Topics: Celebrity, TV And Film, Social Media
If you grew up quoting Diary of a Wimpy Kid, there's a good chance you won't recognise the actor who played Greg Heffley's lovable yet entirely bizarre best mate, Rowley Jefferson.
Played by Robert Capron, Rowley was everyone's favourite character in the hit film franchise, based on the book series of the same name by Jeff Kinney, which first graced our screens back in 2010.
Starring alongside Zachary Gordon, who played Greg Heffley, he went on to reprise the role in the franchise's following live-action films, helping turn the awkward school comedy into a favourite for a generation of viewers.
Following the success of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Capron continued acting, appearing in films including The Way Way Back, The Polka King and Annabelle Hooper and the Ghosts of Nantucket. He also landed guest roles on Elementary and lent his voice to animated films including Frankenweenie and Tarzan.
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Capron has just celebrated his 28th birthday today (10 July), and more than 15 years after the first Diary of a Wimpy Kid film landed in cinemas, it's safe to say that fans have been doing a double take at just how much he's changed over the years.
One X user gushed: "The glow up is serious lol."
"THAT’S HIM NOW???" exclaimed a second as a third chimed in: "Damn, Rowley grew up handsome. Good for him."
A fourth beamed: "A national treasure."
"Wtf how old was he in the movies since I know they weren’t THAT long ago," penned a fifth.
Another chimed in: "Holy sh*t, he’s almost 30, man!!!! What the f*ck?"
And a final social media user praised: "Happy birthday, Robert Capron, thanks for the unforgettable childhood memories!"
Capron's legacy as Rowley lives on, with many fans sharing countless clips of the famous 'Rowley Waves Then Looks Down' meme which has circled all over the internet for years now.
The moment in question is from a scene in the second film in the franchise, 2011’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules.
It starts with Rowley greeting Greg at church.
Unfortunately for Greg, he'd sat down on a chocolate bar while wearing light-coloured trousers, prompting his mum Susan (Rachel Harris) to offer him up a lovely pink shawl to cover up the stain.
As the family walk down the aisle, Rowley waves at Greg with a big smile, before looking down and noticing the odd addition to his outfit, as his face turns into a puzzled look of bewilderment.
