Greg Wuliger was played by American actor and voice actor Vincent Martella on the hit UPN/CW sitcom Everybody Hates Chris. Running for four seasons from 2005 to 2009, the series featured Martella as Greg, the intelligent, loyal, and often deadpan best friend to the show's protagonist, Chris, loosely based on comedian Chris Rock's real-life childhood. As the only student at Corleone Junior High who consistently stood by Chris, Greg became a fan-favorite character known for his dry wit, encyclopedic knowledge, and sharp delivery.
Beyond his memorable live-action work on the sitcom, Martella built a diverse career that spans major voice-acting roles, video game franchises, and pop culture milestones. Understanding the background of the actor behind Greg reveals how a young child actor transitioned into a multi-faceted performer with a lasting footprint in television history.
Early Life and Acting Beginnings
Born in Rochester, New York, on October 15, 1992, Vincent Michael Martella moved with his family to DeLand, Florida, during his childhood. Encouraged by a teacher who spotted his early flair for performance, he began taking local acting classes and commercial auditions around age seven.
Before landing his breakout television role, Martella appeared in minor commercial spots and regional theater productions in Orlando. His natural screen presence and sharp comedic timing helped him secure early television guest spots, including recurring appearances as Scoop on Nickelodeon's Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide between 2004 and 2006. These early steps prepared him for the intense production schedule of a weekly network sitcom.
Landing the Role of Greg Wuliger
In 2005, at just twelve years old, Martella cast his career-defining role as Greg Wuliger in Everybody Hates Chris. The character was inspired by David Moskowitz, one of Chris Rock's actual childhood friends, though television writers adapted the persona into a slightly more neurotic and culturally curious counterpart to Chris.
Greg's role on the show went far beyond a standard sidekick. He served as Chris's sounding board, academic rival, and partner in surviving the rough environment of an integrated junior high school in Brooklyn. Martella's chemistry with lead actor Tyler James Williams anchored the heart of the series. Across 86 episodes, Greg navigated teenage awkwardness, school politics, and social pressures without losing his loyalty to Chris.
- Character Traits: Greg was defined by his sharp intellect, love for trivia, and tendency to overthink mundane situations.
- Cultural Impact: The dynamic between Chris and Greg became a blueprint for classic coming-of-age television friendships.
- Production Run: Martella remained a core cast member for the entire duration of the series from its pilot until its finale in May 2009.
Transition to Voice Acting and Other Notable Roles
While still working on Everybody Hates Chris, Martella began a parallel career in voice acting that would introduce him to an entirely new generation of viewers. In 2007, he took on the role of Phineas Flynn in the Disney Channel animated series Phineas and Ferb. Providing the optimistic, creative voice of Phineas, Martella maintained the role through multiple seasons, spin-offs, and movie adaptations spanning nearly two decades.
His distinct vocal range allowed him to secure major roles in animation and video games:
- Phineas and Ferb: Voiced the title character through multiple revivals and specials.
- Final Fantasy XIII: Provided the English voice for the main character Hope Estheim in the 2010 square Enix role-playing game and its sequels.
- Batman: Under the Red Hood: Voiced a teenage Jason Todd / Robin in the 2010 DC animated film.
- The Walking Dead: Appeared in a live-action guest arc as Patrick during the fourth season of the AMC horror drama series.
Viral Internet Moments and Recent Projects
Decades after Everybody Hates Chris wrapped, Martella experienced a massive resurgence in global popularity. In early 2024, a wave of attention from Brazilian fans of the sitcom swept across social media platforms, leading to Martella gaining millions of followers overnight. Fans embraced his childhood portrayal of Greg with enthusiasm, prompting widespread internet coverage and establishing a unique bridge between classic American sitcom nostalgia and international fandoms.
Martella has continued working in television production, voice acting, and music. He has also contributed voice work to animated reboots and continuation projects, proving that his career has sustained its momentum long after his early days on network television.
Learn more about his extensive filmography and ongoing television credits on the Internet Movie Database.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Vincent Martella voice Phineas while working on Everybody Hates Chris?
Yes. Martella began voicing Phineas Flynn for Phineas and Ferb in 2007, midway through the run of Everybody Hates Chris, managing both prominent live-action and voice-acting schedules simultaneously.
Was Greg Wuliger based on a real person?
Yes. The character was adapted from David Moskowitz, a childhood friend of comedian Chris Rock from his school days in Brooklyn, New York.
How many episodes of Everybody Hates Chris did Vincent Martella appear in?
Martella appeared in 86 episodes of the series, remaining a primary fixture of the main cast across all four broadcast seasons.
What other major video game roles has Martella performed?
Aside from television and film, Martella is well-known in the gaming community for voicing Hope Estheim across the Final Fantasy XIII franchise.
