<Tr> <Td> Kenneth Mars </Td> <Td> Otto Mannkusser </Td> <Td_colspan="3"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Meagen Fay </Td> <Td> Gretchen Mannkusser </Td> <Td_colspan="3"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> </Tr> <P> Hal, played by Bryan Cranston (all 151 episodes), is the father of the family . Though relaxed in his parenting when compared to Lois, Hal has shown that he can slide into a disciplinarian when confronted by the boys' bad behavior . He used to be like his sons himself and mostly he used to be like Francis . Until he married Lois and she nurtured him . He comes from a wealthy family who resent his choice to marry Lois over Susan (an action also shared by Victor and Ida). Hal has a hard time making good decisions, which he often deferred to Lois . Despite the fact many of the neighbors hate his family but mostly they hate Lois, Hal blends in well with them . He loves Lois more than she loves him, never even thinking about other women . He is also very scared of her, even more than the boys are, which is why he often bribes their sons to take the fall for his wrongdoings . He is very devoted to Lois and willing to give the kids punishment they deserve that Lois gives them . Lois is usually head of the household and Hal is second in Command . He is very neurotic and has a slight obsessive - compulsive disorder, and also enjoys unusual hobbies . Hal is also a sex addict, this was revealed in the episode "Forbidden Girlfriend" when Lois is taking medication and is unable to have sex for an entire week, it is mentioned again in the episode "Poker 2" when Hal tells his friends he has sex 14 times per week . It was also revealed that Hal was a chain smoker before quitting the habit . Hal's best friend is Abe Kenarban . He works in a lower management job in a corporation that he always hated, he used to be an executive and got demoted when he mouths off to his boss season 2 finale . </P> <P> Francis, played by Christopher Kennedy Masterson (119 episodes), is the oldest of the brothers, whom Malcolm often looks up to . It is revealed in the episodes "Sleepover" and "The Bots and the Bees" in season one that Francis was a breech birth, and in "Flashback" in season 2, that Lois was in labor with him during her and Hal's wedding . A rebel from birth, showing signs of Attention - Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Conduct Disorder, he was exiled to Marlin Academy by Lois for his behavior before eventually emancipating himself to run away from the Academy to work in Alaska, incurring his mother's wrath . Upon moving to Alaska, he marries a local woman named Piama, who is about one year older than him, and had previously been married briefly, and whom Lois doesn't like . In the series finale, Hal discovers that Francis has taken a job with Amerysis, and Francis admits he likes sitting at a desk sorting computer data . However, he also admits that he has no intentions of telling Lois about the job and enjoys torturing her by telling her that he's still unemployed . </P>

Who played malcolm's girlfriend in malcolm in the middle