{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}} {{Short description|Fictional character in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Infobox character | series = Diary of a Wimpy Kid | franchise = Diary of a Wimpy Kid | image = Greg Heffley.svg | first = ''Diary of a Wimpy Kid'' (2007 book){{efn|This was a predecessor to the original book, published on Funbrain.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kramer |first=Katie |title='Diary of a Wimpy Kid' goes from cartoonist to author |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/31/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-goes-from-cartoonist-to-author.html |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=CNBC |date=October 31, 2015 |language=en}}</ref>}} | first_date = 2007 | creator = Jeff Kinney | designer = Jeff Kinney | occupation = Student | gender = Male | family = Frank Heffley (father)<br/>Susan Heffley (mother)<br/>Manny Heffley (younger brother)<br/>Rodrick Heffley (older brother)<br/>Gramma (maternal grandmother)<br/>Grampa (maternal grandfather; possibly deceased) | nickname = Greg | full_name = Gregory Heffley | home = 12 Surrey Street, Plainview | based_on = | portrayer = Zachary Gordon (2010–2012)<br/>Nathaniel Marten (2010, cameo as an adult in a flash-forward)<br/>Dylan Bell (2010, cameo as a kindergartener in a flashback)<br/>Jason Drucker (2017)<br />Patrick Scott McDermott/Huxley Westemeier (''Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical'')<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-01 |title=Theater review: New version of 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical' from Children's Theatre is relentlessly entertaining |url=https://www.twincities.com/2022/05/01/theater-review-new-version-of-diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-musical-from-childrens-theatre-is-relentlessly-entertaining/ |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=Twin Cities |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cristi |first=A. A. |title=Cast and Creative Team Announced For DIARY OF A WIMPY KID The Musical |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/minneapolis/article/Cast-and-Creative-Team-Announced-For-DIARY-OF-A-WIMPY-KID-The-Musical-20220315 |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What Excites the Cast of 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid the Musical' {{!}} Children's Theatre Company |url=https://childrenstheatre.org/2022/03/15/what-excites-the-cast-of-diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-musical/ |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=childrenstheatre.org |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dunkelberger |first=Rob |date=2022-05-23 |title=Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical at The Children's Theatre Company |url=https://thestagesofmn.com/2022/05/23/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-musical-at-the-childrens-theatre-company/ |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=The Stages of MN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Rohan Preston Star |title='Diary of a Wimpy Kid' gets on its feet again |url=https://www.startribune.com/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-gets-on-its-feet-again/600172610/ |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=Star Tribune|date=May 12, 2022 }}</ref> | voice = L.J. Bennet (singing voice for live action 2010 film)<br/>Brady Noon (CGI film series, 2021–2022)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cejer |first=Autumn |date=2021-12-04 |title=Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2021 Cast Guide: What The Actors Look Like |url=https://screenrant.com/diary-wimpy-kid-2021-cast-characters-actors/ |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=ScreenRant |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Monaghan |first=Jeremiah |date=2021-12-03 |title=Brady Noon on Bringing Greg Heffley to Life in 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' - Exclusive Interview |url=https://discussingfilm.net/2021/12/03/brady-noon-on-bringing-greg-heffley-to-life-in-diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-exclusive-interview/amp/ |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=DiscussingFilm |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Halls |first=Kiara |date=2021-12-09 |title=Diary of a Wimpy Kid Star Explains His Take on Greg Heffley |url=https://www.cbr.com/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-brady-noon-greg-heffley/ |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=CBR |language=en-US}}</ref><br/>Wesley Kimmel (CGI film series, 2023)<br>Aaron D. Harris (CGI film series, 2025)<ref>[https://whatsondisneyplus.com/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-last-straw-poster-released/] </ref> | nationality = American }} '''Gregory''' "'''Greg'''" '''Heffley''' is a fictional character in the ''Diary of a Wimpy Kid'' franchise, serving as the antiheroic main protagonist and unreliable narrator of the books, online series, and multimedia franchise. He was created by Jeff Kinney, and portrayed by Zachary Gordon and Jason Drucker in the first three films and the fourth film, respectively.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
