:Matt Groening

{{Infobox person

| name = Matt Groening

| image = MattGroening-byPhilipRomano.jpg

| caption = Groening in 2024

| birth_name = Matthew Abram Groening

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|2|15}}

| birth_place = Portland, Oregon, U.S.

| alma_mater = Evergreen State College (BA)

| occupation = {{hlist|Cartoonist|writer|producer|animator}}

| notable_works = {{Plainlist|

}}

| years active = 1977–present

| spouse = {{Unbulleted list

| {{Marriage|Deborah Caplan|1986|1999|reason=divorced}}

| {{Marriage|Agustina Picasso|2011}}

}}

| children = 11

| father = Homer Groening

| relatives = Craig Bartlett (brother-in-law)

| awards = Full list

| signature = Matt Groening Signature.svg

}}

Matthew Abram Groening ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|r|eɪ|n|ɪ|ŋ}} {{respell|GRAY|ning}}; born February 15, 1954) is an American cartoonist, writer, producer, and animator. He is best known as the creator of the television series The Simpsons (1989–present), Futurama (1999–2003, 2008–2013, 2023–present),{{cite web |author=Joe Otterson |date=February 9, 2022 |title='Futurama' Revival Ordered at Hulu With Original Cast Returning |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/futurama-revival-hulu-1235176203/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210024252/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/futurama-revival-hulu-1235176203/ |archive-date=February 10, 2022 |access-date=February 15, 2022 |publisher=Variety}} and Disenchantment (2018–2023), and the comic strip Life in Hell (1977–2012). The Simpsons is the longest-running American primetime television series in history, as well as the longest-running American animated series and sitcom.

Born in Portland, Oregon, Groening made his first professional cartoon sale of Life in Hell to the avant-garde magazine Wet in 1978. At its peak, it was carried in 250 weekly newspapers and caught the attention of American producer James L. Brooks, who contacted Groening in 1985 about adapting it for animated sequences for the Fox 21st century variety show The Tracey Ullman Show. Fearing the loss of ownership rights, Groening created a new set of characters, the Simpson family. The shorts were spun off into their own series, The Simpsons, which has since aired List of The Simpsons episodes.

In 1997, Groening and former Simpsons writer David X. Cohen developed Futurama, an animated series about life in the year 3000, which premiered in 1999. It ran for four years on Fox; was picked up in 2008 by Comedy Central for another 5 years; then was finally picked up by Hulu for another revival in 2023. In 2016, Groening developed a new series for Netflix, Disenchantment, which premiered in August 2018.

Groening has won 14 Primetime Emmy Awards, 12 for The Simpsons and 2 for Futurama, and a British Comedy Award for "outstanding contribution to comedy" in 2004. In 2002, he won the National Cartoonist Society Reuben Award for his work on Life in Hell. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 14, 2012.

Influences

He has cited cartoonists Robert Crumb, Kim Deitch, Dr. Seuss, Charles M. Schulz, Walt Kelly, George Herriman, Ronald Searle, Ernie Bushmiller, and Lynda Barry as well as Golden Age animators such as Walt Disney, Max Fleischer, Tex Avery, Chuck Jones, and Jay Ward as a reason for him becoming an animator.{{Cite web |title=Matt Groening |url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/g/groening.htm |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=lambiek.net |language=en}}

Early life and education

Matthew Abram Groening{{Cite book |last1=Wiebe |first1=Joel A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5ZJPAAAAMAAJ&q=%22matthew+abram+groening%22 |title=The Groening-Wiebe Family, 1768-1974 |last2=Wiebe |first2=Vernon R. |last3=Wiebe |first3=Raymond F. |date=1974 |publisher=Joel A., Vernon R., Raymond F. Wiebe |language=en}} was born on February 15, 1954,{{cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/people/matt-groening-9542573 |title=Matt Groening| publisher=A&E Television Networks |access-date=January 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729081705/http://www.biography.com/people/matt-groening-9542573|archive-date=July 29, 2012}}{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Matt-Groening |title=Matt Groening Biography |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |access-date=January 8, 2016 |archive-date=February 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222044013/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Matt-Groening |url-status=live }} in Portland, Oregon,{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Jeff |title=Groening, rhymes with reigning |work= The Oregonian |date=March 9, 2004 |page=D1}} the middle of five children (older sister Patty and brother Mark were born in 1943 and 1950, and younger sisters Lisa and Maggie in 1956 and 1958, respectively). His Norwegian American mother, Margaret Ruth (née Wiggum; March 23, 1919 – April 22, 2013),{{cite news |url= http://obits.oregonlive.com/obituaries/oregon/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=164660979 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130630021721/http://obits.oregonlive.com/obituaries/oregon/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=164660979 |url-status= dead |archive-date= June 30, 2013 |title= Margaret Ruth Groening Obituary |work= The Oregonian |date=May 6, 2013 }} was once a teacher, and his German Canadian father, Homer Philip Groening (December 30, 1919 – March 15, 1996),{{cite news |url= https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19960319/2319671/homer-groening-cartoonists-father-simpsons-inspiration |title= Homer Groening, Cartoonist's Father, 'Simpsons' Inspiration |work= The Seattle Times |date=March 19, 1996 |access-date=September 27, 2010 |archive-date=May 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519104246/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19960319&slug=2319671 |url-status=live }} was a filmmaker, advertiser, writer and cartoonist.{{cite news| url= http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2003818762_realsimpsons030.html |title=The real people behind Homer Simpson and family |access-date=October 31, 2008 |author=Rose, Joseph |date=August 3, 2007 |work= The Oregonian |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080103120252/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2003818762_realsimpsons030.html |archive-date= January 3, 2008}}{{cite web|title=Matt Groening Q&A (1993) |publisher=Prodigy |url=http://www.snpp.com/other/interviews/groening93b.html |date=June 1993 |access-date=January 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510155119/http://www.snpp.com/other/interviews/groening93b.html |archive-date=May 10, 2007}} Homer, born in Main Centre, Saskatchewan, Canada, grew up in a Plautdietsch-speaking family.{{cite journal |last=Dueck |first=Dora |title= Homer Simpson has Canadian Mennonite roots |journal=Canadian Mennonite |volume=6 |issue=19 |url=http://legacy.canadianmennonite.org/vol06-2002/6-19/artsculture.html |date=October 7, 2002 |access-date= January 7, 2013 |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131004234430/http://legacy.canadianmennonite.org/vol06-2002/6-19/artsculture.html |url-status=live }}

Groening's grandfather, Abram A. Groening, was a professor at Tabor College, a Mennonite Brethren liberal arts college in Hillsboro, Kansas, before moving to Albany College (now known as Lewis and Clark College) in Oregon in 1930.{{cite journal |last=Suderman |first=Dale |title=Hillsboro, Home of the Simpsons. |journal=Hillsboro Free Press |date= August 15, 2007 |url= http://www.hillsborofreepress.com/content/view/18085505/94/ |access-date= November 4, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080828065710/http://www.hillsborofreepress.com/content/view/18085505/94/ |archive-date=August 28, 2008}}

