosley.