Jeff Kinney

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Jeff Kinney
Jeff Kinney Book Signing, November 2011 (1).jpg
Kinney in November 2011
BornJeffrey Patrick Kinney
(1971-02-19) February 19, 1971 (age 53)
Fort Washington, Maryland, U.S.
Occupation
  • Author
  • cartoonist
  • game designer
  • producer
  • actor
Education University of Maryland, College Park (BA)
Period1999–present
Genre Children's novels, realistic fiction, satire, comedy
Subject
  • Novels
  • films
Notable works Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Poptropica
Spouse
Julie Kinney
​
(m. 2003)​
Children2
Website
wimpykid.com OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Jeffrey Patrick Kinney (born February 19, 1971) [1] is an American author and cartoonist. He is best known for creating, writing and illustrating the children's book series Diary of a Wimpy Kid . He also created the child-oriented website Poptropica .

Contents

Early life

Jeff Kinney was born and raised in Fort Washington, Maryland. Kinney attended Potomac Landing Elementary School and later Bishop McNamara High School, where he graduated in 1989. He has an older brother and sister, and a younger brother. [2] He is of Irish descent. [3] He attended the University of Maryland, College Park in the early 1990s. It was in college that Kinney created a popular comic strip, Igdoof, which ran in the school student newspaper, The Diamondback . [4] Kinney graduated from the University of Maryland in 1993, originally majoring in computer science but switching to criminal justice in order to have more time to work on his comic. [5] In 2021 he was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa as an alumnus of the University of Maryland.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series

In January 1998, Kinney brought up the idea of a middle-school weakling named Greg Heffley, who writes illustrated stories about his personal life. In May 2004, Funbrain and Jeff Kinney released an online version of the story, titled Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The website made daily entries until June 2005. [6] He worked on his book for almost eight years, before showing it to a publisher in New York City, U.S.

In February 2006, during the New York Comic Con, Jeff signed a multi-book deal with publisher Harry N. Abrams, Inc., to turn Diary of a Wimpy Kid into a print series. [7]

The book became an instant hit, with the online version receiving about 20 million views as of 2007. When many online readers requested a printed version, Kinney agreed, and in April 2007, Diary of a Wimpy Kid was published. [8] To date, 31 Wimpy Kid books have been released, including a movie diary and a Do-It-Yourself Book, and a biography that Greg’s best friend Rowley Jefferson wrote. [9] In April 2009, TIME named Kinney one of The World's Most Influential People. [10] In 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2016 the series won a Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award for Favorite Book. [11] The series is still ongoing, with the latest mainstream book called Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer.

To promote the release of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer, Kinney embarked on book tour across the West Coast of the United States titled "The No Brainer Show" from October 23 to November 8, 2023. [12] [13] Kinney dedicated the tour to libraries and librarians, making a personal donation of $100,000 for libraries along the tour. [12] He also partnered with 11 publishers to acquire "high interest, diverse books to distribute to libraries and to kids we meet along the way". [14] Each stop featured a game show hosted by Kinney, where participants could win prizes on behalf of their local library. [13]

Professional work

Kinney at a book signing event in Israel, 2016 Jeff Kinney in Israel 2016.jpg
Kinney at a book signing event in Israel, 2016

Kinney works full-time as a writer and illustrator. He also created the kid-friendly website Poptropica which includes two islands called "Wimpy Wonderland" and "Wimpy Boardwalk", where the Diary of a Wimpy Kid characters and events are featured in the Poptropica universe. [15]

Over 275 million copies of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books have sold globally as of 2023 [16] and the series was developed into feature films for which Kinney served as executive producer.

In May 2015, Kinney and his wife Julie opened "An Unlikely Story," a local bookstore and cafe in Plainville, Massachusetts. [17] Kinney advocates that kids should spend time reading as an alternative to screen time. [18]

Kinney guest-hosted 10 episodes of the 10th season of WGBH local quiz bowl production High School Quiz Show while regular host Billy Costa was away on a special assignment. Kinney hosted the second half of the first-round games, the quarter-finals, and the semi-finals, while Costa hosted the first half of the first-round games and returned to Boston in time for the finals. [19]

Personal life

On December 14, 2003, Jeff Kinney married Julie Kinney. They have two sons together. [20] He currently lives in Plainville, Massachusetts. [21] He is Catholic. [22]

In June 2020 when Manny, a character he created in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, became an internet meme relating to the protests arising from the murder of George Floyd, Kinney expressed a distaste for the sensation, stating, "I don't like it. The Black Lives Matter movement needs to be taken seriously... I think that assigning a cartoon character to (the movement) trivializes it." [23]

