Seth MacFarlane is a multi-talented American entertainer known for his work in television, film, and comedy. He is most recognized for creating and starring in popular animated sitcoms like "Family Guy," "American Dad!," and "The Orville." MacFarlane's success extends to film, having directed and starred in box-office hits like "Ted" and its sequel. His comedic talent is showcased through his voice acting, stand-up routines, and comedic timing in both film and television.
Seth MacFarlane's maternal grandfather, Arthur Sager, competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.
Seth MacFarlane's father, Ronald Milton MacFarlane, was born in 1946.
Seth MacFarlane's mother, Ann Perry, was born in 1947.
Seth MacFarlane's parents, Ronald and Ann, met in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1970.
Seth MacFarlane's parents, Ronald and Ann, moved to Kent, Connecticut, in 1972.
Seth Woodbury MacFarlane was born on October 26, 1973.
Seth MacFarlane graduated from Kent School in 1991.
Seth MacFarlane graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1995.
Seth MacFarlane first pitched Family Guy to Fox in 1997.
Fox announced the purchase of Family Guy in July 1998, for a debut in January 1999.
Family Guy, created by Seth MacFarlane, premiered on Fox in January 1999.
The first episode of Family Guy aired on January 31, 1999.
Seth MacFarlane's animated sitcom Family Guy premiered in 1999.
In 2000, Seth MacFarlane won his first Primetime Emmy Award for his work on "Family Guy."
Seth MacFarlane narrowly avoided being a passenger on American Airlines Flight 11, one of the planes involved in the September 11 attacks. A late arrival at the airport due to a hangover and a scheduling error saved his life.
In 2002, Seth MacFarlane appeared in the 'Gilmore Girls' episode "Lorelai's Graduation Day," showcasing his early ventures into television acting.
Seth MacFarlane won his second Primetime Emmy Award in 2002 for his contributions to "Family Guy."
In a 2004 interview, Seth MacFarlane revealed that he shares some personality traits with Brian Griffin, a character from 'Family Guy,' particularly in their approach to relationships.
American Dad! premiered on February 6, 2005, after Super Bowl XXXIX with the episode "Pilot."
On April 26, 2005, Seth MacFarlane and composer Walter Murphy released "Family Guy: Live in Vegas," a soundtrack featuring a Broadway show tune theme.
American Dad! began airing regularly on May 1, 2005.
Seth MacFarlane co-created the animated sitcom American Dad!, which premiered in 2005.
Seth MacFarlane's second long-running adult animated series, American Dad!, began production in early 2005.
On April 16, 2006, Seth MacFarlane was a guest speaker at Stanford University, engaging with over 1,000 attendees at Memorial Auditorium.
Seth MacFarlane delivered a memorable Class Day address at Harvard University on June 7, 2006, incorporating his signature humor and characters from 'Family Guy.'
On November 5, 2006, Seth MacFarlane guest-starred on Fox's 'The War at Home' as "Hillary's Date," an unnamed 33-year-old man dating the teenaged Hillary in the episode "I Wash My Hands of You."
On November 11, 2006, Seth MacFarlane appeared on Fox's comedy show MADtv, further establishing his presence in comedy television.
A Family Guy video game was released in 2006.
On March 24, 2007, Seth MacFarlane was interviewed on Fox's 'Talkshow with Spike Feresten,' where he closed the show by singing "You Make Me Feel So Young," showcasing his musical talent.
On July 22, 2007, Seth MacFarlane hinted at the possibility of working on a feature film, although he stated that "nothing's official."
In August 2007, Seth MacFarlane secured a digital content production deal with AdSense.
Ricky Blitt confirmed in September 2007 that work on the script for the Family Guy film had already begun.
'Family Guy' faced legal action on October 3, 2007, when Bourne Co. Music Publishers filed a lawsuit alleging copyright infringement. The dispute centered around the parody song "I Need a Jew" from the episode "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein," which Bourne Co. claimed infringed on their copyright for "When You Wish Upon a Star."
In December 2007, actor Art Metrano filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against 'Family Guy.' The lawsuit stemmed from a scene in 'Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story' that parodied Metrano's signature magic act.
Seth MacFarlane stood in solidarity with the Writers Guild during the 2007-08 strike, halting the production of 'Family Guy' and publicly criticizing Fox's attempts to continue without the writers' full participation.
During the 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike, episodes of Family Guy and American Dad! were delayed.
The Winner, a live-action sitcom executive produced by MacFarlane and starring Rob Corddry, aired on Fox for six episodes in the spring of 2007.
The 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike ended on February 12, 2008, allowing for the resumption of regular airing of Family Guy.
Seth MacFarlane signed a $100 million deal with Fox to keep Family Guy and American Dad! running until 2012, making him the world's highest paid television writer.
