Seth MacFarlane

Seth MacFarlane

Birthday: October 26
Birthplace: Kent, Connecticut

Seth MacFarlane’s talents encompass every aspect of the entertainment industry. He has created some of the most popular content on television and film today while also expanding his career in the worlds of music and philanthropy. 

At 24, MacFarlane became the youngest showrunner in television history when his animated series Family Guy aired on FOX. Gearing up for its 18th season and currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, Family Guy has garnered MacFarlane numerous nominations and four Emmy Awards for “Outstanding Voice-Over Performance” and “Outstanding Music and Lyrics.”

Seth MacFarlane’s talents encompass every aspect of the entertainment industry. He has created some of the most popular content on television and film today while also expanding his career in the worlds of music and philanthropy. 

At 24, MacFarlane became the youngest showrunner in television history when his animated series Family Guy aired on FOX. Gearing up for its 18th season and currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, Family Guy has garnered MacFarlane numerous nominations and four Emmy Awards for “Outstanding Voice-Over Performance” and “Outstanding Music and Lyrics.”

In addition to Family Guy, MacFarlane serves as co-creator, executive producer and voice actor on American Dad!, which is currently airing its 13th season. He also executive produced the 21st century version of Cosmos: A Space Time Odyssey for FOX and National Geographic. The show was seen by more than 135 million people worldwide and received 13 Emmy nominations. MacFarlane is currently executive producing the next installment of the series, Cosmos: Possible Worlds.

MacFarlane recently created, executive produces and stars in the live-action, one-hour space adventure series, The Orville, which is set 400 years in the future and follows The U.S.S. Orville, a mid-level exploratory spaceship. Its crew, both human and alien, face the wonders and dangers of outer space, while also dealing with the problems of everyday life. The series, which MacFarlane produces under his Fuzzy Door banner, premiered in September 2017 to over 14 million viewers across all platforms. The show was recently picked up for a third season and its second season currently holds an unheard of 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

MacFarlane made his feature film directorial debut in 2012 with the highest-grossing original R-rated comedy film of all time, TED. This buddy comedy starred Mark Wahlberg and MacFarlane as the voice of the lovable foul-mouthed teddy bear. The film made over $545 million worldwide and was co-written and produced by MacFarlane. Fresh off the success of TED and hosting Saturday Night Live, MacFarlane hosted the 85th Academy Awards in 2013 and was also nominated that same year for “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song” for “Everybody Needs a Best Friend” from TED. Due to its great success and cult following, the highly anticipated sequel, TED 2, was released in June 2015.

In between both TED films, Universal released MacFarlane's western-comedy A Million Ways to Die in the West, which he wrote, produced, directed and starred in with an ensemble cast that included Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried and Neil Patrick Harris. Up next, MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door is producing Universal’s upcoming female ensemble comedy Fairy Tale Ending starring Bryce Dallas Howard and Academy Award-winner Octavia Spencer.

As an actor, MacFarlane voiced “Mike,” a small mouse with a big Sinatra-esque voice, in Illumination Entertainment’s 2016 animated musical family comedy Sing. He also made an unrecognizable appearance in Steven Soderbergh’s heist film Logan Lucky, which was released in August 2017.

MacFarlane can currently be seen in Showtime’s seven-episode limited series The Loudest Voice about Fox News founder Roger Ailes. He portrays Brian Lewis, Fox News’ former public relations chief for more than 17 years and Ailes’ closest confidant and supporter. The series, also starring Russell Crowe, Sienna Miller and Annabelle Wallis, is based on Gabriel Sherman’s bestselling book of a similar name, The Loudest Voice in the Room.

MacFarlane’s debut album of standards Music is Better Than Words debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Jazz Chart in 2011 and went on to receive four Grammy nominations, including “Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.” His 2014 first-ever Christmas set, Holiday for Swing, also debuted at No. 1 and was followed by No One Ever Tells You, another iTunes chart topper, and In Full Swing, his first No.1 Traditional Jazz album, garnering him two more Grammy nominations.

