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]
Atticus Shaffer | |
|---|---|
 Shaffer attending the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012 | |
| Born | June 19, 1998 |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, voice actor |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Known for | Role as Brick Heck in The Middle |
| Height | 4 ft 8 in (142 cm) |
Career
The Middle
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] |