Seth MacFarlane confirmed plans to produce a theatrically released Family Guy feature film on July 18, 2008.
In 2008, Seth MacFarlane publicly expressed his support for gay rights, criticizing the societal norms and laws that discriminated against same-sex couples.
In 2008, Seth MacFarlane voiced Johann Kraus in the film 'Hellboy II: The Golden Army,' adding to his repertoire of voice acting roles in films.
Seth MacFarlane created the online series Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy in 2008.
In 2008, MacFarlane released a series of webisodes called "Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy."
In 2008, Seth MacFarlane supported the Democratic Party by donating over $200,000 to various Democratic congressional committees and Barack Obama's presidential campaign, indicating his political affiliations.
On March 16, 2009, the United States District Court ruled in favor of 'Family Guy' in the copyright infringement case brought by Bourne Co. Music Publishers. The court determined that the show's parody song, "I Need a Jew," constituted fair use.
Fox picked up The Cleveland Show for a second season on May 3, 2009, before the first season even premiered.
On May 8, 2009, Seth MacFarlane appeared as a guest on 'Real Time with Bill Maher,' participating in discussions on the show.
In July 2009, the court partially rejected 20th Century Fox's motion to dismiss Art Metrano's copyright lawsuit. The court ruled that several factors favored Metrano's claims.
The Cleveland Show, a Family Guy spin-off, premiered on September 27, 2009.
Seth MacFarlane co-created the animated sitcom The Cleveland Show, which premiered in 2009.
Seth MacFarlane won the Webby Award for Film & Video Person of the Year in 2009.
In 2009, Seth MacFarlane performed as a vocalist at the BBC Proms with the John Wilson Orchestra during Prom 22, celebrating classic MGM film musicals.
In 2009, MacFarlane began developing the animated series "Bordertown".
Seth MacFarlane and his mother, Ann Perry Sager, appeared together on Larry King Live in May 2010, a poignant moment as it was one of her last public appearances.
On July 16, 2010, Seth MacFarlane lost his mother, Ann Perry Sager, who tragically passed away due to cancer.
In August 2010, Seth MacFarlane lent his voice in a guest role for a sci-fi themed episode of Disney's 'Phineas and Ferb' titled "Nerds of a Feather."
MacFarlane ventured into music by signing a record deal with Universal Republic Records.
MacFarlane served as roastmaster for the Comedy Central Roast of David Hasselhoff in 2010.
In 2010, Seth MacFarlane returned to the BBC Proms to perform with the John Wilson Orchestra in a Christmas concert special, continuing his musical endeavors.
'Family Guy' reached an out-of-court settlement with Art Metrano in 2010, resolving the copyright infringement lawsuit. The terms of the settlement remain undisclosed.
Seth MacFarlane's mother, Ann Perry, passed away in 2010.
MacFarlane revealed on "Conan" that he would make his live-action directorial debut with "Ted".
In August 2011, Fox ordered a new iteration of the science documentary series "Cosmos", titled "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey", with Seth MacFarlane as co-producer.
On October 13, 2011, MacFarlane confirmed that a deal for a Family Guy film had been made.
In October 2011, Seth MacFarlane gave an interview where he discussed his childhood interest in animation and a mini-controversy sparked by one of his comic strips.
MacFarlane released his debut album, "Music Is Better Than Words", a big band and standards album, which received a Grammy nomination.
Seth MacFarlane released his debut studio album, Music Is Better Than Words, in 2011.
Seth MacFarlane was recognized for his advocacy for social justice issues, particularly his support for equal marriage rights, earning him the title of Harvard Humanist of the Year in 2011.
On September 15, 2012, Seth MacFarlane hosted the season premiere of 'Saturday Night Live,' marking his first appearance on the show alongside musical guest Frank Ocean.
On October 1, 2012, Seth MacFarlane was announced as the host for the 85th Academy Awards.
Seth MacFarlane confirmed plans for the Family Guy film project on November 30, 2012.
Seth MacFarlane's $100 million deal with Fox ensured that both Family Guy and American Dad! would continue to air until at least 2012.
In 2012, Seth MacFarlane performed at the BBC Proms with the John Wilson Orchestra in a concert celebrating Broadway musicals, showcasing his passion for musical performance.
Seth MacFarlane co-wrote, directed, and starred in the comedy film Ted, which was released in 2012.
Seth MacFarlane and actress Emilia Clarke embarked on a romantic relationship in 2012, which lasted for about a year.
MacFarlane released "Ted", his directorial debut, in which he also starred as the voice of the titular teddy bear. The film was a critical and commercial success.
Driven by his profound respect for Carl Sagan's legacy, Seth MacFarlane made a significant donation in 2012 to establish The Seth MacFarlane Collection of the Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan Archive at the Library of Congress.
