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Background:
Jewish-American actor and producer Justin Berfield is well-known for portraying
the second-oldest brother of Frankie Muniz’s character, naughty and bullying
Reese, on the Fox sitcom “Malcolm in the Middle” (2000 - ?), where he picked up
a 2000 Young Star Award and a 2003 Young Artist Award. First making a television
debut as regular Bob Bowman on the short-lived sitcom “The Good Life” (1994),
Berfield began starring as youngest son Ross Malloy in the WB television network
sitcom Unhappily Ever After (1995 – the fifth season). For playing in over 100
episodes in both Malcolm in the Middle and Unhappily Ever After, Berfield became
the youngest actor in television history to be in over 100 episodes of two
different television shows.
As for a producer, co-founder of television and film production company J2
Entertainment (J2TV), Berfield has been produced the musical film Romance &
Cigarettes (2005) and television series Filthy Rich (2005). He is also a
co-producer for the upcoming The 1 Second Film (2006).
“Friends can come and go but your dogs stay with you their entire life.” Justin
Berfield
Off screen, Justin Berfield is a humanitarian. He became a national youth
ambassador for Ronald McDonald House Charities in 2002 and has donated 10,000
dollars to the world's children day. The owner of a dog named Dive, Berfield is
also a passionate animal lover and takes care of several animals like dogs,
horses and a pot bellied pig. Brown-haired, hazel-eyed Berfield has two
million-dollars houses in the Los Angeles area. The first home is a two-bedroom
ocean-front condo in Malibu, and the second one is a house located in Studio
City. Berfield is also the owner of a silver Mercedes C320 Sedan and a black BMW
X5.
The Commercial Kid
Childhood and Family:
In Los Angeles, California, Justin Tyler Berfield was born on February 25, 1986.
He grew up with his parents, Rick Berfield and Gail Berfield, and his brother
Lorne Berfield in Oak Park, Agoura, California. Justin’s older brother, Lorne,
is also an actor who was born on September 7, 1982.
Just like many Hollywood actors, Justin also found a knack for acting at a very
young age. At age 5, inspired by one of his friend who did commercial gigs, he
tried his hand in acting and landed a part in a Folgers Coffee commercial.
Riding high of his debut appearance, Justin went on to model in numerous
television advertisements for a variety of companies and products. As a result,
he was nicknamed “The Commercial Kid” due to his prolific performance in the
commercial circuit.
Justin, who shares the same birthday as James Phelps and Oliver Phelps (from the
Harry Potter series), also took on strong passions on martial arts and animals.
So far, he has won share of tournament prizes in both sparring and kata (forms),
as well as is a third-degree red belt in Tang Soo Do karate. During his off
time, he enjoys sports, traveling, as well as real estate investing.
Unhappily Ever After
Career:
Justin Berfield got his first taste of showbiz industry early when at age 5 he
landed a role in a commercial for Folgers Coffee.
More appearances on TV commercials soon followed, most notably Colgate
toothpaste ads. With more than 22 commercial gigs on his pockets, young Berfield
was subsequently dubbed “The Commercial Kid.” By the time he was 8, Berfield had
been cast as regular Bob Bowman on the NBC short-lived sitcom “The Good Life”
(1994). He also had recurring role on “The Mommies,” as well as guest starred in
episodes of Fox's baseball-themed comedy series “Hardball” and the CBS family
sitcom “The Boys Are Back.” In 1995, Berfield played series’ regular Ross
Malloy, the youngest siblings in the WB sitcom Unhappily Ever After and stayed
with show for the next five seasons.
Three years later, Berfield had a spot on the children’s movie Mom, Can I Keep
Her? (1998). The Sean O'Bannon-scripted film, however, went straight to the
video store. In the following year, he made next efforts to break Hollywood film
and was featured as Flip in director Terence M. O'Keefe’s independent drama
/thriller Wanted (1999, starring Tracey Gold and Michael Sutton). Berfield
eventually scored a lead role in the family/ sci-fi The Kid with X-ray Eyes
(1999), helmed by Fred Olen Ray. He was also seen in another sci-fi children's
film, Invisible Mom II (1999). Unfortunately, The Kid with X-ray Eyes and
Invisible Mom II were direct-to-video releases.
Berfield finally earned a big breakthrough in the new millennium when he was
perfectly cast as ill-behaved and hounding Reese, the second-oldest brother of
the title character (Frankie Muniz), in the Fox Network television sitcom
“Malcolm in the Middle” (2000 - ?). His performance was so imposing that
Berfield not only won praise from critics but also audiences alike. In 2000, he
took home a Young Star for Best Young Ensemble Cast – Television, and three
years later, he nabbed a Young Artist for Best Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy
or Drama). Berfield is still working with the Linwood Boomer-created series
until now.
During his hectic schedule on the TV show, Berfield reappeared on the
silver-screen film in 2001 when he joined Alex D. Linz, Larry Miller and Jamie
Kennedy for Tim Hill’s comedy Max Keeble's Big Move. He also played Danny Hughes
in the-made-for-video Who's Your Daddy? (2003). In 2004, Berfield provided voice
for Ving in the animated Crash Nebula (2004).
Already acting, the young actor also tried his hand in producing by co-founded,
with writer/producer Jason Felts, a television and film production company
called J2 Entertainment (J2TV). Recently, Berfield served as a co-producer of
the Coen Brothers/John Turturro directed musical film Romance & Cigarettes
(2005). He also executive produced and created a new reality series for E!
titled Filthy Rich (premiered Sunday, August 7, 2005), where he shares the
behind-the scene duties with Jessica Simpson's father Joe Simpson. Berfield and
Felts are also producers for the forthcoming The 1 Second Film (2006).
Awards:
- Young Artist: Best Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama), Malcolm in
the Middle, 2003
- Young Star: Best Young Ensemble Cast - Television, Malcolm in the
Middle, 2000
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