CULTURE

Atticus Shaffer gives us the scoop on ABC’s The Middle

Atticus Shaffer is best known for playing the youngest Heck child, Brick Heck, on ABC’s hit comedy, The Middle, opposite comedy greats, Patricia Heaton and Neil Flynn. But did you know that Atticus is also a voice-over actor? He voiced the character, Edgar, in Disney’s Frankenweenie, and Albert Glass in Disney’s animated TV series, Fish Hooks. Or did you know that his character, Brick, is based on Eileen Heisler’s son? Eileen is one of two original creators of the series. Atticus also loves to read and his favorite subject is history. We also asked him who he’d have dinner with if he could have dinner with anyone and his answer was amazing. We love him for that answer alone, and for being the lovable, funny man that he is. Read on to find out more about this talented actor.

ATTICUS SHAFFER

 

GLITTER: What has it been like playing Brick on ABC’s The Middle?
ATTICUS: Being able to play Brick has been an amazing experience. I honestly would’ve never expected to be doing this and feel incredibly blessed that I am. I think that it is very nice and inspiring to have a character, like him, who shows it is okay to be quirky, different, and weird. And I am so proud to be able to be that character and that people enjoy Brick and The Middle so much.

GLITTER: Are you like Brick in any way? Did anyone inspire your character?
ATTICUS: The character of Brick was inspired by Eileen Heisler’s son. Eileen is one of two original creators of The Middle and her son did a lot of the things Brick does. However, I am like Brick in the sense that I walk to the beat of my own drummer. I don’t go for what is popular or “in”. My interests are my own and being different and unique is the way we were all meant to be.

GLITTER: What can we expect in the upcoming season of The Middle?
ATTICUS: Well, there is going to be a lot of changes that you will follow throughout the season, while there will be a few minor things fans will be able to enjoy for one or two episodes. Brick is growing emotionally and so he is trying to make that change from a younger person to a teenager and he’s also thinking about the future a bit more.

GLITTER: You’ve also done voice-overs as well. Which do you enjoy more: live action or voice-overs?
ATTICUS: I LOVE voice-over acting. It’s a different world from live action. In voice-over, I have the creative challenge and opportunity to develop a wider range of characters that can be as low key or as over the top as I can make them, or is desired by the creative talents of animation. You can say the same line 50 different ways and it’s gratifying to learn how to think in that creative way. I’ve been extremely blessed to become a part of this artistic community. Being around the creative artists, writers, and fellow actors is an amazing experience. We all love our work and it comes out in what we do.

GLITTER: What type of roles do you like to play?
ATTICUS: I love playing quirky characters, but I’ve been given roles on several different animation projects now and what I do has expanded. I love British humor. I love being random and I also love serious roles too, but roles that have a fantasy style edge to them. I also enjoyed playing a darker character with my role of Edgar in Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie. I love having the opportunity to play many different types of characters in roles.

GLITTER: What is the last book you read?
ATTICUS: I actually multi-read, and have more than one book I read at the same time. I have veered over from fiction to reading a lot of non-fiction books. One of my favorite subjects is history, especially military history, and I recently picked up a book about the styles of military uniforms which were used from the 1700’s until present, that is interesting. I’m into prepping for emergencies and have been reading about topics on survival. I loved the book, Hatchet, about a boy that survived a plane crash and his main tool of survival was a hatchet.

GLITTER: What’s your favorite quote or saying?
ATTICUS: I have so many. I love quotations that range from the Transcendentalist Movement of Ralph Waldo Emerson, to Scripture, to poems, to quotes from many other books. One of my favorites is, “If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”–Henry David Thoreau

GLITTER: Who is your inspiration?
ATTICUS: My mom has always been there for me. She’s very inspiring to me, for her spiritual strength and perseverance, and her appreciation of the older, more homestead-like ways.

GLITTER: If you could have dinner with anyone alive or dead, who would it be and what would you ask them?
ATTICUS:
Okay, here’s my dinner table party…Jesus Christ, Ghandi, Mother Theresa, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King…all to learn about great leadership, leading to freedom and peace…and…also, Robin Williams…for comedy relief and creative genius.

GLITTER: If you weren’t acting, what would you like to do instead?
ATTICUS: I actually have become extremely immersed in writing, and I would love to move into directing and writing after I graduate. I will always love voice-over work, and I can’t imagine myself not doing something in that field.

GLITTER: Do you have a celebrity crush? If so, who?
ATTICUS:
Hahaha! I know too much about this business to have a celebrity crush.

GLITTER: What are some of your favorite fall activities?
ATTICUS: I love the changing seasons. I love the smells and the feel of everything. I love Thanksgiving and being with my family while dinner is cooking and sitting around the table eating. I love the whole harvest-time feel to things. Occasionally, my family has parties with that theme, by putting on an old fashioned hootenanny with carnival games, hay bales, bluegrass music and great food.

GLITTER: Favorite subject in school?
ATTICUS: I love history, specifically military history. It’s NOT that I approve of war. It’s because I’m interested in how mankind deals with conflict and how to resolve these problems. It’s about great leadership and learning about the past so that we do not repeat mistakes. It’s also fascinating to learn about the tactics and development of everything throughout time.

GLITTER: Can fans follow you through social media?
ATTICUS:
Yes. You can find me on Facebook at The OFFICIAL Atticus Shaffer Fan Page, Twitter @AtticusShaffer2 and YouTube at AtticusShafferVlog

 

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