==Characteristics and role== Greg was originally conceptualized in early 1998, after creator Jeff Kinney struggled to become a newspaper cartoonist.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Jeff Kinney on how Greg Heffley happened |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/culture/books/jeff-kinney-the-man-behind-wimpy-kid-on-how-greg-heffley-happened-and-why-rowley-jefferson-got-his-own-series/cid/1791053 |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=www.telegraphindia.com|date=2020-05-09|last=Saba|first=Shrestha|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922005203/https://www.telegraphindia.com/culture/books/jeff-kinney-the-man-behind-wimpy-kid-on-how-greg-heffley-happened-and-why-rowley-jefferson-got-his-own-series/cid/1791053|archive-date=2022-09-22}}</ref> Greg is obsessed with his social status, but is bullied by the bigger students at his school and his older teenage brother, Rodrick. He often mistreats his best and only friend, Rowley, for being wimpy and socially inept, despite Rowley having generally good social relationships and a happy family and life. Greg receives bad grades in school, is addicted to video games, especially the fictional ''Twisted Wizard'', and loves junk food. Despite these negative traits, he does show humanity, sensitivity, and care for those he loves.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beukeboom |first=Kathryn |date=2021-09-14 |title=Becoming a wimpy man |url=https://thestrand.ca/becoming-a-wimpy-man/ |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=The Strand |language=en-CA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922005204/https://thestrand.ca/becoming-a-wimpy-man/|archive-date=2022-09-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Character List |url=https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid/characters/ |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=SparkNotes |language=en |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922005200/https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid/characters/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-01-07 |title=I write about situations most kids can relate to, says author Jeff Kinney |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/i-write-about-situations-most-kids-can-relate-to-says-author-jeff-kinney/story-OzSJjpZJzT0nHhibKWRzkM.html |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en|last=Iyer|first=Ram|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922235943/https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/i-write-about-situations-most-kids-can-relate-to-says-author-jeff-kinney/story-OzSJjpZJzT0nHhibKWRzkM.html|archive-date=2022-09-22}}</ref>
Because of these qualities, internet users began to question if Greg was a sociopath. Jeff Kinney stated:<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Colangelo |first=B. J. |date=2021-12-07 |title=Diary Of A Wimpy Kid's Creator Says Greg Isn't A Sociopath, He's Just A 12-Year-Old |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/680285/diary-of-a-wimpy-kids-creator-says-greg-isnt-a-sociopath-hes-just-a-12-year-old/ |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=SlashFilm.com |language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922005157/https://www.slashfilm.com/680285/diary-of-a-wimpy-kids-creator-says-greg-isnt-a-sociopath-hes-just-a-12-year-old/|archive-date=2022-09-22}}</ref> {{Blockquote|text=Greg is recording his life at a time when he shouldn't be recording. It's right when he's not a fully formed person, and I think that people that give Greg a label are sort of missing the joke. Right off the bat, Greg says, "One day when I'm rich and famous, I won't have time to answer people's stupid questions." Whatever that is – I'm not sure how you label that – it's misguided. It's a little bit cocksure. But I don't think it's anything worse than that.}} Kinney, on separate occasions, has also clarified that Greg is supposed to represent an average and normal selfish middle schooler.<ref name="Whitehouse">{{Cite web |last=Whitehouse |first=Beth |title=Talking with wimpy kid author Jeff Kinney - U.S. News - News |url=https://www.catholic.org/news/national/story.php?id=31977 |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=Catholic Online |language=en|date=2009-02-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203021121/https://www.catholic.org/news/national/story.php?id=31977|archive-date=2024-12-03}}</ref> Kinney never intended to write books for children, which is why Greg is a complicated and flawed character.<ref name=":2" /> Kinney has also denied the sociopath theories stating he always saw Greg as an "accurate kid" and people who give him that distinction are "missing the joke".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://screenrant.com/is-greg-heffley-sociopath-diary-wimpy-kid-director-actor/ | title=Is Greg Heffley a Sociopath? Diary of a Wimpy Kid Creatives Weigh in | website=Screen Rant | date=May 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510182947/https://screenrant.com/is-greg-heffley-sociopath-diary-wimpy-kid-director-actor/|archive-date=May 10, 2023|last=Thapa|first=Shaurya}}</ref><ref name=":3" />