Publications

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

  1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (April 1, 2007)
  2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (February 1, 2008)
  3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (January 13, 2009)
  4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (October 12, 2009)
  5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth (November 9, 2010)
  6. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever (November 15, 2011)
  7. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel (November 13, 2012)
  8. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck (November 5, 2013)
  9. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (November 4, 2014)
  10. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School (November 3, 2015)
  11. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down (November 1, 2016)
  12. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway (November 7, 2017)
  13. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown (October 30, 2018)
  14. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball (November 5, 2019)
  15. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Deep End (October 27, 2020)
  16. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Big Shot (October 26, 2021)
  17. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diper Överlöde (October 25, 2022)
  18. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer (October 24, 2023)
  19. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess (October 22, 2024)

Rowley Jefferson

  1. Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson's Journal (April 9, 2019)
  2. Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Adventure (August 4, 2020)
  3. Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories (March 16, 2021)

Supplementary books

  1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself-Book (October 1, 2008)
  2. The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary (Original: March 16, 2010, 1st Revised Edition: February 15, 2011, 2nd Revised Edition: June 26, 2012)
  3. The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself-Book (May 10, 2011)
  4. Wimpy Kid Blank Journal (October 8, 2013)
  5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Writer’s Notebook (October 8, 2013)
  6. The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary: The Next Chapter (May 9, 2017)

Films

YearFilmScreenwriterProducerActorRoleNotes
2010 Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010) NoExecutiveNo—Based on his novel "Diary of a Wimpy Kid"
2011 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011) NoExecutiveYesMr. Hills (Cameo)Based on his novels "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules" and "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw"
2012 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days NoExecutiveYesMr. HillsBased on his novels "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw" and "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days"
2017 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul YesExecutiveUncreditedOwner of a booth convention (cameo)Based on his novel "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul"
2021 Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2021) YesYesNo—

Based on his novel "Diary of a Wimpy Kid"

2022 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2022) YesYesNo—

Based on his novel "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules"

2023 Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever YesYesNo—

Based on his novel "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever"

The books have been adapted into a film series.

A film based on the first book was released on March 19, 2010. [24] It was produced by 20th Century Fox and directed by Thor Freudenthal. The film starred Zachary Gordon as Greg Heffley, [25] Robert Capron as Rowley Jefferson, Rachael Harris as Susan Heffley, Steve Zahn as Frank Heffley, Devon Bostick as Rodrick Heffley, Connor and Owen Fielding as Manny Heffley, Chloë Grace Moretz as a new character named Angie Steadman, Grayson Russell as Fregley, Laine MacNeil as Patty Farrell, and Karan Brar as Chirag Gupta. [26] [27]

A second film, based on Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, was released on March 25, 2011. Zachary Gordon returned as Greg Heffley. [28] Steve Zahn (Frank Heffley) and Rachael Harris (Susan Heffley) also returned. The film was directed by David Bowers and the screenplay was written by Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah. Some new cast members who appeared in the film included Peyton List as Holly Hills among others. Kinney himself appeared in the film in a cameo role as Holly's father. [29] He would later reprise the role in the third film, Dog Days , which was released in 2012 and combines The Last Straw and Dog Days.

A fourth film, based on The Long Haul , was announced by Kinney via Twitter in April 2016. It was released on May 19, 2017, featuring an entirely new cast. Jeff Kinney also cameos in the film as the owner of a booth at a convention.

Related Research Articles

<i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid</i> (book) 2007 novel by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a children's novel written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney. It is the first book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. The book is about a boy named Greg Heffley and his attempts to become popular in his first year of middle school.

<i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules</i> 2008 novel by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is a children's novel by American author and cartoonist Jeff Kinney, based on the FunBrain.com version. It is the sequel to Diary of a Wimpy Kid, followed by The Last Straw. The hardcover was released on February 1, 2008. Rodrick Rules was named New York Times bestseller among awards and praise. A live-action film based on the book was released on March 25, 2011, and an animated film adaptation was released on Disney+ on December 2, 2022.

<i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid</i> Comic-style book series by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is an American children's book series and media franchise created by American author and cartoonist Jeff Kinney. The series follows Greg Heffley, a middle-schooler who illustrates his daily life in a diary.

<i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw</i> Novel by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw is a novel written by American author and cartoonist Jeff Kinney, the third book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. The book acts as a journal and follows the adventures of Greg Heffley, the narrator of the book, who is in the second half of his seventh-grade year. This book was released in the US on January 13, 2009. An animated film based on the book is in the works for Disney+.

<i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days</i> (novel) 2009 book by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days is a novel written by American author and cartoonist Jeff Kinney, and is the fourth book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. It was released on October 12, 2009, in the USA and October 13, 2009, in Canada. The film, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, released on August 3, 2012, was based on the book and its predecessor, The Last Straw. It follows the narrator, Greg Heffley, on his summer break between seventh and eighth-grade.

