Atticus Shaffer
Shaffer attending the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012
Born (1998-06-19) June 19, 1998 (age 25)
Santa Clarita, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, voice actor
Years active2007–present
Known forRole as Brick Heck in The Middle
Height4 ft 8 in (142 cm)

Atticus Ronald Shaffer (born June 19, 1998) is an American actor known for playing Brick Heck on the ABC sitcom The Middle (2009–2018), as well as for voicing Edgar in the film Frankenweenie (2012) and Ono on the Disney Junior series The Lion Guard (2016–2019), and for his brief appearance in Hancock (2008).[1]

Career

The Middle

Main articles: The Middle and List of The Middle characters

The role for which Shaffer is thus far most well-known is that of Brick Heck, a character in the American television sitcom The Middle. The role was played by Shaffer during the show's entire nine-season run, from 2009 to 2018. Brick is the youngest of the three Heck siblings, and is highly intelligent and smarter than most people his age. He loves to read and has an ongoing fascination with fonts. Brick is socially awkward, and repeatedly overlooked by the members of his family, such as forgotten birthdays. The series and its cast were nominated dozens of times for awards and won over a dozen collectively.

In a Wired magazine interview published in January 2013, Shaffer said his role as Brick was very similar to his own life, as he is also a "big reader" and "nerd[s] out over the weirdest stuff".[2] In May 2011, a TV Guide article had reported the closeness as well.[3] Brick's characterization, including his idiosyncratic palilalian repetition of words and phrases at the end of sentences, is actually based on The Middle co-creator Eileen Heisler's son, Justin.[4]

Personal life

Named after Atticus Finch, the lawyer in To Kill a Mockingbird, Shaffer was born in Santa Clarita, California, to Ron and Debbie Shaffer. He lives in Acton, California.[4][5]

Shaffer has type four osteogenesis imperfecta,[6][7][8] a condition involving a defect in type 1 collagen, which causes fragile bones and short stature. He is 4' 8" (142 cm) tall.[9][10]

Shaffer is Christian and as of 2018 had a daily Bible study with his mother, alternating between the Old and New Testaments.[11] As of 2015, the year he was baptized, he was a fan of contemporary Christian rock music and identified several Christian bands among his favorites.[9][12]

Shaffer has official YouTube and Twitch video gaming pages, titled "AtticusShafferVlog", the latter of which he announced in December 2019. He plays The Long Dark and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare among other video games.[13]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2007 The Class Jonah Episode: "The Class Rides a Bull"
Days of Our Lives Irish boy Episode 1.10632
Human Giant Wade Episode: "Mind Explosion"
2008 Carpoolers Boy Episode: "Take Your Daughter to Work Day"
Out of Jimmy's Head Aaron Episode: "Bad Fad"
2009 My Name Is Earl Space camper Episode: "Chaz Dalton's Space Academy"
2009–2018 The Middle Brick Heck Main role; 215 episodes
2010 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Himself Special guest, 1 episode
2010–2014 Fish Hooks Albert Glass Voice, 28 episodes
2011 I'm in the Band Eddie Nova, Jr. Episode: "Camp Weasel Rock"
The Penguins of Madagascar Vesuvius Twins Voice, 3 episodes
Shake It Up Zane Episode: "Beam It Up"
ThunderCats Young Emrick Voice, episode: "Song of the Petalars"
2012 See Dad Run Episode: "See Dad Find His Way Home Part 1"
2013–2018 Steven Universe Peedee Fryman Voice, recurring role
2015 Clarence Seabass Voice, episode: "Hoofin' It"
2016–2018 Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh Fox Voice, recurring role
2016–2019 The Lion Guard Ono Voice, main role[14]
2017–2022 Pete the Cat Grumpy Toad Voice, main role
2017 Pete the Cat: A Groovy New Year Voice, holiday special
2017–2019 Star vs. the Forces of Evil Dennis Voice, 3 episodes
2018–2020 Harvey Girls Forever! Melvin Voice, main role
2020 Never Have I Ever Russia Model UN representative Episode: "...started a nuclear war"
2022–present Firebuds Wayne Riley Voice, recurring role

