Atticus Shaffer is 14 but plays a 4th grader. - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Yong Fang · 10-29-2012, 05:51 AM

Atticus Shaffer, who plays Brick is 14 years old. However, he has a genetic bone disorder (from his mother) called Osteogenesis Imperfecta. This is the Wiki on the subject.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteogenesis_Imperfecta

I noticed this season that his voice is deeper, but he still looks like he is 9 years old instead of 14. He is the same age as Rico Rodriguez, who plays Manny on Modern Family.

Is Atticus going to be a small, boy like person for the rest of his life, since he is already past the age of puberty? If this show lasts five more years, with Axl and Sue in college, is Brick going to still be in the 5th grade?

LeeBlue · 10-30-2012, 01:45 PM

I would like Brick to be allowed to grow up a little more each year..
..
Brick should be at least in the 6th grade by now..
..
I think it was the Beaver who wasn't allowed to grow up and the stories became ridiculous.
..
Hopefully The Middle will do better.
..

Chocolate Moose · 11-15-2012, 01:14 PM

you can hear that his voice is deeper. that's ridiculous.

Marvo301 · 11-15-2012, 02:41 PM

Gary Coleman had the same problem on Diff'rent Strokes. His medical condition (kidney disease) and it's treatment stunted his growth and caused him to be small for his age. As the series went on Gary was becoming a teenager and his character was still being written as little kid. Gary fought with the writers and producers to let his character grow up but it didn't happen till late in the series run when a younger cuter kid (Danny Cooksey) was added to the cast as a step sibling. The anger and frustration Gary felt stayed with him the rest of his life. I hope and pray the same thing doesn't happen to Atticus.

catlover79 · 11-15-2012, 07:08 PM

I've seen Atticus in interviews and he seems to be a pretty grounded kid from a good family. He doesn't seem to feel sorry for himself about his condition. That said, sometimes they keep one face to the public and what goes on in private can be another thing altogether. I too hope that Atticus doesn't go the way of Gary Coleman and others.

comedyfreak · 12-28-2012, 01:18 PM

His voice is changing so they're going to have to age him some.

PrettyinPink55 · 01-05-2013, 10:27 PM

The change in his voice is very noticeable. I wonder how they'll go forward with his character in the future. I love Brick's character, btw!!!

I love all the Heck kids!!! Sue's my favorite though!!

stevea · 01-25-2013, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeBlue

I would like Brick to be allowed to grow up a little more each year..
..
Brick should be at least in the 6th grade by now..
..
I think it was the Beaver who wasn't allowed to grow up and the stories became ridiculous.
..
Hopefully The Middle will do better.
..

Right. Jerry Mathers was older than the Beaver. They finally had him skip the seventh grade after the fifth season, because he really had a growth spurt.

10-29-2012, 05:51 AM	#1
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	Atticus Shaffer is 14 but plays a 4th grader. Atticus Shaffer, who plays Brick is 14 years old. However, he has a genetic bone disorder (from his mother) called Osteogenesis Imperfecta. This is the Wiki on the subject. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteogenesis_Imperfecta I noticed this season that his voice is deeper, but he still looks like he is 9 years old instead of 14. He is the same age as Rico Rodriguez, who plays Manny on Modern Family. Is Atticus going to be a small, boy like person for the rest of his life, since he is already past the age of puberty? If this show lasts five more years, with Axl and Sue in college, is Brick going to still be in the 5th grade?

10-30-2012, 01:45 PM	#2
LeeBlue Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 16, 2006 Location: NYS Posts: 871	Atticus Shaffer is 14 but plays a 4th grader I would like Brick to be allowed to grow up a little more each year.. .. Brick should be at least in the 6th grade by now.. .. I think it was the Beaver who wasn't allowed to grow up and the stories became ridiculous. .. Hopefully The Middle will do better. ..

11-15-2012, 01:14 PM	#3
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,898	you can hear that his voice is deeper. that's ridiculous.
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11-15-2012, 02:41 PM	#4
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,453	Gary Coleman had the same problem on Diff'rent Strokes. His medical condition (kidney disease) and it's treatment stunted his growth and caused him to be small for his age. As the series went on Gary was becoming a teenager and his character was still being written as little kid. Gary fought with the writers and producers to let his character grow up but it didn't happen till late in the series run when a younger cuter kid (Danny Cooksey) was added to the cast as a step sibling. The anger and frustration Gary felt stayed with him the rest of his life. I hope and pray the same thing doesn't happen to Atticus.
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11-15-2012, 07:08 PM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I've seen Atticus in interviews and he seems to be a pretty grounded kid from a good family. He doesn't seem to feel sorry for himself about his condition. That said, sometimes they keep one face to the public and what goes on in private can be another thing altogether. I too hope that Atticus doesn't go the way of Gary Coleman and others.
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12-28-2012, 01:18 PM	#6
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,059	His voice is changing so they're going to have to age him some.
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01-05-2013, 10:27 PM	#7
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	The change in his voice is very noticeable. I wonder how they'll go forward with his character in the future. I love Brick's character, btw!!! I love all the Heck kids!!! Sue's my favorite though!!
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