<i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid</i> (2010 film) 2010 film by Thor Freudenthal

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a 2010 American comedy film directed by Thor Freudenthal and based on Jeff Kinney's 2007 book of the same name. The film stars Zachary Gordon and Robert Capron. Devon Bostick, Rachael Harris, Steve Zahn, and Chloë Grace Moretz also have prominent roles. It is the first installment in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film series and was followed by three sequels, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011), Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012), and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2017). 20th Century Fox released it theatrically in the US on March 19, 2010, and grossed $76 million worldwide against a $15 million budget.

<i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth</i> Novel by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth is a 2010 bestselling children's fiction book by American author and cartoonist Jeff Kinney and is the fifth book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. The Ugly Truth sold 548,000 copies in its initial week of publication, edging out Decision Points, which sold 437,000 copies.

<i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules</i> (2011 film) 2011 film by David Bowers

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is a 2011 American comedy film directed by David Bowers in his live-action directorial debut and based on Jeff Kinney's 2008 book of the same name. It stars Zachary Gordon and Devon Bostick. Robert Capron, Rachael Harris, Steve Zahn, and Peyton List also have prominent roles.

<i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever</i> 2011 childrens book by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever is a 2011 bestselling and award-winning children's book and the sixth book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, written by American author Jeff Kinney. The book was released on November 15, 2011, the paperback edition was released on January 31, 2013, and was the fastest-selling book of 2011, giving him the third-strongest opening-week sales for a children's author. Cabin Fever had a first printing run of six million copies, which Amulet Books stated was one of their most significant titles for that year. In 2012 Kinney won a "Best Author" Children's Choice Award from the Children's Book Council for Cabin Fever. The book received widespread acclaim from critics. The book was followed by 2012's The Third Wheel.

<i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid</i> (film series) Family-Comedy film

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a series of family comedy films based on the book series of the same name by Jeff Kinney. The series consists of four live action films and three animated films.

<i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days</i> (film) 2012 film by David Bowers

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days is a 2012 American comedy film directed by David Bowers from a screenplay by Wallace Wolodarsky and Maya Forbes. It stars Zachary Gordon and Steve Zahn. Robert Capron, Devon Bostick, Rachael Harris, Peyton List, Grayson Russell, and Karan Brar also have prominent roles. It is the third installment in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film series. It was released by 20th Century Fox on August 3, grossing $77 million in the box office, and like its predecessors, it received mixed reviews.

<i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul</i> (film) 2017 film by David Bowers

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul is a 2017 American road comedy film written and directed by David Bowers and cowritten by the books' author Jeff Kinney. It serves as a standalone sequel to Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, and the fourth installment in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film series and the final live-action film in the franchise. It was based on the ninth book of the same name, with elements of the seventh, eighth, and tenth books in the series. It is also the only live-action installment in the series not to feature the cast members from the first three films. It instead features a completely different cast, and the plot follows the Heffleys as they go on a road trip to Meemaw's 90th birthday party, without realizing the various calamities that will occur along the way.

<i>Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jeffersons Journal</i> Spin off book by Jeff Kinney

Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson's Journal is a spin-off of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney. Unlike the main-series books, which are written from the perspective of Greg Heffley, Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid is written from the perspective of Greg's best friend, Rowley Jefferson, acting as Greg's biographer. The book was released on April 9, 2019. A sequel, titled Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Adventure was released on August 4, 2020, delayed from an initial release date of April 7, 2020.

<i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball</i> 2019 childrens novel by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball is a children's novel written by Jeff Kinney and the fourteenth book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. The series follows an unlucky middle school student named Greg Heffley, his family, and his friends. The books are illustrated with simple, black-and-white drawings from Greg's perspective. Wrecking Ball focuses on Greg; his mother, Susan; his father, Frank; and his best friend, Rowley; as the Heffley family renovate their house and prepare to move to a new neighborhood. It was released on November 5, 2019.

<i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid</i> (2021 film) 2021 film by Swinton Scott

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a 2021 animated comedy film directed by Swinton Scott from a screenplay by Jeff Kinney, based on his 2007 book of the same name. It is the second film adaptation of the book, following the 2010 live-action film, while serving as the first fully-animated reboot in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film series, and the fifth installment overall. The film stars the voices of Brady Noon, Ethan William Childress, Chris Diamantopoulos, Erica Cerra, and Hunter Dillon.