MacFarlane recently released his fifth album Once In A While, a collection of wistful, pensive songs that deal with longing, lost love and sadness infused with fond recollection and a hint of hope, and is gearing up to record his sixth album. He has performed with composer John Williams at the Hollywood Bowl, duetted with Barbra Streisand on “Pure Imagination” for Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway and joined numerous celebrated symphonies including Boston, San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago, Baltimore, and the National Symphony Orchestra.

MacFarlane created The Seth MacFarlane Foundation to focus his charitable efforts. As an advocate for science, he funded the Seth MacFarlane collection of the Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan archive at the Library of Congress. He also executive produced the climate change documentary inspired by the nonfiction bestseller by Naomi Klein, This Changes Everything. The film shot in nine countries over four years, bringing awareness to the insurmountable issue of global warming and the economic systems that facilitate it.

Through his foundation, MacFarlane continues to be an avid supporter of science communication, cancer research, The Human Rights Campaign, Oceana, the People of the American Way, Chrysalis, Perry’s Place and National Public Radio (NPR). Last year, in support of NPR’s mission to create a more informed public and strengthen democracy, MacFarlane made a $2 million donation to NPR and a $500,000 donation to Los Angeles’ NPR membership station, KPCC, the top news distribution for NPR content in Southern California.

Seth MacFarlane was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2020.

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Awards & Nominations

24 Nominations | 5 Emmys | 1 Honor
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance - 2021
  • Nominee
  • Seth MacFarlane, as Peter Griffin, Stewie Griffin, Brian Griffin, Glenn Quagmire
  • Family Guy
  • "Stewie's First Word"
  • FOX
  • 20th Television Animation
Hall of Fame - 2020
  • Winner
  • Seth MacFarlane, as Honoree
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance - 2019
  • Winner
  • Seth MacFarlane, as Peter Griffin, Stewie Griffin, Brian Griffin, Glenn Quagmire, Tom Tucker, Seamus
  • Family Guy
  • "Con Heiress"
  • FOX
  • 20th Century Fox Television
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance - 2018
  • Nominee
  • Seth MacFarlane, as Stan Smith, Roger Smith
  • American Dad!
  • "The Talented Mr. Dingleberry"
  • TBS
  • 20th Century Fox Television
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance - 2018
  • Nominee
  • Seth MacFarlane, as Stewie Griffin, Brian Griffin
  • Family Guy
  • "Send In Stewie, Please"
  • FOX
  • 20th Century Fox Television
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance - 2017
  • Winner
  • Seth MacFarlane, Peter Griffin, Stewie Griffin, Brian Griffin, Glenn Quagmire
  • Family Guy
  • "The Boys In The Band"
  • FOX
  • 20th Century Fox Television
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance - 2016
  • Winner
  • Seth MacFarlane, Peter Griffin, Stewie Griffin, Brian Griffin, Glenn Quagmire, Dr. Hartman, Tom Tucker, Mr. Spacely
  • Family Guy
  • "Pilling Them Softly"
  • FOX
  • 20th Century Fox Television
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance - 2015
  • Nominee
  • Seth MacFarlane, Brian Griffin and Dr. Hartman/ Peter Griffin/ Stewie Griffin
  • Family Guy
  • "Our Idiot Brian"
  • FOX
  • Fox Television Animation
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance - 2014
  • Nominee
  • Seth MacFarlane, as Glenn Quagmire/ Peter Griffin/ Stewie Griffin
  • Family Guy
  • "In Harmony's Way"
  • FOX
  • Fox Television Animation
Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Series - 2014
Outstanding Voice-Over Performance - 2013
  • Nominee
  • Seth MacFarlane, as Brian Griffin/ Peter Griffin/ Stewie Griffin
  • Family Guy
  • "Brian's Play"
  • FOX
  • Fox Television Animation
Outstanding Special Class Programs - 2013
  • Nominee
  • Seth MacFarlane, Host
  • The Oscars
  • ABC
  • Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Outstanding Animated Program - 2012
  • Nominee
  • Seth MacFarlane, Executive Producer
  • American Dad
  • "Hot Water"
  • FOX
  • Fox Television Animation
Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics - 2011
  • Nominee
  • Seth MacFarlane, Music & Lyrics by
  • Family Guy
  • "Road To The North Pole (Song Title: Christmastime Is Killing Us)"
  • FOX
  • Fox Television Animation
Outstanding Animated Program - 2011
  • Nominee
  • Seth MacFarlane, Executive Producer
  • The Cleveland Show
  • "Murray Christmas"
  • FOX
  • Fox Television Animation
Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics - 2010
  • Nominee
  • Seth MacFarlane, Music & Lyrics By
  • Family Guy
  • "Extra Large Medium (Song title: Down's Syndrome Girl)"
  • FOX
  • Fox Television Animation
Outstanding Voice-Over Performance - 2009
  • Nominee
  • Seth MacFarlane, as Peter Griffin
  • Family Guy
  • "I Dream of Jesus"
  • FOX
  • Fox Television Animation
Outstanding Animated Program (for programming less than one hour) - 2009
  • Nominee
  • Seth MacFarlane, Executive Producer
  • American Dad
  • "Sixteen-Hundred Candles"
  • FOX
  • Fox Television Animation
Outstanding Comedy Series - 2009
  • Nominee
  • Seth MacFarlane, Executive Producer
  • Family Guy
  • FOX
  • Fox Television Animation
Outstanding Animated Program (for programming one hour or more) - 2008
  • Nominee
  • Seth MacFarlane, Executive Producer
  • Family Guy
  • "Blue Harvest"
  • FOX
  • Fuzzy Door Productions in association with Fox Television Animation Studios
Outstanding Animated Program (for programming less than one hour) - 2006
  • Nominee
  • Seth MacFarlane, Executive Producer
  • Family Guy
  • FOX
  • Fox Television Animation
Outstanding Animated Program (for programming less than one hour) - 2005
  • Nominee
  • Seth MacFarlane, Executive Producer/Writer
  • Family Guy
  • FOX
  • Fox Television Animation
OUTSTANDING MUSIC AND LYRICS - 2002
  • Winner
  • Seth MacFarlane, Lyricist
  • Family Guy
  • FOX
  • Fox Television Animation
Outstanding Voice-Over Performance - 2000
  • Winner
  • Seth MacFarlane, as Stewie Griffin (baby)
  • Family Guy
  • FOX
  • Fox Television Animation
OUTSTANDING ANIMATED PROGRAM (FOR PROGRAMMING ONE HOUR OR LESS) - 2000
  • Nominee
  • Seth MacFarlane
  • Family Guy
  • FOX
  • Fox Television Animation