MacFarlane, along with actress Emma Stone, presented the nominees for the 85th Academy Awards on January 10, 2013.
MacFarlane hosted the 85th Academy Awards, drawing mixed reactions for his performance, including the controversial musical number "We Saw Your Boobs."
The Cleveland Show ended on May 19, 2013, after 4 seasons and 88 episodes.
TBS announced on July 16, 2013, that they had picked up American Dad! for a 15-episode 12th season.
On November 4, 2013, it was announced that Mike Barker would depart American Dad! after 10 seasons as producer/co-showrunner.
The Seth MacFarlane Collection of the Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan Archive, a testament to MacFarlane's admiration for Sagan's work, opened at the Library of Congress on November 12, 2013.
At San Diego Comic-Con in 2013, Mike Barker hinted that an American Dad! movie was in the works.
Seth MacFarlane's animated sitcom The Cleveland Show ended in 2013.
Seth MacFarlane and Emilia Clarke's relationship came to an end in 2013.
MacFarlane was featured on Calabria Foti's single "Let's Fall in Love".
MacFarlane executive produced and premiered the live-action sitcom "Dads" in 2013.
In 2013, Seth MacFarlane made a cameo appearance in the film 'Movie 43,' continuing his involvement in diverse film projects.
Seth MacFarlane hosted the 85th Academy Awards and was nominated for Best Original Song for "Everybody Needs a Best Friend" from Ted in 2013.
MacFarlane announced that he had written a novel based on the "Ted" screenplay.
MacFarlane's novel adaptation of "Ted" was released on March 4, 2014, accompanied by an audiobook version narrated by Jonathan Frakes.
The new "Cosmos" series, co-produced by MacFarlane and hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson, premiered on Fox in March 2014, with MacFarlane also voicing characters in animated segments.
On July 16, 2014, Seth MacFarlane was sued by the creators of "Charlie the Abusive Teddy Bear," alleging that the character "Ted" infringed on their copyright. They claimed similarities in the characters' backstories, personas, voices, and dialogue.
On October 20, 2014, American Dad! underwent a network relocation from Fox to TBS following its 11th season.
It was announced on October 29, 2014, that MacFarlane would host the Breakthrough Prize ceremony.
The Breakthrough Prize ceremony hosted by MacFarlane was televised in the US on November 15, 2014.
The Breakthrough Prize ceremony hosted by MacFarlane was televised globally on November 22, 2014, on BBC World News.
Seth MacFarlane co-wrote, directed, and starred in the western comedy film A Million Ways to Die in the West, released in 2014.
MacFarlane executive produced "Blunt Talk", a series about an English newscaster in Los Angeles, which premiered on Starz in 2014.
"Dads", the live-action sitcom executive produced by MacFarlane, concluded in 2014 after one season.
MacFarlane released his second studio album, "Holiday for Swing", a Christmas album that garnered positive reviews.
The lawsuit against Seth MacFarlane regarding "Ted" was dismissed on March 23, 2015. The plaintiffs acknowledged "Ted" was an independent creation and withdrew their claim.
The sequel to MacFarlane's successful comedy "Ted", titled "Ted 2", was released on June 26, 2015.
In 2015, Seth MacFarlane participated in a Sinatra program at The Proms with the John Wilson Orchestra, highlighting his admiration for classic orchestration and musical performance.
MacFarlane's third studio album, "No One Ever Tells You", was nominated for a Grammy Award.
The sequel to the comedy film Ted, Ted 2, co-written, directed by, and starring Seth MacFarlane, was released in 2015.
In 2015, Seth MacFarlane expressed interest in casting Liam Neeson for a reboot of 'The Naked Gun,' leading to his eventual hiring to develop the project with Neeson as a potential lead.
In 2015, Seth MacFarlane began his public political endorsements, beginning with Bernie Sanders in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
In May 2016, Fox gave The Orville a 13-episode order, marking MacFarlane's first live-action television series.
After the primaries in 2016, Seth MacFarlane shifted his support to Hillary Clinton for president during the general election.
In 2016, Seth MacFarlane had a voice role in the animated film 'Sing' and was a major performer on the film's soundtrack, highlighting his musical talents.
MacFarlane recorded a duet of "Pure Imagination" with Barbra Streisand for her album "Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway".
MacFarlane's animated series "Bordertown", satirizing American cultural changes, aired for 13 episodes on Fox in 2016.
MacFarlane's contributions to music were recognized when he was honored by Barbara Sinatra at the Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational.
Seth MacFarlane earned his third Primetime Emmy Award in 2016 for his work on "Family Guy."
The Orville, a sci-fi comedy-drama series created by and starring Seth MacFarlane, premiered on September 10, 2017.