Groening was raised in Portland{{cite web |url= http://www.thesimpsons.com/actors/index.htm |title=Matt Groening Creator and Executive Producer [Bio] |website= thesimpsons.com |access-date=March 4, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070310215122/http://www.thesimpsons.com/actors/index.htm |archive-date=March 10, 2007}} and attended Ainsworth Elementary School{{cite web |first=Charlotte |last= Middlehurst |url= http://www.timeoutshanghai.com/features/Books__Film-Book_features/5644/Matt-Groening-interview.html |title=Matt Groening interview |work=Time Out Shanghai |date=March 12, 2012 |access-date= January 8, 2016 |archive-date=January 26, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160126151324/http://www.timeoutshanghai.com/features/Books__Film-Book_features/5644/Matt-Groening-interview.html |url-status=live }} and Lincoln High School.{{cite news |first=Joseph |last=Rose |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/movies/2012/05/the_simpsons_map_of_portland_w.html |title='The Simpsons' map of Portland (What other proof do you need that they're Oregonians?) |work= The Oregonian |date=May 4, 2012 |access-date=January 8, 2016 |quote=Lincoln High School, Southwest 18th Avenue just south of Salmon Street. Groening drew and signed a sidewalk portrait of Bart Simpson in wet concrete outside his alma mater. "Class of 1972" appears next to Bart as he strikes his classic "Don't have a cow, man!" pose. |archive-date=January 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128145847/http://www.oregonlive.com/movies/2012/05/the_simpsons_map_of_portland_w.html |url-status=live }} Following his high school graduation in 1972,{{sfnp|Groth|1991}} Groening attended the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington,{{cite web |url=http://www.evergreen.edu/alumni/writersproject/mattgroening.htm |title= Matt Groening at Evergreen |access-date=August 30, 2007 |work= evergreen.edu | publisher= Evergreen State College |url-status= dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926234731/http://www.evergreen.edu/alumni/writersproject/mattgroening.htm |archive-date=September 26, 2007}} a liberal arts school that he described as "a hippie college, with no grades or required classes, that drew every weirdo in the Northwest."{{sfnp|Lloyd|1999}} He served as the editor of the campus newspaper, The Cooper Point Journal, for which he also wrote articles and drew cartoons.{{sfnp|Groth|1991}} Groening graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism in 1977.{{cite encyclopedia |title=Matt Groening | Biography, Cartoons, & Facts |encyclopedia=Britannica.com |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Matt-Groening |access-date=June 23, 2022 |date=May 18, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222044013/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Matt-Groening |archive-date=February 22, 2016}} He befriended fellow cartoonist Lynda Barry after discovering that she had written a fan letter to Joseph Heller, one of Groening's favorite authors, and had received a reply.{{cite comic |cartoonist=Groening, Matt |strip=Life in Hell |date=January 14, 2000 |syndicate=Acme Features Syndicate |panel=5–6}} Groening has credited Barry with being "probably [his] biggest inspiration."{{cite web |title=Matt Groening |work=Mother Jones |url= https://www.motherjones.com/media/1999/03/matt-groening |last=Doherty |first=Brian |date=March–April 1999 |access-date=January 14, 2007 |archive-date=April 16, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416213422/http://www.motherjones.com/media/1999/03/matt-groening |url-status=live }} He first became interested in cartoons after watching the Disney animated film One Hundred and One Dalmatians{{cite AV media |people=Groening, Matt; Mirkin, David; Scully, Mike; Anderson, Bob |date=2005 |work=The Simpsons The Complete Sixth Season | title= Commentary for the episode "Two Dozen & One Greyhounds" |medium= DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}} as well as Monty Python.{{cite news |title=Matt Groening says Monty Python influenced new show Disenchantment |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/on-demand/2018/07/30/matt-groening-says-monty-python-influenced-new-show-disenchantment/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822172811/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/on-demand/2018/07/30/matt-groening-says-monty-python-influenced-new-show-disenchantment/ |archive-date=August 22, 2019 |access-date=August 22, 2019 |work=The Telegraph}}

Career

=Early career=

In 1977, at age 23, Groening moved to Los Angeles to become a writer. He went through what he described as "a series of lousy jobs", including being an extra in the television movie When Every Day Was the Fourth of July,{{cite journal |last=Sheff |first=David |title=Matt Groening |journal=Playboy |volume=54 |issue=6 |date=June 2007 |url=http://playboy.com/arts-entertainment/features/matt-groening/matt-groening-01.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013165626/http://playboy.com/arts-entertainment/features/matt-groening/matt-groening-01.html |archive-date=October 13, 2007}} busing tables,{{sfnp|Morgenstern|1990}} washing dishes at a nursing home, clerking at the Hollywood Licorice Pizza record store, landscaping in a sewage treatment plant,{{sfnp|Von Busack|2001}} and chauffeuring and ghostwriting for a retired Western director.{{sfnp|Chocano|2001}}{{cite web |title=Matt Groening |date=April 26, 2006 |last=Rabin |first=Nathan |work=The A.V. Club |url=https://www.avclub.com/matt-groening-1798209542 |access-date=June 9, 2009 |archive-date=January 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119014837/http://www.avclub.com/articles/matt-groening,13984/ |url-status=live }}

=''Life in Hell''=

File:Life-in-Hell-No-4.jpg

Groening described life in Los Angeles to his friends in the form of the self-published comic book Life in Hell, which was loosely inspired by the chapter "How to Go to Hell" in Walter Kaufmann's book Critique of Religion and Philosophy.{{cite web |title=Matt Groening |date=May–June 2001 |last=McKenna |first=Kristine |work=My Generation |url=http://www.snpp.com/other/interviews/groening01a.html |access-date=February 3, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010430043724/http://www.snpp.com/other/interviews/groening01a.html |archive-date=April 30, 2001}} Groening distributed the comic book in the book corner of Licorice Pizza, a record store in which he worked. He made his first professional cartoon sale to the avant-garde Wet magazine in 1978. The strip, titled "Forbidden Words", appeared in the September/October issue of that year.{{sfnp|Morgenstern|1990}}{{cite web |title=World Wide WET—early |work=Wunderland.com |url=http://www.wunderland.com/WTS/Rash/misc/wet/wet1.htm |access-date=September 4, 2007 |archive-date=October 13, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013173041/http://wunderland.com/WTS/Rash/misc/wet/wet1.htm |url-status=live }}

Groening had gained employment at the Los Angeles Reader, a newly formed alternative newspaper, delivering papers,{{sfnp|Groth|1991}} typesetting, editing and answering phones.{{sfnp|Von Busack|2001}} He showed his cartoons to the editor, James Vowell, who was impressed and eventually gave him a spot in the paper.{{sfnp|Groth|1991}} Life in Hell made its official debut as a comic strip in the Reader on April 25, 1980.{{sfnp|Morgenstern|1990}}{{cite web |url=http://www.aan.org/gyrobase/Aan/viewCompany?oid=1157 |title=Acme Features Syndicate |access-date=August 30, 2007 |work=Association of Alternative Newsweeklies |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100902011029/http://www.altweeklies.com/aan/acme-features-syndicate/Company?oid=1157 |archive-date=September 2, 2010}} Vowell also gave Groening his own weekly music column, "Sound Mix", in 1982. However, the column would rarely actually be about music, as he would often write about his "various enthusiasms, obsessions, pet peeves and problems" instead.{{sfnp|Lloyd|1999}} In an effort to add more music to the column, he "just made stuff up," concocting and reviewing fictional bands and nonexistent records. In the following week's column, he would confess to fabricating everything in the previous column and swear that everything in the new column was true. Eventually, he was finally asked to give up the "music" column.{{sfnp|Groening|2001a |pp=92–93}} Among the fans of the column was Harry Shearer, who would later become a voice actor on The Simpsons.{{cite web |title=Interview with Harry Shearer (Part 3 of 4) |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/035/035862p1.html |author=Plume, Kenneth |website=IGN |date=February 10, 2000 |access-date=April 30, 2009 |archive-date=May 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522141427/http://movies.ign.com/articles/035/035862p1.html |url-status=live }}

