Atticus Shaffer
He brought a unique physicality and deadpan wit to the role of a lovably oddball middle child on a hit sitcom for nearly a decade.
Born 1998 (age 28)·American actor·Birthday: June 19·Generation Z
Biography
Atticus Shaffer entered the public eye not as a typical child actor, but as a performer whose distinct presence felt immediately authentic. Born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a condition that affects bone density, he never let that define his career, instead channeling his experience into a nuanced understanding of outsider characters. His breakout role as Brick Heck on 'The Middle' was a masterclass in understated comedy, turning a boy who whispered to his backpack into a cultural touchstone for awkward adolescence. Beyond live-action, his voice has animated characters from the gothic stop-motion world of 'Frankenweenie' to the African savannah of 'The Lion Guard,' showcasing a versatile range. Off-screen, Shaffer is an advocate for disability representation and a self-professed nerd, openly sharing his passions for animation history and vintage culture with a dedicated online following.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Atticus was born in 1998, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Atticus Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Atticus's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed the central character Brick Heck for all nine seasons of the ABC sitcom 'The Middle,' from 2009 to 2018.
- Voiced the lead role of Ono the egret in the Disney Junior animated series 'The Lion Guard.'
- Provided the voice for Edgar in Tim Burton's critically acclaimed stop-motion film 'Frankenweenie.'
- Has been a recurring voice actor on the long-running audio drama 'Adventures in Odyssey' as the character Morrie Rydell.
Did You Know?
He is a passionate advocate for people with osteogenesis imperfecta and has served as a national ambassador for the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation.
Shaffer is an avid collector of vintage cartoon memorabilia and classic monster movie props.
He and his 'The Middle' co-star Charlie McDermott created a popular YouTube channel reviewing fast-food items.
He provided the voice for a young Bruce Wayne in an episode of the animated series 'Batman: The Brave and the Bold.'
“I don't let my disability define me. It's a part of who I am, but it's not the only thing about me.”