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2008 Leaving Barstow Boy on bus
Hancock Boy at bus bench
An American Carol Timmy
2009 The Unborn Matty Newton
Opposite Day Small Man
Subject: I Love You Tommy Voice
2012 Frankenweenie Edgar "E" Gore
2013 Super Buddies Monk-E
2015 The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar Ono Voice, television film
2016 Monkey Up Mooner Voice
2017 The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar Ono Voice, television film
2018 I'll Be Next Door for Christmas Archie
2019 The Lion Guard: Battle for the Pride Lands Ono Voice, television film
2021 Arlo the Alligator Boy "Kids Things" Kid, Ice Cream Kid, Kid Bully Voice

Radio

Year Title Role Notes
2016–present Adventures in Odyssey Morrie Rydell Recurring role

Self

Year Title Notes
2009, 2010, 2011 Jimmy Kimmel Live! 3 episodes
2010, 2013, 2014, 2015 The View 4 episodes
2010, 2017 Entertainment Tonight 2 episodes
2010 The Bonnie Hunt Show Episode: "30 March 2010"
Lopez Tonight Episode: "3 November 2010"
The Tonight Show With Jay Leno Episode: #19.44
79th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade Episode: "10 December 2010"
2011 25th Annual Genesis Awards Episode: "30 April 2011"
Conan Episode: "The Container Store Of My Discontent"
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Episode: "The Sharrock Family"
2012 Good Morning America Episode: "6 February 2012"
Live with Kelly and Michael Episode: "6 February 2012"
Made in Hollywood Episode: #8.3
2013 The Queen Latifah Show Episode: #1.8
40th Annual Annie Awards Presenter
The Chew Episode: "Meals from the Heartland"
2014, 2015, 2018 Home & Family 3 episodes
2015 Celebrity Page Episode: October 16, 2015
2016 The Real Episode "15 January 2016"

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Work Result Ref.
2010/11 Young Artist Awards Outstanding Young Ensemble in a TV Series The Middle Nominated
2013 Annie Awards Voice Acting in a Feature Production Frankenweenie Nominated [15]

References

  1. ^ "About Atticus Shaffer". ABC. Archived from the original on January 31, 2010.
  2. ^ Cericola, Rachel (January 8, 2013). "5 Questions With Frankenweenie Actor Atticus Shaffer". Wired. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  3. ^ Hochman, David (May 18, 2011). "Meet 'The Middle' Scene Stealer Atticus Shaffer". TV Guide. Retrieved January 14, 2019. Shaffer is a lot like Brick, the character he plays on 'The Middle'.
  4. ^ a b Barnes, Brooks (May 6, 2010). "Everybody Loves the Weird Kid". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  5. ^ Bennett, Mark (February 27, 2011). "Caught in the 'Middle' – Terre Haute Tribune Star: Lifestyles". Tribune-Star. Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  6. ^ WENN (April 29, 2015). "Atticus Shaffer opens up about brittle bone condition". Hollywood.com. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  7. ^ Harvey, Kerry (March 6, 2015). "The Middle star says it's OK to be a nerd". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  8. ^ Gliatto, Tom; Rizzo, Monica; Hamm, Liza (April 12, 2010). "Picks and Pans Review: The Middle's Atticus Shaffer Brick's Layers". People. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  9. ^ a b Klett, Leah Marieann (March 21, 2015). "'The Middle' Star Atticus Shaffer Opens Up about Acting, His Faith, and Why He Loves Christian Rock". The Gospel Herald. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  10. ^ Klett, Leah MarieAnn (February 9, 2018). "'The Middle' Star Atticus Shaffer Credits God for Success: 'I Could Not Have Gotten Here on My Own'". The Christian Post. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  11. ^ Koslosky, Kayla, ed. (September 24, 2018). "Atticus Shaffer of 'The Middle' Talks Navigating Hollywood as a Christian". Christian Headlines. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  12. ^ Hallowell, Billy (May 21, 2018). "'The Middle' Star Reveals What Led Him to Christ". Pure Flix. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  13. ^ Shaffer, Atticus (December 3, 2019). "I'm on Twitch". YouTube. Retrieved December 5, 2019.[dead YouTube link]
  14. ^ "Here's What 'The Middle' Actor Atticus Shaffer Is Up To Now". www.thethings.com.
  15. ^ Giardina, Carolyn; Zakarin, Jordan (December 3, 2012). "Disney Leads Annie Award Best Picture Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 19, 2015.

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