Life in Hell became popular almost immediately.{{sfnp|Ortved|2007 |p=71}} In November 1984, Deborah Caplan, Groening's then-girlfriend and co-worker at the Reader, offered to publish "Love Is Hell", a series of relationship-themed Life in Hell strips, in book form.{{sfnp|Groening|1994}} Released a month later, the book was an underground success, selling 22,000 copies in its first two printings. Work Is Hell soon followed, also published by Caplan.{{sfnp|Groth|1991}} Soon afterward, Caplan and Groening left and put together the Life in Hell Co., which handled merchandising for Life in Hell.{{sfnp|Morgenstern|1990}} Groening also started Acme Features Syndicate, which initially syndicated Life in Hell as well as work by Lynda Barry and John Callahan, but would eventually only syndicate Life in Hell.{{sfnp|Groth|1991}} At the end of its run, Life in Hell was carried in 250 weekly newspapers and has been anthologized in a series of books, including School Is Hell, Childhood Is Hell, The Big Book of Hell, and The Huge Book of Hell. Although Groening previously stated, "I'll never give up the comic strip. It's my foundation,"{{cite web|title=Prime time is heaven for 'Life in Hell' Artist |work=TV Host |url=http://www.snpp.com/other/interviews/groening89.html |last=Bergman |first=Erik H. |date=December 16, 1989 |access-date=March 23, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070102171637/http://snpp.com/other/interviews/groening89.html |archive-date=January 2, 2007}} the June 16, 2012, strip marked Life in Hell{{'}}s conclusion.{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-06-19/matt-groening-life-in-hell/55698336/1 |title='Life in Hell' is over for cartoonist Matt Groening |author=Graham, Jefferson |work=USA Today |access-date=June 20, 2012 |date=June 19, 2012 |archive-date=June 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620061419/http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-06-19/matt-groening-life-in-hell/55698336/1 |url-status=live }} After Groening ended the strip, the Center for Cartoon Studies commissioned a poster that was presented to Groening in honor of his work. The poster contained tribute cartoons by 22 of Groening's cartoonist friends who were influenced by Life in Hell.{{cite news |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2012/10/matt_groening_s_life_in_hell_a_tribute_in_comics_by_alison_bechdel_tom_tomorrow_and_others_.html |title=To Hell With You, Matt Groening |author=Sturm, James |work=Slate |access-date=October 11, 2012 |date=October 10, 2012 |archive-date=October 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011004524/http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2012/10/matt_groening_s_life_in_hell_a_tribute_in_comics_by_alison_bechdel_tom_tomorrow_and_others_.html |url-status=live }}

=''The Simpsons''=

==Creation==

File:Simpsons on Tracey Ullman.png

Life in Hell caught the attention of Hollywood writer-director-producer and Gracie Films founder James L. Brooks, who had been shown the strip by fellow producer Polly Platt.{{sfnp|Ortved|2007 |p=71}}{{cite web|title=Keep 'em Laughing |date=October 1999 |last=Kim |first=John W. |work=Scr(i)pt |url=http://www.snpp.com/other/interviews/groening99d.html |access-date=January 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070526133854/http://www.snpp.com/other/interviews/groening99d.html |archive-date=May 26, 2007}} In 1985, Brooks contacted Groening with the proposition of working in animation on an undefined future project, which would turn out to be developing a series of short animated skits, called "bumpers", for the Fox variety show The Tracey Ullman Show. Originally, Brooks wanted Groening to adapt his Life in Hell characters for the show. Groening feared that he would have to give up his ownership rights, and that the show would fail and take down his comic strip with it. Groening conceived of the idea for the Simpsons in the lobby of James L. Brooks's office and hurriedly sketched out his version of a dysfunctional family: Homer, the overweight father; Marge, the slim mother; Bart, the miscreant oldest child; Lisa, the intelligent middle child; and Maggie, the baby.{{sfnp|Scott|2001}}{{cite video |people=Rose, Charlie (Host, Executive producer) |date=July 30, 2007 |title=Charlie Rose:A Conversation About The Simpsons Movie |url=http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/8620 |medium=Television production |publisher=Charlie Rose, Inc. |access-date=July 31, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201065956/http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/8620 |archive-date=December 1, 2008}} Groening famously named the main Simpson characters after members of his own family: his parents, Homer and Marge (for Groening's mother it was short for Margaret and the cartoon character Marge is short for Marjorie), and his younger sisters, Lisa and Margaret (Maggie). Claiming that it was a bit too obvious to name a character after himself, he chose the name "Bart", an anagram of brat.{{cite video |people=BBC |date=2000 |title=The Simpsons: America's First Family (6 minute edit for the season 1 DVD) |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0250735/ |format=DVD |location=UK |publisher=20th Century Fox |access-date=June 29, 2018 |archive-date=February 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211081722/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0250735/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Duncan |first=Andrew |title=Matt Groening |work=Radio Times |url=http://www.snpp.com/other/interviews/groening99c.html |date=September 18–24, 1999 |access-date=September 19, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010209125833/http://snpp.com/other/interviews/groening99c.html |archive-date=February 9, 2001}} However, he stresses that aside from some of the sibling rivalry, his family is nothing like the Simpsons.{{sfnp|Turner|2004}} Groening also has an older brother and sister, Mark and Patty, and in a 1995 interview Groening divulged that Mark "is the actual inspiration for Bart."{{sfnp|Paul|1995}}

Maggie Groening has co-written a few Simpsons books featuring her cartoon namesake.{{cite web |title=Index to Comic Art Collection: "Gro" to "Groenne" |work=Michigan State University Libraries |url=http://comics.lib.msu.edu/rri/grri/groan.htm |access-date=September 4, 2007 |archive-date=July 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720005451/http://comics.lib.msu.edu/rri/grri/groan.htm |url-status=live }}

==''The Tracey Ullman Show''==

The family was crudely drawn, because Groening had submitted basic sketches to the animators, assuming they would clean them up; instead, they just traced over his drawings. The entire Simpson family was designed so that they would be recognizable in silhouette.Groening, Matt. (2005). Commentary for "Fear of Flying", in The Simpsons: The Complete Sixth Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox. When Groening originally designed Homer, he put his own initials into the character's hairline and ear: the hairline resembled an 'M', and the right ear resembled a 'G'. Groening decided that this would be too distracting though, and redesigned the ear to look normal. He still draws the ear as a 'G' when he draws pictures of Homer for fans.{{sfnp|Groening|2001b |p=90}} Marge's distinct beehive hairstyle was inspired by Bride of Frankenstein and the style that Margaret Groening wore during the 1960s, although her hair was never blue.{{cite news |last=Solomon |first=Deborah |author-link=Deborah Solomon |title=Screen Dreams |work=The New York Times Magazine |date=July 22, 2007 |page=15 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/magazine/22wwln-Q4-t.html |access-date=October 31, 2008 |archive-date=November 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108004049/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/magazine/22wwln-Q4-t.html |url-status=live }} Bart's original design, which appeared in the first shorts, had spikier hair, and the spikes were of different lengths. The number was later limited to nine spikes, all of the same size.Silverman, David; Archer, Wes. (2004). Illustrated commentary for "Treehouse of Horror IV", in The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox. At the time Groening was primarily drawing in black and "not thinking that [Bart] would eventually be drawn in color" gave him spikes that appear to be an extension of his head.Anderson, Mike B.; Groening, Matt; Michels, Pete; Smith, Yeardley. (2006). "A Bit From the Animators", Illustrated Commentary for "All Singing, All Dancing", in The Simpsons: The Complete Ninth Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox. Lisa's physical features are generally not used in other characters; for example, in the later seasons, no character other than Maggie shares her hairline.Groening, Matt; Reiss, Mike; Kirkland, Mark. (2002). Commentary for "Principal Charming", in The Simpsons: The Complete Second Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox. While designing Lisa, Groening "couldn't be bothered to even think about girls' hair styles".Silverman, David; Reardon, Jim; Groening, Matt. (2005). Illustrated commentary for "Treehouse of Horror V", in The Simpsons: The Complete Sixth Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox. When designing Lisa and Maggie, he "just gave them this kind of spiky starfish hair style, not thinking that they would eventually be drawn in color".Groening, Matt. (2006). "A Bit From the Animators", illustrated commentary for "All Singing, All Dancing", in The Simpsons: The Complete Ninth Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox. Groening storyboarded and scripted every short (now known as The Simpsons shorts), which were then animated by a team including David Silverman and Wes Archer, both of whom would later become directors on the series.{{cite web|title=The David Silverman Interview |last=Heintjes |work=Hogan's Alley |url=http://cagle.msnbc.com/hogan/interviews/silverman.asp |access-date=January 13, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070102052143/http://cagle.msnbc.com/hogan/interviews/silverman.asp |archive-date=January 2, 2007 |url-status=dead}}

