List of Family Guy cast members
Family Guy is an American animated sitcom that features five main voice actors, and numerous regular cast and recurring guest stars. The principal voice cast consists of show creator Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Mila Kunis (who replaced Lacey Chabert after the first season), Seth Green, and Mike Henry. Recurring voice actors include Patrick Warburton, Adam West, John G. Brennan, Nicole Sullivan and Jennifer Tilly, and repeat guest stars include Phyllis Diller, Charles Durning, Rush Limbaugh, and Phil LaMarr.
Many cast members provide voices for multiple characters. The voice actors, in portraying the various character personalities on the show, draw inspiration from celebrities and pop culture. Family Guy characters have been played by more than one actor, after members of the show left the series or had conflicting obligations.
Kunis was nominated for an Annie Award for voicing Meg Griffin in the season 5 episode "Barely Legal" and MacFarlane has also won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance and an Annie Award for Best Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production, though no other cast member has won an award for their work on the series.
Current cast
From seasons 1 to 4, Family Guy had four main cast members. Since season 5, there have been five main cast members. The casting of Meg Griffin changed after season 1.
Seth MacFarlane
Seth MacFarlane voices four of the show's main characters: Peter Griffin, Brian Griffin, Stewie Griffin, and Glenn Quagmire.[1] MacFarlane chose to voice these characters himself, believing it would be easier to portray the voices he had already envisioned than for someone else to attempt it.[2] MacFarlane drew inspiration for the voice of Peter from a security guard he overheard talking while attending the Rhode Island School of Design.[3] Stewie's voice was based on the voice of English actor Rex Harrison,[4] especially his performance in the 1964 musical drama film My Fair Lady.[5] MacFarlane uses his own voice while portraying Brian.[2]
MacFarlane also provides the voices for various other recurring and one-time only characters, most prominently those of news anchor Tom Tucker, Lois' father Carter Pewterschmidt and Dr. Hartman.[6] He is the only voice to be in every episode.
Alex Borstein
Alex Borstein voices Lois Griffin, Asian correspondent Tricia Takanawa, Loretta Brown and Lois' mother Barbara Pewterschmidt.[7] Borstein was asked to provide a voice for the pilot while she was working on MADtv. She had not met MacFarlane or seen any of his artwork and said it was "really sight unseen".[8] At the time, Borstein performed in a stage show in Los Angeles, in which she played a redhead mother whose voice she had based on one of her cousins.[7][8] The voice was originally slower (and deeper for the original series), but when MacFarlane heard it, he replied "Make it a little less fucking annoying ... and speed it up, or every episode will last four hours."[7]
Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis is the voice of the character named Meg Griffin.[6] Kunis won the role after auditions and a slight rewrite of the character, in part due to her performance on That '70s Show.[9] MacFarlane called Kunis back after her first audition, instructing her to speak slower, and then told her to come back another time and enunciate more. Once she claimed that she had it under control, MacFarlane hired her.[9] Kunis described her character as "the scapegoat". She further explained, "Meg gets picked on a lot. But it's funny. It's like the middle child. She is constantly in the state of being an awkward 14-year-old, when you're kind of going through puberty and what-not. She's just in perpetual mode of humiliation. And it's fun."[10]
Seth Green
Seth Green primarily plays Chris Griffin and Neil Goldman.[6][11] Green stated that he did an impression of the "Buffalo Bill" character from the thriller film The Silence of the Lambs during his audition.[12] His main inspiration for Chris' voice came from envisioning how "Buffalo Bill" would sound if he were speaking through a public address system at a McDonald's.[13]
Mike Henry
Mike Henry is the voice of Cleveland Brown, as well as John Herbert, Bruce, and other various characters. A Family Guy writer and producer, he began acting on the show as part of the recurring cast repertory (see below) but was promoted to main cast member in 2005. Since the cancellation of The Cleveland Show, he also voices Cleveland's step-son Rallo Tubbs on Family Guy.
Recurring cast
In addition to both its main cast and guest stars, Family Guy utilizes a deep bench of regularly appearing supporting voice actors. Some appear in nearly every episode each season, while others appear less frequently. Some of these actors specifically play recurring characters, while others mainly play background citizens of Quahog or characters in cutaway gags.
