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Star Trek-watching, show-tune-singing, entertainment-obsessed fan boy, MacFarlane began drawing cartoons at age 2 and was publishing his own comic strip in his hometown newspaper by age 8. Sure of what he wanted to do for a living, the New England-born animator landed a job with Hanna-Barbera straight out of art school, drawing storyboards and writing scripts for a number of series (
Dexter's Laboratory,
Johnny Bravo). Soon Fox approached him about creating his own show, and in 1999 the cult favorite
Family Guy was born. With offbeat characters (many of whom were voiced by MacFarlane, who won a 2000 Emmy for his portrayals), obscure pop-culture references and outrageous, un-PC humor that sparked all kinds of complaints, the cartoon sitcom had a rocky road and was canceled in 2002. But its surprisingly robust DVD sales prompted the network to give it another go — as well as green-light a second MacFarlane series,
American Dad — in 2005.
Seth MacFarlane Fast Facts:
- Started drawing cartoons at age 2; his strip Walter Crouton was published in his hometown newspaper when he was 8.
- Was hired by Hanna-Barbera after college when one of his professors sent his thesis film to the noted Hollywood animators.
- The evil Griffin baby Stewie on Family Guy which MacFarlane voiced was based on his cousin Tyler.
- In 1999, Rev. Richardson Schell, the headmaster of the Kent School, began writing letters to Family Guy advertisers complaining that the show was offensive and asking them to drop their sponsorship. Schell neglected to mention that he had a personal connection to show's creator: MacFarlane had graduated from the Kent School in 1991.
- Was booked on the hijacked Sept. 11, 2001, Boston-Los Angeles flight that hit the north tower of the World Trade Center, but he missed the plane.
- An avid Trekker, he guest-starred on a few episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise.
- When Family Guy was brought back in 2005, it marked the first time that a canceled series had been revived based on DVD demand and syndicated ratings.
- Seth MacFarlane Relationships:
- Rachael MacFarlane - Sister
- Perry MacFarlane - Mother
- Ron MacFarlane - Father
- Seth MacFarlane Awards:
- 2008 Emmy: Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming More Than One Hour) - Nominee
- 2000 Emmy: Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour) - Nominee
- 2005 Emmy: Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour) - Nominee
- 2006 Emmy: Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour) - Nominee
- 2002 Emmy: Outstanding Music and Lyrics - Winner
- 2000 Emmy: Outstanding Voice-Over Performance - Winner
- College:
- Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI (1995)
