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Seth MacFarlane Biography

Birth Name:Seth Woodbury MacFarlane

Birth Place:Kent, Connecticut, United States

Profession Actor, Soundtrack, Producer, Writer, Music department, Director, Animation department, Art department, Art director, Editor, Script department

Fast Facts

  • Donated money to help create the Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan Archive at the Library of Congress
  • Received Variety's Power of Comedy Award in 2012
  • Won the 2006 Annie Award for voicing the character of Stewie in the "Family Guy" episode "Brian the Bachelor․"
  • Graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design, where he studied animation, in 1995
  • Is the brother of voice actress Rachael MacFarlane
  • Moved to Los Angeles to work for Hanna-Barbera after they expressed interest in his short film "The Life of Larry" and was a writer for cartoons like "Johnny Bravo" and "Dexter's Laboratory․"
  • Developing an interest in art at a young age, he could draw cartoon characters Fred Flintstone and Woody Woodpecker by the time he was 2 years old
  • Quote: "As soon as I [was] able to hold a crayon without feeling compelled to eat it, I [began] drawing cartoon characters․"
  • Best known as the creator and voice of several characters in "Family Guy" and "American Dad!"
  • Often incorporates musical numbers in his various works
  • Was scheduled to fly on American Airlines Flight 11 on September 11, 2001, but accidentally arrived late to the airport that day because his agent told him the wrong flight time

Awards

  • 1999Annie-Outstanding Individual Achievement for Music in an Animated Television Production: nominated
  • 2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less): nominated
  • 2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Voice-Over Performance: winner
  • 2002Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Music and Lyrics: winner
  • 2005OFTA Television Award-Best Voice-Over Performance: winner
  • 2005Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour): nominated
  • 2005Teen Choice Award-Choice TV Chemistry: nominated
  • 2005Teen Choice Award-Choice TV Actor: Comedy: nominated
  • 2005Teen Choice Award-Choice TV Sidekick: nominated
  • 2006Annie-Best Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production: winner
  • 2006DVDX Award-Best Animated Character Performance (Voice and Animation in a DVD Premiere Movie): winner
  • 2006OFTA Television Award-Best Voice-Over Performance: nominated
  • 2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour): nominated
  • 2007OFTA Television Award-Best Voice-Over Performance: winner
  • 2008BAFTA TV Award-Best International: nominated
  • 2008OFTA Television Award-Best Voice-Over Performance: winner
  • 2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or More): nominated
  • 2009Annie-Best Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production or Short Form: nominated
  • 2009OFTA Television Award-Best Voice-Over Performance: nominated
  • 2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Voice-Over Performance: nominated
  • 2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour): nominated
  • 2010BAFTA TV Award-Best International: nominated
  • 2010OFTA Television Award-Best Male Performance in a Fiction Program: nominated
  • 2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics: nominated
  • 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics: nominated
  • 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Animated Program: nominated
  • 2011Teen Choice Award-Choice TV: Villain: nominated
  • 2012Grammy-Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television: nominated
  • 2012PFCS Award-Breakthrough Performance Behind the Camera: nominated
  • 2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Animated Program: nominated
  • 2012Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie: Fight: nominated
  • 2012Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie Chemistry: nominated
  • 2012Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie Voice: nominated
  • 2013ASCAP Award-Top Television Series: winner
  • 2013ASCAP Award-Top Television Series: winner
  • 2013ASCAP Award-Top Television Series: winner
  • 2013ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
  • 2013Oscar-Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song: nominated
  • 2013CinEuphoria-Best Duo - International Competition: nominated
  • 2013GAFCA Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2013Gold Derby Film Award-Original Song: nominated
  • 2013Jupiter Award-Best International Film: winner
  • 2013MTV Movie Award-Best WTF Moment: nominated
  • 2013MTV Movie Award-Best On-Screen Duo: winner
  • 2013MTV Movie Award-Best Fight: nominated
  • 2013MTV Movie Award-Best Shirtless Performance: nominated
  • 2013OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
  • 2013OFTA Film Award-Best Feature Debut: nominated
  • 2013OFTA Film Award-Best Voice-Over Performance: winner
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Voice-Over Performance: nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Special Class Programs: nominated
  • 2014IDA Award-Best Limited Series: nominated
  • 2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series: nominated
  • 2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance: nominated
  • 2015PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television: winner
  • 2015Peabody Award-Documentary and Education: winner
  • 2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance: nominated
  • 2015Razzie Award-Worst Director: nominated
  • 2015Razzie Award-Worst Screen Combo: nominated
  • 2015Razzie Award-Worst Actor: nominated
  • 2016MTV Movie Award-Best Virtual Performance: nominated
  • 2016OFTA Television Award-Best Voice-Over Performance in a Animated Program: winner
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance: winner
  • 2017MTV Movie + TV Award-Best Comedic Performance: nominated
  • 2017OFTA Television Award-Best Voice-Over Performance in a Animated Program: nominated
  • 2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance: winner
  • 2018Saturn Award-Best Actor on Television: nominated
  • 2018OFTA Television Award-Best Voice-Over Performance in a Animated Program: nominated
  • 2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance: nominated
  • 2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance: nominated
  • 2019Saturn Award-Best Actor in a Television Series: nominated
  • 2019Dragon Award-Best Science Fiction or Fantasy TV Series: nominated
  • 2019OFTA Television Award-Best Voice-Over Performance in a Animated Program: nominated
  • 2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance: winner
  • 2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance: nominated
  • 2024Astra TV Award-Best Directing in a Streaming Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2024Astra TV Award-Best Writing in a Streaming Comedy Series: nominated