Seth MacFarlane
Born 1973 · Age 52
American animator, writer, actor, director, producer and singer; creator of Family Guy, co-creator of American Dad! and The Cleveland Show, creator/star of The Orville, director/star of Ted films, and recording artist.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Kent, Connecticut
Seth Woodbury MacFarlane was born in Kent, Connecticut.
Began drawing cartoons
At about age two he began drawing cartoon characters such as Fred Flintstone and Woody Woodpecker.
Decided to pursue animation career
By age five he knew he wanted a career in animation and started making flip books.
First paid cartoon strip published
Began publishing a weekly comic strip 'Walter Crouton' in the Kent Good Times Dispatch, earning $5/week.
Graduated Kent School (high school diploma)
Received high school diploma from the Kent School; continued experimenting with animation.
Started Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
Enrolled at RISD to study animation and video (approx. 1991–1995).
Graduated RISD with BFA
Graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts; made thesis film The Life of Larry.
Hired by Hanna-Barbera
Recruited to Hollywood by Hanna-Barbera after his student film; began working as an animator and writer.
Worked on Cartoon Network shows
Worked as writer/storyboard artist on Dexter's Laboratory, Cow and Chicken and Johnny Bravo at Hanna-Barbera.
Created Larry & Steve short
Produced a sequel short to The Life of Larry called Larry & Steve for Cartoon Network's World Premiere Toons; precursor to Family Guy.
Created Zoomates for Oh Yeah! Cartoons
Created the short 'Zoomates' for Frederator Studios' Oh Yeah! Cartoons on Nickelodeon.
Pilot budget from Fox ($50,000)
Fox gave him $50,000 to produce a pilot for a potential prime-time animated series (Family Guy pilot development).
Reported production deal with Fox (~$2.5M/yr)
Sources report Fox signed a production deal (reported in some sources as ~$2.5M/year) around May 1998 to develop his series.
Fox orders Family Guy for 1999 debut
July 1998 Fox announced purchase of Family Guy for a January 1999 debut after the pilot impressed executives.
Family Guy premiere
Family Guy first aired on television on January 31, 1999 (first major series created by MacFarlane).
Primetime Emmy Award (Outstanding Voice-Over Performance)
Won an Emmy Award in 2000 for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance as baby Stewie on Family Guy.
Family Guy canceled (first cancellation)
Family Guy was canceled by Fox in 2002 after initial three-season run.
Controversy and advertiser boycotts
Faced public criticism and advertiser boycotts from groups such as the Parents Television Council and a boycott call from a former headmaster in 1999–2002 period.
Family Guy DVD release sells ~1 million copies
The Family Guy DVD release (first 28 episodes) sold around one million copies and boosted the show's popularity in syndication.
Fox revives Family Guy (series resurrection announced)
After strong DVD sales and Adult Swim ratings, Fox agreed to bring Family Guy back into production (renewal and new episode orders).
American Dad! premieres
American Dad!, co-created by Seth MacFarlane, Matt Weitzman and Mike Barker, debuted on Fox in January 2005; MacFarlane voiced Stan Smith and Roger.
Family Guy: Live in Vegas soundtrack
Released Family Guy: Live in Vegas soundtrack with composer Walter Murphy; MacFarlane voiced Stewie on a track.
Guest acting appearances
Made guest acting appearances on Gilmore Girls (2002), Star Trek: Enterprise (2004 episodes), The War at Home (2006), MADtv (2006) and others through the 2000s–2010s.
Family Guy video game released
A Family Guy video game based on the series was released in 2006.
Digital content deal with AdSense / Google (reported)
In August 2007 MacFarlane closed a digital content production deal (reported as with AdSense/Google) to distribute weekly web content.
Family Guy Live tour (performances of upcoming scripts)
Took Family Guy cast on the road to voice characters live for audiences (e.g., Chicago event to preview 'Blue Harvest').
Executive produced live-action sitcom 'The Winner'
Executive produced Rob Corddry sitcom The Winner, which ran for six episodes on Fox in Spring 2007.
Writers Guild strike participation (2007–2008)
Fully participated in the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike; Family Guy production was affected and Fox aired episodes without his approval during the strike.
Spoke at WGA rally during writers' strike
Publicly participated in the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike and spoke at a WGA rally in Culver City.
Released Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy (web series)
In 2008 released a series of weekly sponsored webisodes—Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy.
Voiced in Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Provided the voice of Johann Kraus in the 2008 film Hellboy II: The Golden Army.
Signed $100 million agreement with Fox (reported)
On May 4, 2008, after long negotiations, MacFarlane reached a reported $100 million agreement with Fox to keep Family Guy and American Dad! until 2012.
Vocal performance at BBC Proms (Prom 22)
Appeared as a vocalist with the John Wilson Orchestra in Prom 22: A Celebration of Classic MGM Film Musicals (2009).
Executive produced 'Bordertown' (development begun)
Started work on animated series Bordertown (set in Texas); Fox aired 13 episodes in 2016.
Won Webby Award – Film & Video Person of the Year
Won the Webby Award for Film & Video Person of the Year in 2009.
The Cleveland Show premieres
Family Guy spin-off The Cleveland Show premiered on Fox (22-episode first season ordered).
Hosted Comedy Central roast of Donald Trump and Charlie Sheen
Served as roastmaster for the Comedy Central roasts of Donald Trump and Charlie Sheen (2011 roasts).
Became Comedy Central roastmaster (David Hasselhoff)
Served as roastmaster for the Comedy Central roast of David Hasselhoff (first of multiple roasts he's hosted).
Signed record deal with Universal Republic
Signed a record deal in 2010 and prepared debut album rooted in big band/standards style.