The Simpsons shorts first appeared in The Tracey Ullman Show on April 19, 1987.{{sfnp|Groening|1997|p=14}} Another family member, Grampa Simpson, was introduced in the later shorts. Years later, during the early seasons of The Simpsons, when it came time to give Grampa a first name, Groening says he refused to name him after his own grandfather, Abraham Groening, leaving it to other writers to choose a name. By coincidence, they chose "Abraham", unaware that it was the name of Groening's grandfather.{{cite video |people=Groening, Matt |date=2002 |title=The Simpsons season 2 DVD commentary for the episode "Old Money" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}

==Half-hour==

Although The Tracey Ullman Show was not a big hit,{{sfnp|Ortved|2007 |p=72}} the popularity of the shorts led to a half-hour spin-off in 1989. A team of production companies adapted The Simpsons into a half-hour series for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The team included what is now the Klasky Csupo animation house. James L. Brooks negotiated a provision in the contract with the Fox network that prevented Fox from interfering with the show's content.{{cite web |url=http://www.lacitybeat.com/cms/story/detail/?id=568&IssueNum=32 |title=3rd Degree: Harry Shearer |access-date=September 1, 2006 |author=Kuipers, Dean |date=April 15, 2004 |publisher=Los Angeles: City Beat |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308105912/http://www.lacitybeat.com/cms/story/detail/?id=568&IssueNum=32 |archive-date=March 8, 2008 |url-status=usurped}} Groening said his goal in creating the show was to offer the audience an alternative to what he called "the mainstream trash" that they were watching.{{cite magazine |first=Ken |last=Tucker |title=Toon Terrific |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=March 12, 1993 |page=48(3)}} The half-hour series premiered on December 17, 1989, with "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", a Christmas special.[http://www.thesimpsons.com/episode_guide/0101.htm "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080730163543/http://www.thesimpsons.com/episode_guide/0101.htm |date=July 30, 2008 }} The Simpsons.com. Retrieved on February 5, 2007 "Some Enchanted Evening" was the first full-length episode produced, but it did not broadcast until May 1990, as the last episode of the first season, because of animation problems.{{cite video |people=Groening, Matt |date=2001 |title=The Simpsons season 1 DVD commentary for the episode "Some Enchanted Evening" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}

The series quickly became a worldwide phenomenon, to the surprise of many. Groening said: "Nobody thought The Simpsons was going to be a big hit. It sneaked up on everybody."{{sfnp|Lloyd|1999}} The Simpsons was co-developed by Groening, Brooks, and Sam Simon, a writer-producer with whom Brooks had worked on previous projects. Groening and Simon, however, did not get along{{sfnp|Ortved|2007 |p=72}} and were often in conflict over the show;{{sfnp|Morgenstern|1990}} Groening once described their relationship as "very contentious."{{sfnp|Scott|2001}} Simon eventually left the show in 1993 over creative differences.{{cite magazine |title=Conan on being left out of "Simpsons Movie" |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20035285_20035331_20046980,00.html |last=Snierson |first=Dan |date=July 18, 2007 |access-date=September 4, 2007 |archive-date=October 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020044407/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C20046980%2C00.html |url-status=dead }}

Like the main family members, several characters from the show have names that were inspired by people, locations or films. The name "Wiggum" for police chief Chief Wiggum is Groening's mother's maiden name.{{sfnp|Groening|2001b |pp=90–91}} The names of a few other characters were taken from street names in Groening's hometown of Portland, Oregon, including Flanders, Lovejoy, Powell, Quimby and Kearney.{{cite web|title=Painting the town in Portland |date=January 6, 2007 |last=Blake |first=Joseph |work=The Vancouver Sun |url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/travel/story.html?id=f90268d8-6a5b-438d-9509-f03ecff27cc1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070214080316/http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/travel/story.html?id=f90268d8-6a5b-438d-9509-f03ecff27cc1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 14, 2007 |access-date=January 13, 2007 }} Despite common fan belief that Sideshow Bob Terwilliger was named after SW Terwilliger Boulevard in Portland, he was actually named after the character Dr. Terwilliker from the film The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1565538/20070725/story.jhtml |title='Simpsons' Trivia, From Swearing Lisa To 'Burns-Sexual' Smithers |access-date=August 17, 2007 |date=July 26, 2007 |author=Larry Carroll |publisher=MTV |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071220140402/http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1565538/20070725/story.jhtml |archive-date=December 20, 2007}}

Although Groening has pitched a number of spin-offs from The Simpsons, those attempts have been unsuccessful. In 1994, Groening and other Simpsons producers pitched a live-action spin-off about Krusty the Clown (with Dan Castellaneta playing the lead role), but were unsuccessful in getting it off the ground.From a radio interview with Groening that aired on the [https://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=13&prgDate=22-Apr-98 April 22, 1998 edition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025093431/http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=13&prgDate=22-Apr-98 |date=October 25, 2013 }} of Fresh Air on NPR. [https://www.npr.org/ramfiles/fa/19980422.fa.ram Link to stream] (13 minutes, 21 seconds in) Groening has also pitched "Young Homer" and a spin-off about the non-Simpsons citizens of Springfield.{{cite video |people=Groening, Matt; Oakley, Bill;, Weinstein, Josh; Appel, Richard; Cohen, David; Pulido, Rachel; Smith, Yeardley; Reardon, Jim; Silverman, David |date=2005 |title=The Simpsons The Complete Seventh Season DVD commentary for the episode "22 Short Films About Springfield" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}

In 1995, Groening got into a major disagreement with Brooks and other Simpsons producers over "A Star Is Burns", a crossover episode with The Critic, an animated show also produced by Brooks and staffed with many former Simpsons crew members. Groening claimed that he feared viewers would "see it as nothing but a pathetic attempt to advertise The Critic at the expense of The Simpsons," and was concerned about the possible implication that he had created or produced The Critic.{{sfnp|Paul|1995}} He requested his name be taken off the episode.{{cite web|title=Matt Groening's Reaction to The Critic's First Appearance on The Simpsons |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://www.critic.nohomers.net/Special_Extras_Matt_Groening_Reaction.html |last=Brennan |first=Judy |date=March 3, 1995 |access-date=September 4, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070831075427/http://critic.nohomers.net/Special_Extras_Matt_Groening_Reaction.html |archive-date=August 31, 2007}}

Groening is credited with writing or co-writing the episodes "Some Enchanted Evening", "The Telltale Head", "Colonel Homer" and "22 Short Films About Springfield". He also co-wrote and produced The Simpsons Movie, released in 2007.{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/2006/film/features/homer-going-to-bat-in-07-1117940840/ |title=Homer going to bat in '07 |access-date=July 3, 2006 |author=Fleming, Michael |date=April 2, 2006 |magazine=Variety |archive-date=October 29, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061029045609/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117940840.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 |url-status=live }} He has had several cameo appearances in the show, with a speaking role in the episode "My Big Fat Geek Wedding". He currently serves at The Simpsons as an executive producer and creative consultant.