==Film appearances== {{Main|Diary of a Wimpy Kid (film series)}}
In the original trilogy of the film series adaptations, Greg was portrayed by actor Zachary Gordon.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days - In Theaters August 3 |url=http://www.diaryofawimpykidmovie.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731033841/http://www.diaryofawimpykidmovie.com/ |archive-date=July 31, 2012 |access-date=October 2, 2022 |website=diaryofawimpykidmovie.com}}</ref> In the film adaptation of ''The Long Haul'' however, Greg was instead portrayed by Jason Drucker.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul: 20th Century Studios Family |url=https://family.20thcenturystudios.com/movies/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-long-haul |access-date=October 2, 2022 |website=20th Century Studios|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002232705/https://family.20thcenturystudios.com/movies/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-long-haul|archive-date=October 2, 2022}}</ref> After the film series was given a reboot during the acquisition of 21st Century Fox, Greg was voiced by Brady Noon in the animated adaptation of the first book and its sequel.<ref>{{Citation |title=Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Official Trailer - IGN Video |date=October 19, 2021 |url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/10/19/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-official-trailer |access-date=2021-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515020005/https://www.ign.com/videos/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-official-trailer |url-status=live |language=en |archive-date=2022-05-15}}</ref> He was voiced by Wesley Kimmel in the third animated film.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever Cast |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/movies/Diary-of-a-Wimpy-Kid-Christmas-Cabin-Fever/ |access-date=5 October 2023 |website=Behind The Voice Actors|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917092833/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/movies/Diary-of-a-Wimpy-Kid-Christmas-Cabin-Fever/|archive-date=17 September 2023}}</ref>
==Reception== [[File:Macys Thanksgiving Parade (26845799939).jpg|thumb|left|Greg in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade]]
Due to Greg's narcissistic and selfish traits, some parents have questioned whether Greg's depiction has a negative influence on children.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Some Parents Wary Of 'Wimpy Kid' Series |language=en |work=NPR.org |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114051484 |access-date=2022-09-22|date=2008-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922005157/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114051484|archive-date=2022-09-22}}</ref><ref name="Whitehouse" /> In 2008, Jewish publication Aish<!--Doesn't have its own Wikipedia article, brief description of the publication may be necessary --> called the character "totally diabolical" and that parents should avoid the series at all costs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burnham |date=2009-10-28 |title=Diary of a Wimpy Writer |url=https://aish.com/66867107/ |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=aish.com |language=en-US|first=Rabbi Leiby|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922005204/https://aish.com/66867107/|archive-date=2022-09-22}}</ref> In Texas in October 2018, Greg's bad morals and pessimistic world view challenged the book to be banned by some school districts.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Dellinger |first1=Hannah |last2=Serrano |first2=Alejandro |date=2022-03-17 |title=Texas has seen a surge in requests to pull books from schools. Here are Houston's numbers so far |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/Houston-schools-book-ban-requests-surge-2022-17004900.php |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=Houston Chronicle |language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922005158/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/Houston-schools-book-ban-requests-surge-2022-17004900.php|archive-date=2022-09-22}}</ref> Tidy Books wrote that Greg never learned from his lessons and rarely gets punished or gives sincere apologies, and that the writing is too subtle for kids to realize that he is doing the wrong thing and is an unreliable narrator.