The current supporting cast repertory includes the following actors:
Actor | Character(s) | No. of Episodes (Out of 245 produced) |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Benjamin, H. JonH. Jon Benjamin | Carl | 14 | Since 2005 |
Breckenridge, AlexandraAlexandra Breckenridge | Various | 57 | Since 2005. Currently voices most female “extras” not voiced by Alex Borstein. |
Brennan, JohnnyJohnny Brennan | Goldman, MortMort Goldman, Horace the bartender | 77 | |
Callaghan, SteveSteve Callaghan | Various | 37 | Also the current showrunner and executive producer of Family Guy and former showrunner/EP of American Dad!. [14] |
Green, Seth[[Seth Green (actor)|Seth Green]] | Griffin, ChrisChris Griffin, Various | 65 | |
Fisher, CarrieCarrie Fisher | Angela | 19 | Has recurred as Peter's boss several times per season since 2005. |
Garman, RalphRalph Garman | Various | 138 | |
Lakin, ChristineChristine Lakin | Kinney, JoyceJoyce Kinney | 23 | Since 2010. |
LaMarr, PhilPhil LaMarr | Williams, OllieOllie Williams and the Quahog judge | 56 | |
MacFarlane, RachaelRachael MacFarlane | Olivia and various women | 54 | Formerly one of the most frequent female voices. She reduced her number of appearances per season after joining American Dad! in 2005 but still appears several times per season. Seth MacFarlane's sister. |
Osment, EmilyEmily Osment | Various | 14 | Since 2012. |
Richardson, Kevin MichaelKevin Michael Richardson | Jerome and Cleveland Jr. | 30 | Since 2009. |
Sheridan, ChrisChris Sheridan | Various | 33 | Also a Family Guy writer. |
Smith, DannyDanny Smith | Various, including Evil Monkey, Al Harrington and Ernie, the Giant Chicken | 189 | Also a Family Guy writer. |
Sulkin, AlecAlec Sulkin | Christ, JesusJesus Christ and various others | 147 | Also a Family Guy writer. |
Tatasciore, FredFred Tatasciore | Various | 36 | |
Tilly, JenniferJennifer Tilly | Swanson, BonnieBonnie Swanson | 42 | Has recurred as the Griffin's neighbor since the first season. |
Viener, JohnJohn Viener | Various | 182 | Since 2005, he has been one of the most frequently heard male voices aside from Seth MacFarlane. Also a Family Guy writer. |
Warburton, PatrickPatrick Warburton | Swanson, JoeJoe Swanson | 163 | Has appeared as the Griffins' neighbor since the first season, and usually appears in most episodes each season. Warburton is the most frequently appearing one-character actor in the supporting repertory. |
West, AdamAdam West | Mayor West, AdamAdam West | 93 | Plays a warped version of himself as the mayor of Quahog. |
Wingert, WallyWally Wingert | Various | 41 | |
In addition to the above, the following actors were formerly regularly recurring voice actors in the series:
Actor | Character(s) | No. of Episodes | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alan, LoriLori Alan | Simmons, DianeDiane Simmons | 63 | Left the show in season nine when her character was killed off. Was replaced in the series' context by Christine Lakin's Joyce Kinney | Since Pilot Pitch |
Alazraqui, CarlosCarlos Alazraqui | Weed, Mr.Mr. Weed | 10 | Peter's first boss, Mr. Weed, was killed off early in the series' run. | |
Barrymore, DrewDrew Barrymore | Russell, JillianJillian Russell | 12 | Played Jillian, Brian's former girlfriend. The character still appears in background roles | Since 2004 |
Cole, GaryGary Cole | Various | 38 | Cole appeared frequently in the earlier seasons, but still pops up now and then to play Meg and Chris' principal, Mr. Shepherd. | |
Hartman, ButchButch Hartman | Various | 8 | ||
Henry, MikeMike Henry | Cleveland Brown, Herbert, Bruce, and various others | Was promoted to main cast in 2005. Also a Family Guy writer. | ||
Hentemann, MarkMark Hentemann | Opie and various others | 45 | Recently left Family Guy to work on another Seth MacFarlane project. Also a Family Guy writer. | |
Strong, TaraTara Strong | Various, as well as Meg's singing voice | 21 | Appeared frequently in the first four seasons. Returned briefly in 2010-2011 and again for one episode in 2014. | |
Sullivan, NicoleNicole Sullivan | Goldman, MurielMuriel Goldman | 27 | Muriel was killed off in season nine. | |
Whitman, MaeMae Whitman | Various | 10 | Was a recurring younger female voice for several seasons between 2007-2010. | |
Wild, WellesleyWellesley Wild | Various | 14 | No longer a recurring voice (since 2013). He was a producer, but left the show. | |
Wilhoit, LisaLisa Wilhoit | D'Amico, ConnieConnie D'Amico | 15 | Meg's bully Connie has not appeared in the series since 2013. | |
Recurring guest voices
The recurring guest voices include Adam Carolla as Death, Patrick Stewart as Susie Swanson, Scott Grimes as Kevin Swanson and Sanaa Lathan as Donna Tubbs Brown. Previous recurring guests included Phyllis Diller in three episodes as Peter's Mother, Thelma, and Charles Durning as Peter's father, Francis. Both characters have since died, but Durning returned once to play Francis as a ghost. Early in the show's run, Fred Willard and Jane Lynch had a recurring role as a family of nudists. James Woods as James Woods.