=''Futurama''=

File:David X. Cohen & Matt Groening by Gage Skidmore.jpg 2009]]

After spending a few years researching science fiction, Groening got together with Simpsons writer and producer David X. Cohen (known as David S. Cohen at the time) in 1997 and developed Futurama, an animated series about life in the year 3000.{{cite journal|last=Needham |first=Alex |url=http://www.frcr.com/library/the_face1.html |title=Nice Planet...We'll Take It! |journal=The Face |issue=33 |date=October 1999 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000824051707/http://www.frcr.com/library/the_face1.html |archive-date=August 24, 2000}} By the time they pitched the series to Fox in April 1998, Groening and Cohen had composed many characters and storylines; Groening claimed they had gone "overboard" in their discussions. Groening described trying to get the show on the air as "by far the worst experience of [his] grown-up life." The show premiered on March 28, 1999. Groening's writing credits for the show are for the premiere episode, "Space Pilot 3000" (co-written with Cohen), "Rebirth" (story) and "In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela" (story).

After four years on the air, the show was canceled by Fox. In a situation similar to Family Guy, however, strong DVD sales and very stable ratings on Adult Swim brought Futurama back to life. When Comedy Central began negotiating for the rights to air Futurama reruns, Fox suggested that there was a possibility of also creating new episodes. When Comedy Central committed to sixteen new episodes, it was decided that four straight-to-DVD films – Bender's Big Score (2007), The Beast with a Billion Backs (2008), Bender's Game (2008) and Into the Wild Green Yonder (2009) – would be produced.{{cite interview |last=Katz |first=Claudia |subject-link=Claudia Katz |interviewer=Evan Jacobs |title=EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Claudia Katz on Futurama the Movie: Bender's Big Score |url=http://www.movieweb.com/news/NEyTuBCyy6XECD |date=November 16, 2007 |access-date=June 9, 2009 |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216140027/http://www.movieweb.com/news/NEyTuBCyy6XECD |url-status=live }}

Since no new Futurama projects were in production, the movie Into the Wild Green Yonder was designed to stand as the Futurama series finale. However, Groening had expressed a desire to continue the Futurama franchise in some form, including as a theatrical film.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/underwire/2008/11/futuramas-anima/ |title=Futurama Animators Roll 20-Sided Die With Bender's Game |author=Wortham, Jenna |date=November 4, 2008 |magazine=Wired |access-date=February 28, 2009 |archive-date=May 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505042805/http://www.wired.com/underwire/2008/11/futuramas-anima/ |url-status=live }} In an interview with CNN, Groening said that "we have a great relationship with Comedy Central and we would love to do more episodes for them, but I don't know... We're having discussions and there is some enthusiasm but I can't tell if it's just me".{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/26/matt.groening.futurama/index.html |title=Matt Groening looks to the future |author=Leopold, Todd |date=February 26, 2009 |publisher=CNN |access-date=March 17, 2009 |archive-date=March 18, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318030331/http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/26/matt.groening.futurama/index.html |url-status=live }} Comedy Central commissioned an additional 26 new episodes, and began airing them in 2010. The show continued in to 2013,{{Cite magazine |title=It's official: 'Futurama' is reborn! |url=http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/06/09/its-official-futurama-returns/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=June 9, 2009 |access-date=June 9, 2009 |author=Ausiello, Michael |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106081908/http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/06/09/its-official-futurama-returns/ |archive-date=January 6, 2010}}{{cite magazine |url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/03/24/futurama-renewed/ |title='Futurama' renewed for two more years! |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=August 2, 2011 |author=Hibberd, James |date=March 24, 2011 |archive-date=March 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110328090316/http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/03/24/futurama-renewed/ |url-status=live }} before Comedy Central announced in April 2013 that they would not be renewing it beyond its seventh season. The final episode aired on September 4, 2013.{{cite web |last=Marechal |first=AJ |title=Toon comedy has logged seasons on Fox, Comedy Central since 1999 |url=https://variety.com/2013/tv/news/futurama-cancelled-by-comedy-central-1200406963/ |work=Variety |date=April 22, 2013 |access-date=April 22, 2013 |archive-date=April 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424030528/http://variety.com/2013/tv/news/futurama-cancelled-by-comedy-central-1200406963/ |url-status=live }}

On February 9, 2022, the series was revived at Hulu, set for a 2023 release.

=''Disenchantment''=

On January 15, 2016, it was announced that Groening was in talks with Netflix to develop a new animated series.{{cite web|title='Simpsons' Creator Matt Groening in Talks with Netflix for Animated Series|date=January 15, 2016|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/matt-groening-simpsons-netflix-animated-series-1201681129/|access-date=January 18, 2016|archive-date=January 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118021415/http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/matt-groening-simpsons-netflix-animated-series-1201681129/|url-status=live}} On July 25, 2017, the series, Disenchantment, was ordered by Netflix.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/07/disenchantment-matt-groening-netflix-animated-comedy-20-episode-order-abbi-jacobson-nat-faxon-eric-andre-voice-cast-1202135218/|title=Matt Groening Netflix Animated Comedy A Go With 20-Episode Order, Abbi Jacobson, Nat Faxon & Eric Andre Lead Voice Cast|website=Deadline|date=July 25, 2017|access-date=September 30, 2017|archive-date=February 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223072219/http://deadline.com/2017/07/disenchantment-matt-groening-netflix-animated-comedy-20-episode-order-abbi-jacobson-nat-faxon-eric-andre-voice-cast-1202135218/|url-status=live}} He described the fantasy-oriented series as originating in a sketchbook full of "fantastic creatures we couldn't do on The Simpsons".{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/matt-groening-netflix-disenchantment-1202889449/|title=Matt Groening Talks Origins of New Netflix Series 'Disenchantment'|last=Otterson|first=Joe|date=July 29, 2018|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=September 3, 2019|archive-date=September 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903134748/https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/matt-groening-netflix-disenchantment-1202889449/|url-status=live}} The cast includes Abbi Jacobson, Eric Andre, and Nat Faxon.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/07/disenchantment-matt-groening-netflix-animated-comedy-20-episode-order-abbi-jacobson-nat-faxon-eric-andre-voice-cast-1202135218/|title=Matt Groening Netflix Animated Comedy A Go With 20-Episode Order, Abbi Jacobson, Nat Faxon & Eric Andre Lead Voice Cast|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=July 25, 2017|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=September 3, 2019|archive-date=February 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223072219/http://deadline.com/2017/07/disenchantment-matt-groening-netflix-animated-comedy-20-episode-order-abbi-jacobson-nat-faxon-eric-andre-voice-cast-1202135218/|url-status=live}}

Disenchantment ran from August 17, 2018, to September 1, 2023, concluding with its fifth and final part, released on September 1, 2023.

