Diary of a Wimpy Kid Wiki

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid Wiki
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Wiki
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Wiki
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Jeff Kinney

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“ I was an average kid who had his wimpy moments. On our swim team they had something called the developmental meet. I didn't know it was a meet only for the worst kids so that they could get a ribbon, and I'd show up with my friend who was also a terrible swimmer, and we would be amazed that the best kids hadn't bothered to show up. I didn't get it until after college. ”

Jeffrey Patrick "Jeff" Kinney (born February 19, 1971) is an online American game developer/designer and a Number #1 New York Times bestselling author. He is the author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid (series) and the creator of the child-oriented online multiplayer role-playing game Poptropica. He spent his childhood in the Washington, D.C. area and moved to New England in 1995. Jeff lives in Plainville, Massachusetts with his wife and their two sons where he owns a Bookstore and Cafe called An Unlikely Story.

Kinney was born and grew up in Fort Washington, Maryland, United States. He had two brothers and a sister. He attended the University of Maryland at College Park in the early 1990s. It was in college that Kinney created the popular comic strip, Igdoof that ran in the campus newspaper The Diamondback, which later became Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Biography

Early Life and Inspirations

Jeffrey Patrick Kinney, known to the world as Jeff Kinney, was born on February 19, 1971, in Fort Washington, Maryland, USA. From an early age, he exhibited a keen interest in drawing and writing, nurtured by the support of his parents, Patricia and Ron Kinney. Growing up in a creative and encouraging household, Jeff was inspired by the works of Charles Schulz's "Peanuts" and J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings." These early influences sowed the seeds of his future success in the world of literature and cartooning.

The "Igdoof" Days

After attending Potomac Landing Elementary School and later Bishop McNamara High School, Jeff Kinney enrolled at the University of Maryland. During his college years, he drew a comic strip called "Igdoof" for the college newspaper, The Diamondback. His time at the university further honed his artistic talents and stoked his passion for humor and storytelling.

The Road to "Diary of a Wimpy Kid"

Although Jeff graduated with a degree in computer science, his true calling lay in the world of cartoons and writing. After a brief stint working on a comic strip titled "Igdoof" for an online gaming website, Jeff faced challenges in finding a publication that would syndicate his work. Unfazed by rejection, he continued to develop his ideas and artistic style, knowing that persistence would be the key to success.

Birth of Wimpy Kid

In 1998, Jeff Kinney started creating a character named Greg Heffley, a middle school student with relatable struggles and comedic mishaps. Over the next six years, from 1998 to 2004, Jeff dedicated himself to writing down Greg's adventures and misadventures in a writing pad. "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" began to take shape, bringing to life the hilarious and poignant moments of Greg's middle school journey.

The Rise of the Funbrain Book

In 2004, Jeff Kinney decided to share Greg Heffley's tales with a larger audience and uploaded the web book on FunBrain. The online platform allowed readers to connect with the amusing and heartwarming stories of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid." The web book garnered tremendous success, receiving over 25 million views and catapulting Jeff Kinney into the spotlight of literary fame.

Published Book Series

At the New York Comic-Con in 2006, a book publisher at Abram Books found Kinney and read his book and sold his idea to Abram Books. Building on the web book's resounding popularity, Jeff Kinney converted "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" into a series of published books. The first book in the series, bearing the same title, was published in 2007 and the very first copies were given out at the New York Comic-Con in January 2007. Since then, a new installment in the series has graced the shelves every year, with each release eagerly anticipated by fans of all ages.

Global Phenomenon and Legacy

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid" swiftly became a global sensation, capturing the hearts of millions with its witty humor, engaging illustrations, and relatable characters. Jeff Kinney's creative genius struck a chord with young readers, making the series a bestseller worldwide. Translated into over 70 languages, the books have reached readers in every corner of the globe, transcending cultural boundaries.