Seth MacFarlane created and starred in the science fiction comedy-drama series The Orville, which premiered in 2017.
MacFarlane showcased his musical talents by performing show tunes with Ariana Grande on an episode of "Carpool Karaoke: The Series".
MacFarlane released his fourth studio album, "In Full Swing", featuring compositions by Joel McNeely, which received two Grammy nominations.
In 2017, Seth MacFarlane appeared in Steven Soderbergh's heist comedy 'Logan Lucky,' showcasing his acting versatility.
In 2017, Seth MacFarlane received his fourth Primetime Emmy Award for his work on "Family Guy."
The second season of The Orville premiered on December 30, 2018, and received better reviews than the first season.
In 2018, Fox announced that a live-action/animated film based on Family Guy is in development.
The Walt Disney Company acquired 20th Century Fox in March 2019.
In 2019, Seth MacFarlane appeared in the Showtime limited series 'The Loudest Voice,' expanding his television acting portfolio.
In 2019, Seth MacFarlane publicly endorsed Pete Buttigieg in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
MacFarlane collaborated with composer Andrew Cottee for his fifth studio album, "Once in a While".
Seth MacFarlane received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2019.
Seth MacFarlane received his fifth Primetime Emmy Award in 2019 for his contributions to "Family Guy."
Seth MacFarlane was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 6259 Hollywood Blvd in 2019.
On November 14, 2020, Seth MacFarlane's cover of "White Christmas," featured in Meghan Trainor's album 'A Very Trainor Christmas,' debuted at number 24 on the Adult Contemporary chart. It became their third holiday entry and eventually peaked at number 1 on the chart.
MacFarlane reprised his role as executive producer and voice actor for the sequel series, "Cosmos: Possible Worlds", which aired in 2020.
The third season of The Orville was originally scheduled to premiere in 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Seth MacFarlane was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2020.
MacFarlane released his sixth studio album, "Great Songs from Stage & Screen", featuring compositions by Bruce Broughton, with whom he also worked on "The Orville".
In 2020, Seth MacFarlane was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.
In 2020, Seth MacFarlane signed a $200 million deal with NBCUniversal to develop television projects, including content for their streaming service Peacock. One notable project from this deal is 'The End is Nye.'
In 2020, Seth MacFarlane served as executive producer for the feature film adaptation of Clive Barker's novel 'Books of Blood,' which was directed by Brannon Braga and released on Hulu.
Following the 2020 primaries, Seth MacFarlane endorsed Joe Biden for president during the general election.
In January 2021, it was announced that Seth MacFarlane was hired to develop a reboot of 'The Naked Gun.' He expressed interest in casting Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr., and the project was under active development.
In June 2021, Peacock greenlit a prequel series to "Ted", with MacFarlane returning as executive producer and the voice of Ted.
The third season of The Orville, titled "The Orville: New Horizons," premiered on June 2, 2022, on Hulu.
On August 25, 2022, 'The End is Nye,' a series exploring apocalyptic scenarios hosted by Bill Nye and produced by Seth MacFarlane, premiered on Peacock. MacFarlane served as executive producer and made appearances in the series.
In October 2022, the reboot of 'The Naked Gun,' with Liam Neeson in the lead role, was officially greenlit. Seth MacFarlane serves as a producer, with Akiva Schaffer directing the film.
Seth MacFarlane's science fiction series The Orville concluded in 2022.
MacFarlane released "Blue Skies", his seventh studio album.
At San Diego Comic-Con in 2022, Matt Weitzman revealed that plans for the American Dad! movie were scrapped.
A newly discovered species of Hyloscirtus frog from Ecuador was named "Hyloscirtus sethmacfarlanei" in honor of Seth MacFarlane in 2022.
MacFarlane and singer Katherine McPhee, under the stage name 'Gillies', released a collaborative Christmas album, "We Wish You the Merriest", preceded by the release of the lead single of the same name.
During the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike and the SAG-AFTRA strike, Seth MacFarlane showed his support for film and television workers by donating $1 million to The Entertainment Community Fund, providing financial assistance during the strikes.
In 2023, Seth MacFarlane was co-featured alongside Redman and Statik Selektah on the track "Self Medication" from Logic's eighth studio album, 'College Park.' This collaboration marked another venture into the music industry for MacFarlane.
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Seth MacFarlane, in collaboration with Martin Scorsese, presented 'Back From the Ink: Restored Animated Shorts' at the 2024 TCM Classic Film Festival on April 20, 2024, showcasing their dedication to film preservation.
Seth MacFarlane continued his political endorsements in 2024, initially supporting Joe Biden's reelection bid. After Biden's withdrawal, MacFarlane shifted his endorsement to Kamala Harris.