=Other pursuits=

File:Matt Groening in his studio.jpg

In 1993, Groening formed Bongo Comics (named after the character Bongo from Life in Hell{{sfnp|Groening|2001c |p=128}}) with Steve Vance, Cindy Vance and Bill Morrison, which publishes comic books based on The Simpsons and Futurama (including Futurama Simpsons Infinitely Secret Crossover Crisis, a crossover between the two), as well as a few original titles. According to Groening, the goal with Bongo is to "[try] to bring humor into the fairly grim comic book market."{{sfnp|Paul|1995}} He also formed Zongo Comics in 1995, an imprint of Bongo that published comics for more mature readers,{{sfnp|Paul|1995}} which included three issues of Mary Fleener's Fleener{{cite web |url=http://www.maryfleener.com/covers/comic_covers.html |website=Mary Fleener |title=Comic Book Covers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519052739/http://www.maryfleener.com/covers/comic_covers.html |archive-date=May 19, 2011 |access-date=September 19, 2007}} and seven issues of his close friend Gary Panter's Jimbo comics.{{cite web |title=Meet The End of The Century With... Gary Panter |url=http://www.aleksandarzograf.com/writes/writes_Gary_Panter_interviewed.html |last=Zograf |first=Aleksandar |access-date=September 4, 2007 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929033410/http://www.aleksandarzograf.com/writes/writes_Gary_Panter_interviewed.html |url-status=live }}

Groening is known for his eclectic taste in music. His favorite artist is Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention and his favorite album is Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart (which was produced by Zappa).{{cite web |title=All Tomorrow's Parties Today |date=November 5, 2003 |last=Payne |first=John |work=LA Weekly |url=http://www.laweekly.com/2003-11-13/news/all-tomorrow-s-parties-today/ |access-date=September 4, 2007 |archive-date=September 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926040220/http://www.laweekly.com/2003-11-13/news/all-tomorrow-s-parties-today |url-status=live }} He guest-edited Da Capo Press' Best Music Writing 2003[http://www.perseusbooksgroup.com/dacapo/book_detail.jsp?isbn=0306812363 Dacapo Books] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060210140353/http://www.perseusbooksgroup.com/dacapo/book_detail.jsp?isbn=0306812363 |date=February 10, 2006 }} URL accessed on September 4, 2007. and curated a US All Tomorrow's Parties music festival in 2003.[http://www.atpfestival.com/archive/archived_event.php?archive=2 All Tomorrow's Parties – Archive] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013171512/http://atpfestival.com/archive/archived_event.php?archive=2 |date=October 13, 2007 }} URL accessed on September 4, 2007. He illustrated the cover of Frank Zappa's posthumous album Frank Zappa Plays the Music of Frank Zappa: A Memorial Tribute (1996).{{cite web|url=http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/lyrics/FZ_Plays_The_Music_Of_FZ.html|title=Frank Zappa Plays The Music Of Frank Zappa|website=globalia.net|access-date=March 28, 2016|archive-date=April 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411015006/http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/lyrics/FZ_Plays_The_Music_Of_FZ.html|url-status=live}} In May 2010, he curated another edition of All Tomorrow's Parties in Minehead, England. He also plays the drums in the all-author rock and roll band The Rock Bottom Remainders (although he is listed as the cowbell player), whose other members include Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson, Scott Turow, Amy Tan, James McBride, Mitch Albom, Roy Blount Jr., Stephen King, Kathi Kamen Goldmark, Sam Barry and Greg Iles.[http://www.rockbottomremainders.com/ Rock Bottom Remainders Official site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206141927/http://www.rockbottomremainders.com/barry_article.htm |date=December 6, 2006 }} URL accessed on March 4, 2007 In July 2013, Groening co-authored Hard Listening (2013) with the rest of the Rock Bottom Remainders (published by Coliloquy, LLC).{{cite web |url=http://www.rockbottomremainders.com/pages/hard-listening.html |title=Hard Listening |website=The Rock Bottom Remainders |access-date=October 16, 2013 |archive-date=October 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008172736/http://www.rockbottomremainders.com/pages/hard-listening.html |url-status=live }}

He also wrote a mostly fictional biography of the band The Residents.

Personal life

Groening and Deborah Caplan married in 1986{{sfnp|Von Busack|2001}} and had two sons together, Homer (who goes by Will) and Abe, both of whom Groening occasionally portrays as rabbits in Life in Hell. The couple divorced in 1999.

In 2011, Groening married Agustina Picasso, an Argentine artist, after a four-year relationship, and became stepfather to her daughter Camila Costantini.{{cite news |url=http://www.nbcbayarea.com/blogs/open-house/Simpsons-Creator-Scoops-Up-Santa-Monica-Crib-.html |title="Simpsons" Creator Scoops Up Santa Monica Crib |work=Open House |publisher=NBC |access-date=July 19, 2013 |archive-date=October 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012020717/http://www.nbcbayarea.com/blogs/open-house/Simpsons-Creator-Scoops-Up-Santa-Monica-Crib-.html |url-status=live }} In May 2013, Picasso gave birth to Nathaniel Philip Picasso Groening, named after writer Nathanael West. She joked that "his godfather is SpongeBob's creator Stephen Hillenburg".{{cite web|url=http://www.perfil.com/internacional/exclusive-photos-of-simpsons-creator-and-his-son-nathaniel-0810-0888.phtml|title=Photos of Simpsons creator and his son Nathaniel|work=Perfil.com|access-date=October 30, 2014|archive-date=October 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026023730/http://www.perfil.com/internacional/exclusive-photos-of-simpsons-creator-and-his-son-nathaniel-0810-0888.phtml|url-status=live}} In 2015, Groening's daughters Luna Margaret and India Mia were born.[https://la100.cienradios.com/madre-e-hija-embarazadas-la-esposa-argentina-de-matt-groening-y-su-hija-en-la-dulce-espera/ Madre e hija embarazadas: la esposa argentina de Matt Groening y su hija, en la dulce espera] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818083802/https://la100.cienradios.com/madre-e-hija-embarazadas-la-esposa-argentina-de-matt-groening-y-su-hija-en-la-dulce-espera/ |date=August 18, 2018 }}, December 16, 2015 On June 16, 2018, he became the father of twins for a second time when his wife gave birth to Sol Matthew and Venus Ruth, announced via Instagram.[https://www.instagram.com/p/BkNOQQYnfot/] Instagram June 19, 2018. In 2020, their daughter Nirvana was born.{{cite web |title=aguspicassogroening on Instagram: "nirvana" |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CCHrCyYgUC5/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY= |website=Instagram |language=en |access-date=November 25, 2022 |archive-date=November 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125020537/https://www.instagram.com/p/CCHrCyYgUC5/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY= |url-status=live }} In January 2022, they had another child, Satori.{{cite web |title=aguspicassogroening on Instagram: "One month of my zen baby Satori … his name is Him… thanks @chriscallahanphotography" |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CZlEdO4lb18/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY= |website=Instagram |language=en |access-date=November 25, 2022 |archive-date=November 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125020539/https://www.instagram.com/p/CZlEdO4lb18/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY= |url-status=live }} In 2024, they had their eighth child together, Shivani, Groening's eleventh.

Groening's brother-in-law is Hey Arnold!, Dinosaur Train, and Ready Jet Go! creator, Craig Bartlett, who is married to Groening's sister, Lisa, but they separated in 2015.{{Cite web|url = https://theblast.com/hey-arnold-simpsons-split-marriage-lisa-groening-craig-bartlett/|title = 'The Simpsons' Creator's Sister, Lisa, Splits from 'Hey Arnold' Creator After 30 Years of Marriage|date = August 8, 2018|access-date = November 19, 2022|archive-date = November 30, 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191130193557/https://theblast.com/hey-arnold-simpsons-split-marriage-lisa-groening-craig-bartlett/|url-status = live}} Bartlett used to appear in Simpsons Illustrated.[http://www.awn.com/mag/issue3.9/3.9pages/3.9bevilacquabartlett.html Craig Bartlett's Charmed Past Life] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628142324/http://awn.com/mag/issue3.9/3.9pages/3.9bevilacquabartlett.html |date=June 28, 2009 }}. Awn.com. December 1998. Retrieved on December 29, 2011.

