Malachi Barton

Malachi Daniel Barton was born on March 10, 2007, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States.^[5] He is the only child of Felicia Barton, a singer-songwriter and former American Idol contestant, and Loren Barton, a guitarist and tour manager.^[6] Growing up in a musically and creatively driven household, Barton was exposed to the entertainment industry from an early age.^[7] He showed an early interest in performing, and by the age of four, he began appearing in national commercials for major brands including McDonald’s, Kmart, and Lay’s.^[8] He was encouraged by his parents as he started auditioning for television roles, eventually landing his first acting gigs in 2014. His family later relocated to Los Angeles to support his growing career, allowing him to pursue acting professionally while continuing his education.^[9][10]

Barton began his acting career at a very young age in 2014, making his first television debut with a small role as Tiny Kid in the comedy series Workaholics.^[11] That same year, he appeared in See Dad Run as Bobby. ^[12] In 2015, he continued with more guest roles in family sitcoms, including Instant Mom as Trevor and Henry Danger as Eric.^[13][14]

Barton’s big break came in 2016 when he was cast as Beast Diaz in the Disney Channel series Stuck in the Middle, a show centered around a large Latino family.^[15] He played the second-youngest sibling, and his role made him a familiar face on Disney Channel. The show ran for three seasons, concluding in 2018, during which he appeared in all episodes.^[16][17] During this time, he also appeared in Disney commercials.^[18][19][20] Over the course of the series, Barton became a Disney kid star, often involved in brand promotions and network events.^[21][22]

After Stuck in the Middle, Barton shifted into voice acting and occasional guest spots.^[23] He voiced Lionel in the animated series Fancy Nancy (2018-2022).^[24][25] He also voiced Leo in Elena of Avalor (2020).^[26][27] He appeared in shows like Bunk’d and Just Roll with It, continuing his Disney Channel presence.^[28][29][30] In 2019, he achieved a major movie breakthrough by playing young Diego in the live-action film Dora and the Lost City of Gold.^[31][32] He took on leading roles in Disney Channel Original Movies. In 2021, he starred as Marshall in Under Wraps, a Halloween-themed remake of the 1997 film.^[33][34] In 2022, he reprised his role in the sequel Under Wraps 2.^[35] He also starred from 2022 to 2023 as Colby Madden / Flashform in the Disney Channel Original series The Villains of Valley View, a superhero comedy series.^[36][37]

In 2024, it was confirmed that Barton had joined the cast of the Disney Channel Original movie Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires, the fourth film installment of the series.^[38] He played Victor, a vampire character, marking his debut in the fantasy/teen musical genre.^[39][40]

On August 15, 2025, it was announced that Malachi was cast as Jake for a Disney+ and Disney Channel series, "Coven Academy," slated for release in 2026.^[41]