Frankie Muniz Says His 3-Year-Old Son Is ‘Literally Obsessed’ with Him: ‘I Feel Bad for My Wife’ (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Frankie and Paige Muniz with son Mauz.Photo:Ethan Miller/Getty

Ethan Miller/Getty

Frankie Muniz’s son is his biggest fan!

“I know — eventually he’ll be like, ‘Dad, get away.’ You know what I mean? Right now, all he wants is to be with me,” he adds.

Muniz — who welcomed Mauz in March 2021 with wife Paige — says he is relishing fatherhood. “I love it. I am always striving to be the best dad I can be,” he shares. “I think I am a good dad, but I always feel like I can be better. So just trying to be there.”

TheMalcolm in the Middlestar — who returned to professional car racing in 2023 after a 13-year break following a serious crash in 2009 — also tells PEOPLE that his son was a big inspiration for his decision to get behind the wheel again. “I went back to racing with him in mind,” he says, explaining, “I wanted him to see me striving for something that’s difficult.”

Frankie Muniz and son Mauz in April 2024.David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire/Getty

David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire/Getty

Still, Muniz admits that his racing career can be challenging in that it takes him away from home quite a bit. “It has taken me away from my family a lot. I’m on the road 300 days a year and I try to bring [Paige and Mauz] as much as I can, but it’s not the easiest thing,” he says, noting he came up with a solution to keep the family better connected — and make some fun “adventures” possible.

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“We got this RV to live in that we’ll bring to the racetrack,” he continues. “We’ll basically be at home and get to go on adventures in between the races. And I think we’re going to have a lot of fun. So I’m looking forward to that.”

Last year, Mauz made his first red carpet appearance alongside his dad at the Wildlife Warriors' Steve Irwin Gala in Las Vegas on May 11. The 3-year-old wore a tiny black tuxedo as he posed for photos with Muniz and his wife.

Frankie Muniz and son Mauz in November 2024.Sean Gardner/Getty

Sean Gardner/Getty

“I would never let my kid go into the business, and not that I had a negative experience, because to be honest, my experience was 100% positive,” he said at the time. “But I know so many people, friends that were close to me, that had such insanely negative experiences.”

“I just think it’s an ugly world in general,” theRennerstar added. “I never cared about rejection, but there’s a ton of rejection.”

One thing he is happy to share with his son is his racing experiences. Mauz makes frequent appearances at the track to cheer on his dad. In May 2023, Muniz posted a sweet video onInstagramshowing his son — with a sloth stuffed animal in hand — running into his arms after a race.

“This is what it’s all for, getting a hug from my son after a tough race and 6th place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway,” theAgent Cody Banksstar wrote in the caption.

source: people.com