Groening is a self-identified agnostic.{{cite news |title=QUESTIONS FOR: Matt Groening |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/27/magazine/on-sunday-december-27-1998-questions-for-matt-groening.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 27, 1998 |quote=I'm an agnostic |access-date=September 19, 2010 |archive-date=October 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019062100/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/27/magazine/on-sunday-december-27-1998-questions-for-matt-groening.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Yes, There Is A Hell |last=Allen |first=Norm |work=Free Inquiry |url=http://www.secularhumanism.org/library/fi/sidelines_19_3.html |access-date=February 26, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918064557/http://www.secularhumanism.org/library/fi/sidelines_19_3.html |archive-date=September 18, 2008}}

=Politics=

Groening has made a number of campaign contributions, all towards Democratic Party candidates and organizations. He has donated money to the unsuccessful presidential campaigns of Democratic candidates Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004, as well as previously donating to Kerry's campaign for Senator from Massachusetts. Groening also collectively donated to the Democratic senatorial campaign committee and to the Senate campaigns of Barbara Boxer (California), Dianne Feinstein (California), Paul Simon (Illinois), Ted Kennedy (Massachusetts), Carl Levin (Michigan), Hillary Clinton (New York), Harvey Gantt (North Carolina), Howard Metzenbaum (Ohio), and Tom Bruggere (Oregon).{{cite web |title=Matt Groening's Federal Campaign Contribution Report |work=Newsmeat.com |url=http://www.newsmeat.com/celebrity_political_donations/Matt_Groening.php |access-date=July 22, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828094626/http://newsmeat.com/celebrity_political_donations/Matt_Groening.php |archive-date=August 28, 2008}} He also donated to the now-defunct Hollywood Women's Political Committee, which supported and campaigned for the Democratic Party. His first cousin on his mom's side, Laurie Monnes Anderson, was a member of the Oregon State Senate, representing eastern Multnomah County.{{cite news |title=Lawmaker feels void after mother's death |date=November 19, 2004 |work=The Oregonian |last=Mortenson |first=Eric}}

In an interview with Wired from 1999, he stated that if he were president, his first act would be "campaign finance reform", observing that modern campaign funding is "a real detriment to democracy".{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/wired-1999_02/page/n163/ |title=Wired |date=February 1999 |pages=158 |language=EN}}

Groening has a great disdain towards former President Richard Nixon, and enjoyed ridiculing him by making him the butt of jokes in The Simpsons and Futurama.{{Cite web |title=Remember When Richard Nixon Was the Most Corrupt President Futurama Could Imagine? |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/comedy/futurama/futurama-richard-nixon-trump-2020-politics |access-date=January 5, 2024 |website=Paste Magazine |language=en-US |archive-date=January 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105102649/https://www.pastemagazine.com/comedy/futurama/futurama-richard-nixon-trump-2020-politics |url-status=live }}

Filmography

=Film=

Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
rowspan="2" \| 2004	Hair High	Dill (voice)
Comic Book: The Movie	Himself	Cameo
2006	Tales of the Rat Fink	Finkster (voice)
rowspan="2" \| 2007	The Simpsons Movie	{{N/A}}	Writer and producer
Futurama: Bender's Big Score	{{N/A}}	rowspan=4\|Direct-to-DVD Executive producer
rowspan="2" \| 2008	Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs	{{N/A}}
Futurama: Bender's Game	{{N/A}}
2009	Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder	{{N/A}}
2012	The Longest Daycare	{{N/A}}	Short film Writer and producer
2013	I Know That Voice	rowspan=2\| Himself	rowspan=2\|Documentary
2015	A Grand Night In: The Story of Aardman
2020	Playdate with Destiny	{{N/A}}	Short film Writer and producer
rowspan="4" \| 2021	The Force Awakens from Its Nap	{{N/A}}	rowspan=10\| Short film Producer
The Good, the Bart, and the Loki	{{N/A}}
The Simpsons Balenciaga	{{N/A}}
Plusaversary	{{N/A}}
rowspan="3" \| 2022	When Billie Met Lisa	{{N/A}}
Welcome to the Club	{{N/A}}
The Simpsons Meet the Bocellis in "Feliz Navidad"	{{N/A}}
2023	Rogue Not Quite One	{{N/A}}
rowspan="2" \| 2024	May the 12th Be with You	{{N/A}}
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year	{{N/A}}

=Television=

Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
1987–1989	The Tracey Ullman Show	{{N/A}}	48 episodes; writer and animator
1989–present	The Simpsons	Himself	Creator, writer, executive producer, character designer and creative consultant Also appeared in 3 episodes as himself
1996	Space Ghost Coast to Coast	Himself	Episode: "Glen Campbell"
1999	Olive, the Other Reindeer	Arturo (voice)	TV special; executive producer
1999–2003; 2008–2013; 2023–present	Futurama	Himself	Creator, writer, and executive producer Also appeared in Episode: "Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences" as himself
2015	Portlandia	Himself	Episode: "Fashion"
2018–2023	Disenchantment	{{N/A}}	Creator, writer, and executive producer

=Video games=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Voice
2007	The Simpsons Game	rowspan=2 \| Himself
2014	The Simpsons: Tapped Out

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Voice

2007

The Simpsons Game

rowspan=2 | Himself

2014

The Simpsons: Tapped Out

=Music video=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Artist ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
1990	"Do the Bartman"	Nancy Cartwright	Executive producer

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Artist

! class="unsortable" | Notes

1990

"Do the Bartman"

Nancy Cartwright

Executive producer

=Theme park=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
2008	The Simpsons Ride	Producer

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! class="unsortable" | Notes

2008

The Simpsons Ride

Producer

Awards

{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Matt Groening}}

Groening has been nominated for 41 Emmy Awards and has won thirteen, eleven for The Simpsons and two for Futurama in the "Outstanding Animated Program (for programming one hour or less)" category.{{cite web |url=http://www.emmys.org/awards/awardsearch.php |title=Advanced Primetime Awards Search |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403022947/http://www.emmys.org/awards/awardsearch.php |archive-date=April 3, 2009 |website=emmys.org |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |access-date=March 4, 2007}} Groening received the 2002 National Cartoonist Society Reuben Award, and had been nominated for the same award in 2000.{{cite web |url=http://reuben.org/2000/reubenaward.asp |title=Cartoonist of the Year |publisher=National Cartoonists Society |access-date=April 20, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010828122423/http://reuben.org/2000/reubenaward.asp |archive-date=August 28, 2001 |website=reuben.org}} He received a British Comedy Award for "outstanding contribution to comedy" in 2004.{{cite news|url=http://www.britishcomedyawards.com/pastwinners.html |title=The Past Winners |access-date=October 17, 2007 |publisher=British Comedy Awards |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927220028/http://www.britishcomedyawards.com/pastwinners.html |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead}} In 2007, he was ranked fourth (and highest American by birth) in a list of the "top 100 living geniuses", published by British newspaper The Daily Telegraph.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1567544/Top-100-living-geniuses.html|title=Top 100 living geniuses|date=October 30, 2007|via=www.telegraph.co.uk|access-date=April 2, 2018|archive-date=June 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629171322/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1567544/Top-100-living-geniuses.html|url-status=live}}