Casting changes
- Lacey Chabert voiced Meg for the first production season (14 episodes), but, because of a contractual agreement, was never credited.[15] Chabert left the series due to time constraints with her acting role in Party of Five, as well as schoolwork.[16]
- Norm Macdonald voiced the character of Death in a second season episode of Family Guy. He was subsequently replaced by * Adam Carolla in all other appearances.
- Jon Cryer originally voiced Kevin Swanson in his first appearance, before the role was passed temporarily onto Seth MacFarlane. The character was written out of the series for several years, with Scott Grimes taking over the voice when the character returned.
- Fairuza Balk was the original voice of high school bully Connie D'Amico until Lisa Wilhoit took over the character in the third season.
Awards and nominations
Year | Actor | Award | Category | Role | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | Seth MacFarlane | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Voice-Over Performance | Stewie Griffin | Won | [17] |
2009 | Seth MacFarlane | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Voice-Over Performance | Peter Griffin | Nominated | [18] |
2006 | Seth MacFarlane | Annie Award | Best Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production | Stewie Griffin | Won | [19] |
2007 | Mila Kunis | Annie Award | Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production | Meg Griffin | Nominated | [20] |
References
- Notes
- ↑ Graham, Jefferson (January 29, 1999). "Cartoonist MacFarlane funny guy of Fox's 'Family' Subversive voice of series is his". USA Today. p. E7.
- 1 2 Cruz, Gilbert (September 26, 2008). "Family Guy's Seth MacFarlane". Time. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
- ↑ Smith, Andy (April 30, 2005). "A Real Family Reunion". Providence Journal TV. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
- ↑ Dean, John (November 1, 2008). "Seth MacFarlane's $2 Billion Family Guy Empire". Fox Business. Retrieved August 24, 2009.
- ↑ Franklin, Nancy (January 16, 2006). "American Idiots". The New Yorker.
- 1 2 3 "Family Guy Cast and Details". TV Guide. Retrieved August 24, 2009.
- 1 2 3 Miller, Kirk (November 19, 2008). "Q&A: Alex Borstein". Metromix. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
- 1 2 "Alex Borstein (Lois) Laughs at the Once-Dead Family Guy's Longevity". TV Guide. November 13, 2006. Retrieved August 24, 2009.
- 1 2 Family Guy – Casting Mila Kunis. The Paley Center for Media. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
- ↑ De Leon, Kris (September 25, 2007). "Mila Kunis Talks About Working on Family Guy and Her Upcoming Movie". BuddyTV. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- ↑ Graham, Jefferson (April 9, 1999). "Seth Green fits right in with new Family". USA Today.
- ↑ "Fans help 'Family Guy' return to Fox". Observer-Reporter. April 29, 2005. p. E5.
- ↑ Green, Seth (September 27, 2005). Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story: Audio Commentary (DVD).
- ↑ "Steve Callaghan Named 'American Dad' Showrunner".
- ↑ Epstein, Daniel Robert. "Interview with Seth MacFarlane, creator of The Family Guy". UGO Networks. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
- ↑ "Sonic the Horndog". Gamespy. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
- ↑ Brian Lowry (2000-08-28). "NBC Leads Tally of Early Emmys, Boosted by 'West Wing'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- ↑ "The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards and 2009 Creative Arts Emmy Awards Nominees are...". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. 2009-07-16. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
- ↑ "Annie Award Winners". Annie Awards. Archived from the original on 2007-07-10. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
- ↑ "34th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (2006)". Annie Awards. 2009-11-05. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
|