American actor (born 1998)
Atticus Shaffer
Born (1998-06-19 ) June 19, 1998 (age 27) Occupations Years active 2007–present Known for Role as Brick Heck in The Middle YouTube information
Channel Genre Subscribers 50.1K[ 1] Views 2,441,215[ 1] Last updated: August 27, 2025
Atticus Shaffer (born June 19, 1998) is an American actor and YouTuber . He is known for playing Brick Heck on the ABC sitcom The Middle (2009–2018), as well for voicing Edgar in the movie Frankenweenie (2012) and Ono on the Disney Junior series The Lion Guard (2016–2019), and for his brief appearance in Hancock (2008).[ 2] Shaffer also voices Morrie Rydell on Focus on the Family’s Adventures in Odyssey .
Early life
Shaffer was born in Santa Clarita, California , to Ron and Debbie (née Solgot) Shaffer[ 3] and was named after the fictional character Atticus Finch from the book "To Kill a Mockingbird ".[ 4] [ 5]
Career
The Middle
Shaffer is most known for his role as Brick Heck in The Middle , which he played throughout the series' entire nine-season run, from 2009 to 2018. Brick is the youngest of the three Heck children, and is highly intelligent and smarter than most people at 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. The series and its cast were nominated for awards dozens of times and won over a dozen collectively.
In a Wired magazine interview published in January 2013, Shaffer said his role as Brick was similar to his own life, as he is also a "big reader" and "nerd[s] out over the weirdest stuff".[ 6] In May 2011, a TV Guide article had reported the closeness as well.[ 7] Brick's characterization, including his idiosyncratic palilalian repetition of words and phrases at the end of sentences, is based on Justin Heisler, the son of The Middle co-creator Eileen Heisler.[ 8]
YouTube and Twitch
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.[ 9]
Personal life
Shaffer lives in Acton, California .[ 8] [ 10] and has type four osteogenesis imperfecta ,[ 11] [ 12] [ 13] a condition involving a defect in collagen that causes fragile bones and short stature. He is 4 ft 8 in (142 cm) tall.[ 14] [ 15]
Shaffer is a Christian and as of 2018 had a daily Bible study with his mother, alternating between the Old and New Testaments.[ 16] 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.[ 14] [ 17]
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, Kid Fish
Voice, 28 episodes[ 18]
2011
I'm in the Band
Eddie Nova Jr.
Episode: "Camp Weasel Rock"
The Penguins of Madagascar
Vesuvius Twins
Voice, 3 episodes[ 18]
Shake It Up
Zane
Episode: "Beam It Up"
ThunderCats
Young Emrick
Voice, episode: "Song of the Petalars"[ 18]
2013–2018
Steven Universe
Peedee Fryman
Voice, recurring role (10 episodes)[ 18]
2015
Clarence
Seabass
Voice, episode: "Hoofin' It"
2016–2018
Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh
Fox
Voice, recurring role[ 18]
2016–2019
The Lion Guard
Ono
Voice, main cast[ 19] [ 18]
2017–2022
Pete the Cat
Grumpy Toad
Voice, main cast
2017–2019
Star vs. the Forces of Evil
Dennis
Voice, 3 episodes[ 18]
2018–2020
Harvey Girls Forever!
Melvin, Lobgrilla
Voice, main cast[ 18]
2020
Never Have I Ever
Russia Model UN representative
Episode: "...started a nuclear war"
2022–present
Firebuds
Wayne Riley
Voice, recurring role
Film
Radio
Self
Awards and nominations
References
^ a b "About AtticusShafferVlog" . YouTube .
^ "About Atticus Shaffer" . ABC. Archived from the original on January 31, 2010.
^ "Annena J. Shaffer - Colorado Springs, Colorado" . www.legacy.com .
^ "Momma Debbie's Pumpkin Pie Baking Extravaganza! (FROM SCRATCH!)" . youtube.com .
^ Patten, Kyan (January 20, 2024). "The Stunning Transformation Of Atticus Shaffer" . The List . Retrieved July 27, 2025 .
^ Cericola, Rachel (January 8, 2013). "5 Questions With Frankenweenie Actor Atticus Shaffer" . Wired . Retrieved January 14, 2019 .
^ 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'.
^ a b Barnes, Brooks (May 6, 2010). "Everybody Loves the Weird Kid" . The New York Times . Retrieved January 14, 2019 .
^ Shaffer, Atticus (December 3, 2019). "I'm on Twitch" . YouTube . Retrieved December 5, 2019 . [dead YouTube link ]
^ 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 .
^ WENN (April 29, 2015). "Atticus Shaffer opens up about brittle bone condition" . Hollywood.com. Retrieved May 25, 2018 .
^ Harvey, Kerry (March 6, 2015). "The Middle star says it's OK to be a nerd" . Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved May 25, 2018 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ Koslosky, Kayla, ed. (September 24, 2018). "Atticus Shaffer of 'The Middle' Talks Navigating Hollywood as a Christian" . Christian Headlines . Retrieved September 26, 2018 .
^ Hallowell, Billy (May 21, 2018). " 'The Middle' Star Reveals What Led Him to Christ" . Pure Flix . Retrieved January 11, 2018 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Atticus Shaffer (visual voices guide)" . Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved May 4, 2024 . A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
^ Spencer, Anthony (October 20, 2020). "Here's What 'The Middle' Actor Atticus Shaffer Is Up To Now" . The Things .
^ Giardina, Carolyn; Zakarin, Jordan (December 3, 2012). "Disney Leads Annie Award Best Picture Nominations" . The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved September 19, 2015 .
External links
International National Other