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-01-10 |title=Should you be reading to children, even if book characters are bad ? |url=https://uk.tidybooks.com/blog/can-book-characters-have-a-bad-influence/ |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=Official Tidy Books UK Store |language=en-GB|last=Newbold|first=Ian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922010706/https://uk.tidybooks.com/blog/can-book-characters-have-a-bad-influence/|archive-date=2022-09-22}}</ref> Some, such as reviewer Declan Rowles, have criticized the disapproval against the character, stating that the series doesn't glorify Greg's behavior and the majority of children understand that.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rowles |first1=Declan |title=How 'Diary of the Wimpy Kid' Is like 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' |url=https://www.pajiba.com/tv_reviews/how-diary-of-the-wimpy-kid-is-like-its-always-sunny-in-philadelphia.php |website=Pajiba |access-date=21 December 2024 |date=20 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250214010014/https://www.pajiba.com/tv_reviews/how-diary-of-the-wimpy-kid-is-like-its-always-sunny-in-philadelphia.php|archive-date=14 February 2025}}</ref>
His film counterpart was given similar reception as Rotten Tomatoes has said that Greg is an "unlikable protagonist".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010) |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/diary_of_a_wimpy_kid/ |access-date=August 29, 2010 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Flixster|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919000253/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/diary_of_a_wimpy_kid/|archive-date=September 19, 2010}}</ref> Margaret Pomeranz disliked the character of Greg Heffley, saying "I really thought he was unpleasant. I did not want to spend time with him. I couldn't wait for the end of this film."<ref>{{Cite episode |title=29 September 2010 |series=At the Movies |series-link=At the Movies (Australian TV series) |network=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=29 September 2010 |transcript=29 September 2010 |transcript-url=http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s3005044.htm |credits=David Stratton, Margaret Pomeranz}}</ref> However, reception to the character improved since the first film and in her review of the ''Dog Days'' film, Abby West of ''Entertainment Weekly'' wrote that "though often self-centered and conniving, Greg remains a likeable kid".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=West |first=Abby |date=10 August 2012 |title=Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days review |url=https://ew.com/article/2012/08/10/diary-wimpy-kid-dog-days-review/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=18 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718165358/https://ew.com/article/2012/08/10/diary-wimpy-kid-dog-days-review/|archive-date=18 July 2021}}</ref>
Greg's character has also garnered widespread acclaim for his relatability and anti-hero status.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ten years ago, Jeff Kinney created a new kind of comic hero |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/ten-years-ago-jeff-kinney-created-a-new-kind-of-comic-hero/2017/04/26/56e12238-2a9b-11e7-b605-33413c691853_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=21 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426182209/https://www.washingtonpost.com/web/20170426182209/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/ten-years-ago-jeff-kinney-created-a-new-kind-of-comic-hero/2017/04/26/56e12238-2a9b-11e7-b605-33413c691853_story.html |archive-date=26 April 2017 |date=26 April 2017|url-access=registration}}</ref> In a review, Sebastian Hall for ''Cherwell'' remarked that Greg embodied the disillusionment and irony characteristic of modern comic heroes. Hall argued that Greg's self-delusion and hubris, such as his attempts to belittle Rowley Jefferson or his misguided pursuit of popularity, is central to the series' humor. He compares Greg's struggles with contemporary issues, like technology clashes and commercialism, to literary figures like Adrian Mole and Gordon Comstock, portraying him as a voice of modern frustrations.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hall |first1=Sebastian |title=Greg Heffley: A Hero of Our Time |url=https://cherwell.org/2024/03/08/greg-heffley-a-hero-of-our-time/ |website=Cherwell |access-date=21 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613112706/https://cherwell.org/2024/03/08/greg-heffley-a-hero-of-our-time/ |archive-date=13 June 2024 |date=8 March 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Diary of a Wimpy Kid}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Heffley, Greg}} Category:Child characters in film Category:Child characters in literature Category:Diary of a Wimpy Kid Category:Fictional diarists Category:Fictional pranksters Category:Fictional school bullies Category:Literary characters introduced in 2004 Category:Male characters in film Category:Male characters in literature Category:Teenage characters in film Category:Teenage characters in literature