<i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules</i> (2022 film) Disney+ original animated film

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is a 2022 animated comedy film directed by Luke Cormican from a screenplay by Jeff Kinney, based on his 2008 book of the same name. It is a sequel to Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2021) and is the second adaptation of Rodrick Rules following the 2011 live-action film, while also being the second fully-animated film in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film series and the sixth installment overall. Brady Noon, Ethan William Childress, Chris Diamantopoulos, Erica Cerra, and Hunter Dillon reprise their roles as characters from the first film, while Ed Asner posthumously portrays Grandpa Heffley. The film is one of Asner's final voice acting roles recorded shortly before his death on August 29, 2021 and is dedicated to his memory.

<i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever</i> 2023 film by Luke Cormican

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever is a 2023 animated Christmas comedy film directed by Luke Cormican. It is the seventh installment in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film series, the third animated feature, and the first adaptation of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney. Wesley Kimmel replaced Brady Noon as Greg Heffley, while Hunter Dillion, Erica Cerra and Chris Diamantopoulos reprised their roles as Rodrick, Susan and Frank respectively. Ethan William Childress is replaced by Spencer Howell in the role of Rowley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Heffley</span> Fictional character in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series

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.

<i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diper Överlöde</i> Book by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diper Överlöde is the seventeenth book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney. It was released on October 25, 2022. The story follows Greg Heffley as he reluctantly joins his brother Rodrick’s heavy metal band, Löded Diper.

References

  1. ↑ Library of Congress. "Kinney, Jeff - LC Linked Data Service: Authorities and Vocabularies". id.loc.gov. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  2. ↑ McGrath, Nick (December 2012). "Jeff Kinney: 'People ask me, is Greg really you?'". The Guardian.
  3. ↑ "An-mhaith! Wimpy kid author thrilled by Irish version". RTÉ. 2017-05-25.
  4. ↑ Leff, Lisa (1994-02-03). "'IGDOOF' TAKES ON THE WORLD". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  5. ↑ Gunderson, Megan M. (2012). Jeff Kinney. Edina, Minn.: ABDO Pub. Co. ISBN   978-1-61787-710-0. OCLC   767670415.
  6. ↑ "Diary of a Wimpy Kid". Funbrain. Family Education Network. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  7. ↑ Mehegan, David (April 7, 2008). "Story of the weak". The Boston Globe. Plainville, MA . Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Diary of a Wimpy Kid". Funbrain. Family Education Network. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  9. ↑ Wimpy Kid | The official website for Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series
  10. ↑ Simpson, Forrest (April 30, 2009). "The 2009 TIME 100". Time. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Kids' Choice Awards 2015: The Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. March 28, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  12. 1 2 Pedersen, Erik (2023-10-19). "Wimpy Kid's 'No Brainer' library support tour arrives in San Diego on Oct. 23". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  13. 1 2 Brill, Pamela. "Jeff Kinney Salutes Librarians on 'The No Brainer Show' Tour". Publishers Weekly . Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  14. ↑ Ishizuka, Kathy. "Jeff Kinney to Honor Librarians in Nationwide Tour for Next Wimpy Kid Book, 'No Brainer.' SLJ Has the Exclusive Excerpt". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  15. ↑ "Family Education Network". savvas.com.
  16. ↑ "Wimpy Kid 15 Cover and Title Revealed".
  17. ↑ Fiore, Rebecca (May 29, 2015). "'Wimpy Kid' author opens bookstore in Plainville". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Wimpy Kid Author: I can't get my kids off Fortnite". BBC News. 16 November 2018.
  19. ↑ "WGBH Teams with Author Jeff Kinney for "High School Quiz Show: Extra Credit"". www.wgbh.org. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  20. ↑ MONEYBAGS (10 March 2010). "Rodrick Rules (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series #2)". Barnes & Noble. Archived from the original on 2 December 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
  21. ↑ "Author Jeff Kinney biography and book list". freshfiction.com.
  22. ↑ "Wimpy Kid author: I can't get my kids off Fortnite". BBC News. 2018-11-16. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
  23. ↑ Ignacio Martinez (29 June 2020). "How 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' became an unlikely Black Lives Matter icon". The Daily Dot . Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  24. ↑ "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules – On Double DVD and Blu-ray Now". Diaryofawimpykidmovie.com. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
  25. ↑ Zachary Gordon cast as "Wimpy Kid" from Reuters. July 24, 2009.
  26. ↑ "Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010)". IMDb. 19 March 2010.
  27. ↑ ""Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010)" on". Comingsoon.net. March 19, 2010. Archived from the original on January 22, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
  28. ↑ "'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' film sequel planned". LA Times. April 3, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  29. ↑ Lombardi, Ken (March 25, 2011). ""Wimpy Kid" author Jeff Kinney on surprise success". CBS News. Retrieved September 30, 2018. And this time, the author even got a chance at a surprise cameo as the father of Greg's love interest, Holly Hills (Peyton R. List, "The Sorcerer's Apprentice").
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