People Can’t Get Over Bruce Bogtrotter Actor’s Glow Up

What's the most iconic children's movie of all time? If you said anything other than Matilda, you're wrong.

The 1996 film, based on Roald Dahl's classic tale, told the story of Matilda - an intelligent young girl with neglectful parents who then discovers she has magical powers.

Sony Pictures)

While Matilda, played by Mara Wilson, was at the heart of Danny Devito's film, the story had a number of colourful characters that we can still think on fondly - such as Embeth Davidtz's Miss Honey, Pam Ferris' Ms Trunchbull, and of course, Bruce Bogtrotter.

Fans will remember shouting, "You can do it, Brucey!" after he was challenged by cruel headmistress Ms Trunchbull to eat an entire chocolate cake in front of the whole school - which he succeeds with an almighty belch.

However, actor Jimmy Karz, who originally played Bruce in the film, is now all grown-up - and naturally looks entirely different compared to his cake-scoffing days.

Sony Pictures)

Now 36-year-old (and with facial hair to boot), the California-born child actor is worlds apart from little Bruce Bogtrotter.

After starring alongside Drew Barrymore in 1998's The Wedding Singer (and even grabbing her bottom in a scene where they danced together) Jimmy has since left the glittering world of acting.

He is now a doctor at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - and apparently doesn't even like chocolate.

Speaking about that infamous scene with The Do, Jimmy explained: "That scene took about three weeks to film, from what I recall. I had to be on set all day, and I had to wear the same outfit every day.

"The chocolate was already encrusted on this shirt I was wearing. For continuity's sake, every day I had to have the chocolate painted on my face the way it was painted on the day before.

"I despised the smell of chocolate for a few weeks after that."

Jimmy Karz)

Jimmy's glow-up became a topic of conversation after a picture of him now was posted on TikTok - leading fans to drop their jaws.

"I just saw a vid on TikTok of Bruce Bogtrotter now and I'm shook, he looks so different," wrote one fan on Twitter.

Another said: "The actor who played Bruce Bogtrotter is now slim and very handsome."

Fingers crossed we get our Bruce Bogtrotter-style glow up one day...but we'll settle for a chocolate cake tbh.

Topics: Film News, Books, Children, Nostalgia

Kimberley Bond

Kim is a journalist at Tyla, and has previously worked at the Evening Standard, Radio Times as well as several national newspapers. A showbiz obsessive and a television fanatic, Kim is particularly interested in celebrity gossip, A-list events and the latest releases on either the big or small screen. Contact her at [email protected]

@0xKimberley