The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. Click here to learn more

25th Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
25th Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
25th Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Seth MacFarlane on the red carpet at the 71st Emmy Awards.
Seth MacFarlane and Alex Borstein on the red carpet at the 71st Emmy Awards.
Seth MacFarlane and Emmy Rossum present an award at the 69th Emmy Awards.
Seth MacFarlane and Emmy Rossum present an award at the 2017 Primetime Emmys.
Seth MacFarlane pays tribute to the late Gene Roddenberry.
Fill 1
Fill 1
25th Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Camera

Seth MacFarlane speaks at the 25th Television Academy Hall of Fame induction ceremony, held at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California on January 28, 2020.

Invision/AP
25th Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Camera

Seth MacFarlane and Don Mischer at the 25th Television Academy Hall of Fame induction ceremony, held at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California on January 28, 2020.

Invision/AP
25th Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Camera

Seth MacFarlane and Peter Rice at the 25th Television Academy Hall of Fame induction ceremony, held at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California on January 28, 2020.

Invision/AP
Seth MacFarlane on the red carpet at the 71st Emmy Awards.
Camera

Seth MacFarlane on the red carpet at the 71st Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Seth MacFarlane and Alex Borstein on the red carpet at the 71st Emmy Awards.
Camera

Seth MacFarlane and Alex Borstein on the red carpet at the 71st Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Seth MacFarlane and Emmy Rossum present an award at the 69th Emmy Awards.
Camera

Seth MacFarlane and Emmy Rossum present an award at the 69th Emmy Awards.

Richard Harbaugh / Image Group LA
Seth MacFarlane and Emmy Rossum present an award at the 2017 Primetime Emmys.
Camera

Seth MacFarlane and Emmy Rossum present an award at the 2017 Primetime Emmys.

Invision/AP
Seth MacFarlane pays tribute to the late Gene Roddenberry.
Camera
Mathew Imaging
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