Frankie Muniz Moved to Arizona at the Height of His Fame

Source: MEGAFrankie Muniz was widely considered one of the most successful child actors of his generation before he left Hollywood.

Frankie Muniz discovered bigger things outside Hollywood.

The Malcolm in the Middle alum shocked fans when he announced he was leaving Hollywood in 2008 to focus on his career as a racing driver. At the time, a source exclusively revealed to OK! he was moving to Scottsdale, Ariz."He's decided to focus his energy on racing and feels that he doesn't need a home in Hollywood anymore," the insider said.

Muniz, whose career in car racing began in the early 2000s, shared he really "would not mind" if he "never acted again."He told OK!, "Racing is definitely my passion - this is my career now and what I definitely want to do for the rest of my life."Before leaving the spotlight, he had already won different accolades and had acting credits in other projects, including Big Fat Liar, Agent Cody Banks, My Dog Skip and What the Deaf Man Heard, among others.

Frankie Muniz Pivoted to a Different Career

Source: MEGAFrankie Muniz pursued new career paths after leaving Hollywood in 2008.

Beginning in 2006, Muniz shifted from celebrity races to more competitive series. But in addition to racing and business ventures, he pursued a music career, playing drums for You Hang Up and Kingsfoil."At this point I want to be in Kingsfoil. I'm not saying no to acting forever. But you really can't do both," he admitted in an interview. "Even with racing, I couldn't do racing and be in the band. They're all really full-time things. You really need to dedicate all your time and energy into one thing in order to be successful. Right now, my focus is 100 percent on the band and hopefully it will be for a long time."

Frankie Muniz Made Occasional TV Appearances After Leaving Hollywood

Source: MEGAPost-Hollywood, Frankie Muniz made occasional TV appearances while expanding his career as a racing driver.

Because Muniz had not fully closed the door on TV, he returned to the spotlight as a contestant on Dancing With the Stars Season 25 in 2017. He was paired with Witney Carson, who brought home the mirrorball trophy after winning Season 19 with Alfonso Ribeiro.

After the pair finished third in the season finale, Muniz served as co-host of Dancing With the Stars: Juniors alongside Jordan Fisher.

In recent years, he has also made several red carpet appearances, including at the premiere of Renner in Culver City in February.

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Frankie Muniz Also Became a Family Man

Source: @frankiemuniz4/InstagramHe is now based in Scottsdale, Ariz.

, with his family.

The former child actor found love outside Hollywood, popping the question to his wife, Paige, during the Lantern Fest in Casa Grande, Ariz., on November 19, 2018. They held a small, private ceremony on October 3, 2019, before hosting an official wedding in February 2020.

Then, on March 22, 2021, the couple welcomed their firstborn, Mauz Mosley."That was the moment that my life changed forever," he said of his son's birth. "I had heard that it would, but I never would have expected the impact seeing my son would have on me. Honestly, I didn't know it was possible to love anything as much as I love him."Muniz shared in the announcement, "It took me a long time to post because I've been 1000% obsessed with him, already striving to make every moment he lives on earth the best it can possibly be. I found myself very emotional the other day as I pondered how lucky I was to have the most incredible wife and now the most amazing child and thought how all I want from now on is to make the world a better place, for them. I've even chosen to give up my motorcycles and stick with listening to K-LOVE on the radio while driving the speed limit.I love you Mauz. I love you @pogmuniz ."

Frankie Muniz Said Leaving Hollywood 'Saved' His Life

Source: MEGAFrankie Muniz expressed shock over Amanda Bynes' downfall.

In an interview published on September 3, Muniz said starting fresh in Arizona "saved" his life."Honestly, I did not like L.A. So I moved to Arizona, and I love it," he told the outlet. "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."According to Muniz, taking a step back made him "appreciate everything more" and allowed him to "do other things and realize a lot more about myself."During the same inte