He was awarded the Inkpot Award in 1988.{{cite web |url=https://www.comic-con.org/awards/inkpot |title=Inkpot Award |date=December 6, 2012 |access-date=September 12, 2020 |archive-date=January 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129155249/http://www.comic-con.org/awards/inkpot |url-status=live }}

He received the 2,459th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 14, 2012.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jennifer-aniston-vin-diesel-among-hollywood-walk-of-fame-class-of-2012/ |title=Jennifer Aniston, Vin Diesel among Hollywood Walk of Fame class of 2012 |author=Riedel, David |publisher=CBS News |date=June 24, 2011 |access-date=June 25, 2011 |archive-date=June 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110626082649/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-20074043-10391698.html |url-status=live }}

Bibliography

Groening, Matt (1977–2012). Life in Hell
Love Is Hell (1986) {{ISBN|0-394-74454-3}}
Work Is Hell (1986) {{ISBN|0-394-74864-6}}
School Is Hell (1987) {{ISBN|0-394-75091-8}}
Box Full of Hell (1988) {{ISBN|0-679-72111-8}}
Childhood Is Hell (1988) {{ISBN|0-679-72055-3}}
Greetings from Hell (1989) {{ISBN|0-679-72678-0}}
Akbar and Jeff's Guide to Life (1989) {{ISBN|0-679-72680-2}}
The Big Book of Hell (1990) {{ISBN|0-679-72759-0}}
With Love from Hell (1991) {{ISBN|0-06-096583-5}}
How to Go to Hell (1991) {{ISBN|0-06-096879-6}}
The Road to Hell (1992) {{ISBN|0-06-096950-4}}
Binky's Guide to Love (1994) {{ISBN|0-06-095078-1}}
Love Is Hell: Special Ultra Jumbo 10th Anniversary Edition (1994) {{ISBN|0-679-75665-5}}
The Huge Book of Hell (1997) {{ISBN|0-14-026310-1}}
Will and Abe's Guide to the Universe (2007) {{ISBN|0-06-134037-5}}
{{cite web

|last = Chocano

|first = Carina

|title = Matt Groening

|work = Salon.com

|date = January 30, 2001

|url = http://archive.salon.com/people/bc/2001/01/30/groening/

|access-date = September 4, 2007

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070905161335/http://archive.salon.com/people/bc/2001/01/30/groening/

|archive-date = September 5, 2007

}}

{{cite book

|last=Groening

|first=Matt

|title=Love is Hell: Special Ultra Jumbo 10th Anniversary Edition

|chapter=Introduction

|publisher=Pantheon Books

|year=1994

|location=New York

|isbn=0-679-75665-5

}}

{{cite book |last=Groening |first=Matt |editor1-first=Ray |editor1-last=Richmond |editor1-link=Ray Richmond |editor2-first=Antonia |editor2-last=Coffman |title=The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family |edition=1st |year=1997 |location=New York |publisher=HarperPerennial |lccn=98141857 |ol=433519M |oclc=37796735 |isbn=978-0-06-095252-5 |title-link=The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family }}
{{cite book

|last=Groening

|first=Matt

|title=Simpsons Comics Royale

|chapter=My Rock 'n' Roll Life, Part One: So You Want To Snort Derisively

|publisher=Perennial

|year=2001a

|location=New York

|isbn=0-06-093378-X

|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/simpsonscomicsro00groe

|url-access=registration

|url=https://archive.org/details/simpsonscomicsro00groe

}}

{{cite book

|last=Groening

|first=Matt

|title=Simpsons Comics Royale

|chapter=47 Secrets About The Simpsons, A Poem of Sorts, and Some Filler

|publisher=Perennial

|year=2001b

|location=New York

|isbn=0-06-093378-X

|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/simpsonscomicsro00groe

|url-access=registration

|url=https://archive.org/details/simpsonscomicsro00groe

}}

{{cite book

|last=Groening

|first=Matt

|title=Simpsons Comics Royale

|chapter=The Secret Life of Lisa Simpson

|publisher=Perennial

|year=2001c

|location=New York

|isbn=0-06-093378-X

|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/simpsonscomicsro00groe

|url-access=registration

|url=https://archive.org/details/simpsonscomicsro00groe

}}

{{cite journal

|last=Groth

|first=Gary

|author-link=Gary Groth

|title=Matt Groening

|journal=The Comics Journal

|issue=141

|date=April 1991

|pages=78–95

}}

{{cite news

|last=Lloyd

|first=Robert

|title=Life in the 31st century

|work=LA Weekly

|date=March 24, 1999

|url=http://www.laweekly.com/1999-04-01/film-tv/life-in-the-31st-century

|access-date=December 30, 2005

|archive-date=October 14, 2013

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014032811/http://www.laweekly.com/1999-04-01/film-tv/life-in-the-31st-century/

|url-status=live

}}

{{cite news

|last=Morgenstern

|first=Joe

|author-link=Joe Morgenstern

|title=Bart Simpson's Real Father

|work=Los Angeles Times Magazine

|date=April 29, 1990

|pages=12–18, 20, 22}}

{{cite news

|last=Ortved

|first=John

|title=Simpson Family Values

|work=Vanity Fair

|issue=564

|date=August 2007

|pages=70–77

|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2007/08/simpsons200708?printable=true¤tPage=all

|access-date=September 2, 2007

|archive-date=September 13, 2007

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070913170559/http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2007/08/simpsons200708?printable=true¤tPage=all

|url-status=live

}}

{{cite web

|last=Paul

|first=Alan

|title=Life in Hell

|work=Flux Magazine

|date=September 30, 1995

|url=http://www.snpp.com/other/interviews/groening95.html

|access-date=December 26, 2005

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208235641/http://www.snpp.com/other/interviews/groening95.html

|archive-date=February 8, 2007

}}

{{cite news |last=Scott |first=A.O. |author-link=A. O. Scott |title=Homer's Odyssey |work=The New York Times Magazine |date=November 4, 2001 |pages=42–47 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/04/magazine/04SIMPSONS.html |access-date=September 19, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423062540/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/04/magazine/04SIMPSONS.html |archive-date=April 23, 2009 }}
{{cite book |last=Turner |first=Chris |author-link=Chris Turner (author) |title=Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Documented an Era and Defined a Generation |others=Foreword by Douglas Coupland. |edition=1st |year=2004 |location=Toronto |publisher=Random House Canada |oclc=55682258 |isbn=978-0-679-31318-2|title-link=Planet Simpson }}
{{cite news

|last=Von Busack

|first=Richard

|author-link=Richard von Busack

|title='Life' Before Homer

|work=Metroactive

|date=November 2, 2001

|url=http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/11.02.00/groening-0044.html

|access-date=April 28, 2007

|archive-date=March 5, 2010

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305162430/http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/11.02.00/groening-0044.html

|url-status=live

}}

References

External links

[https://www.lambiek.net/artists/g/groening.htm Lambiek Comiclopedia biography.]
{{IMDb name|4981}}
{{Charlie Rose view|6123}}
{{C-SPAN|18497}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Animated series and media franchises created by Matt Groening

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{{Subject bar |portal1=Biography |portal2=Comedy |portal3=Animation |portal4=The Simpsons |portal5=Television |portal6=United States |portal7=Film |portal8=Comics |portal9=Oregon |commons=yes |commons-search=Category:Matt Groening |q=yes |d=yes |d-search=Q43994}}

Category:1954 births

Category:20th-century American male artists

Category:20th-century American male writers

Category:20th-century American screenwriters

Category:21st-century American male artists

Category:21st-century American male writers

Category:21st-century American screenwriters

Category:American album-cover and concert-poster artists

Category:Alternative cartoonists

Category:American anti-fascists

Category:American agnostics

Category:American animated film producers