Beyond the Bookshelf

Jeff Kinney's influence extends beyond the written word. The "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series has been adapted into successful movies, gaining a loyal following among moviegoers. Additionally, Kinney founded the interactive website Poptropica, an educational platform that offers captivating quests and games for young learners.

The Author-Artist Extraordinaire

Jeff Kinney's accomplishments as an author and illustrator are not confined to the Wimpy Kid universe. He has penned other noteworthy works, including "The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book," "The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary," and "Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid," a spin-off that delves into the world of Rowley Jefferson, Greg Heffley's best friend.

A Humble and Gracious Role Model

Despite his unparalleled success, Jeff Kinney remains down-to-earth and approachable. He continues to engage with his fans, attending book signings, school visits, and various events to inspire young readers to explore their creative potential.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

In 2004, FunBrain and Kinney released a web book called Diary of a Wimpy Kid and the website made daily entries until June 2005. The webbook was an instant hit, reaching 20 million views by 2007, causing many readers to request a published version of the webbook. Kinney agreed and released Diary of a Wimpy Kid in 2007, but the book version was quite different. The most notable difference was that the drawings were edited using programs, the plot was slightly changed, and the book was also a little shortened. To date, twenty Wimpy Kid books have been released, including two Do-It-Yourself books and four Movie Diaries.

Professional Work

Kinney works as a writer and designer of online games. He also created the child-friendly website, Poptropica, which is played by many kids around the world. Poptropica has two Wimpy Kid based islands called Wimpy Wonderland and Wimpy Boardwalk where many characters and places from Wimpy Kid are present. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has 58 million copies in print worldwide in softcover and in hardcover. In 2010 Wimpy kid was developed into a film and Kinney served as the executive producer. In the Rodrick Rules movie, he played as Jonathon Hills and returned in the Dog Days movie to reprise the character.

Personal Life

Kinney attended Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Maryland and lives in Plainville, Massachusetts with his wife, Julie, and two sons, Will and Grant. Jeff has a small house next to his home, where he writes and does karaoke. The character of Rodrick is believed to be based off of his elder brother, Scott Kinney (musician) and Manny is believed to be based off of his younger brother, Pat. His great-grandmother was Polish.

Books

Other Works

Films

Main article: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (series)#Films

A live-action film based on the first book was released on March 19, 2010, being directed by Thor Freudenthal and produced by 20th Century Fox.

A second live-action film was then released on March 25, 2011, the next year, adapting the next book Rodrick Rules, with the same cast reprising as their roles and a different director. Kinney himself appeared in the film in a cameo role as Holly Hills' father. He would later reprise the role in the third film, Dog Days, released on August 3, 2012, combining The Last Straw and Dog Days.

A fourth film, based on The Long Haul, was announced by Kinney via Twitter during April 2016. It was released on May 19, 2017, featuring a widely new cast. Jeff Kinney also appeared this film as a owner of a booth at Player Expo.

Trivia

  • His height is 6' 1" (1.85 m).
  • Since the release of the first book back in the spring of 2007, he's released at least one book for the Doawk series every year. The only year (so far) where there's been a release of more than one book in the series was 2009, in which the third and fourth books were both released (unless you count the supplementary books)
  • His favorite character in the series is Rowley Jefferson and his favorite book is Big Shot.
  • From 2007 to 2010, Kinney worked on gregheffley.blogspot.com, but then abandoned it for WimpyKid.com after the first movie premiered in cinemas.
  • In 2014, Kinney gave $150 USD to a kid who got his lemonade stand robbed.
  • Jeff Kinney has visited 39 countries, some of which include Germany, Australia, Spain, The Philippines, China, India, Greece, Romania, Norway, Brazil, Japan, Finland, United Kingdom, Turkey, Netherlands, South Korea, France, Latvia, Portugal, Iceland, and Israel.
  • In The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, Jeff Kinney appears in the book as a Wimpy Kid-styled illustration.

Appearances

Gallery

See Jeff Kinney/Gallery

External Links

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