Stepped away from showrunner duties on Family Guy to work on film projects
Around 2011 he reduced involvement in Family Guy’s day-to-day showrunning to focus on Ted and other projects; remains a voice actor on the series.
Harvard Humanist of the Year
Named Harvard Humanist of the Year for commitment to humanist values and support for equal marriage rights.
Debut album 'Music Is Better Than Words' released
Released his debut standards/big band album in 2011; featured duets with Norah Jones and Sara Bareilles; nominated for Grammys.
Announced directing feature film 'Ted' on Conan
On Feb 10, 2011 he announced on Conan he would direct the live-action film Ted.
Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song
Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song for 'Everybody Needs a Best Friend' from Ted (2013 Oscars ceremony nominations announced in 2012/2013 cycle).
Hosted SNL season premiere
Hosted Saturday Night Live season premiere on September 15, 2012, his first SNL appearance.
Released film 'Ted' (directorial live-action debut)
Ted, which he wrote, directed, produced, voiced and starred in, was released in 2012 and became the highest-grossing original R-rated comedy at the time.
Confirmed Family Guy feature film deal (plans announced)
On Oct 13, 2011 and reiterated Nov 30, 2012 he confirmed a deal/plan to write a theatrically released Family Guy film (project later put on hold).
Produced 'Dads' (one season)
In 2013–2014 produced the live-action sitcom Dads (one season), executive produced with Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild.
Hosted the 85th Academy Awards
Hosted the Oscars ceremony on February 24, 2013; also presented nominees with Emma Stone on Jan 10, 2013.
Released 'A Million Ways to Die in the West' and companion novel
Co-wrote, directed, starred in the film (2014) and published a companion novel released March 4, 2014; audiobook narrated by Jonathan Frakes.
Executive produced 'Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey'
Co-produced the 2014 Neil deGrasse Tyson-hosted update of Cosmos, which aired March 2014 and reached millions worldwide.
Released Christmas album 'Holiday for Swing'
Released his second studio album and first Christmas album in 2014; positive critical reception.
Executive produced 'Blunt Talk' for Starz
Executive produced the two-season Starz comedy Blunt Talk (2014–2015), 20 episodes total.
Hosted Breakthrough Prize (and returned next year)
Hosted the Breakthrough Prize ceremony (announced Oct 29, 2014; event broadcast in November) and returned to host the following year.
Album 'No One Ever Tells You' nominated for Grammy
His 2015 album No One Ever Tells You was nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the Grammys.
Released 'Ted 2' (sequel)
Ted 2, the sequel to Ted, was released on June 26, 2015; performed less strongly than the original but still earned significant box office.
Voice role in Illumination's 'Sing' and major contributor to soundtrack
Contributed voice work and performed major songs on the soundtrack for the animated film Sing (2016).
Created The Orville (script sold and ordered by Fox)
Originally wrote The Orville as a spec script; Fox gave it a 13-episode order in May 2016 — his first live-action TV series.
Appeared in 'Logan Lucky'
Acted in Steven Soderbergh's heist comedy Logan Lucky (2017 release; filmed 2016/2017).
Released album 'In Full Swing' (Grammy nominations)
Released fourth studio album In Full Swing in 2017; earned Grammy nominations for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album and Best Arrangement.
The Orville premieres on Fox
The Orville premiered September 10, 2017; MacFarlane stars as Captain Ed Mercer.
The Orville Season 2 premiere
Second season of The Orville premiered on December 30, 2018 and received improved critical reception.
Portrayed in 'The Loudest Voice' (Showtime limited series)
Appeared in Showtime limited series The Loudest Voice (2019) portraying Brian Lewis, Fox News PR chief.
Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2019.
Released album 'Once in a While'
Released his fifth studio album Once in a While in 2019, working with composer Andrew Cottee.
Signed $200 million overall deal with NBCUniversal
Signed a reported $200 million deal with NBCUniversal in 2020 to develop television projects for Peacock and other outlets.
Performed at Proms and high-profile concert venues
Has performed at venues including the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall and Royal Albert Hall and appeared several times at the BBC Proms (2009, 2010, 2012, 2015).
Inducted into Television Hall of Fame
Inducted into the Television Academy Television Hall of Fame in 2020.
Executive produced 'Cosmos: Possible Worlds' and other projects
Returned as executive producer and voice performer for Cosmos sequel (aired 2020); executive produced other projects like Books of Blood (2020).
Released album 'Great Songs from Stage & Screen'
Released his sixth studio album in 2020, much post-production done at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Peacock orders 'Ted' prequel series (straight-to-series order)
In June 2021 Peacock gave a straight-to-series order for a prequel series to Ted; MacFarlane executive produced and voiced Ted.
Released album 'Blue Skies'
Released his seventh studio album Blue Skies in 2022.
The Orville: New Horizons (Season 3) premieres
Season 3 (titled The Orville: New Horizons) premiered June 2, 2022 on Hulu after moving from Fox; delayed by COVID-19.
Greenlit Naked Gun reboot (development news)
October 2022: film reboot of The Naked Gun officially greenlit with Liam Neeson in lead; MacFarlane served as a producer and earlier involved in development.
Donated $1 million to Entertainment Community Fund
During the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes MacFarlane donated $1,000,000 to The Entertainment Community Fund to support film and TV workers.
Released collaborative Christmas album with Elizabeth Gillies 'We Wish You the Merriest'
In November 2023 released collaborative Christmas album with Elizabeth Gillies; lead single released simultaneously.
Reported development of animated 'Ted' series (announced)
August 2024: it was reported an animated series based on the Ted franchise was in development (per reports).
Released ninth album 'Lush Life: The Lost Sinatra Arrangements'
June 2025 release conducted by John Wilson featuring previously unproduced Sinatra arrangements discovered by MacFarlane.
Key Achievement Ages
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