List of Family Guy cast members
{{short description|Cast list for an animated series}}
{{featured list}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:List of Family Guy cast members}}
File:Seth MacFarlane by Gage Skidmore 5.jpg creator Seth MacFarlane also provides the voices of Peter Griffin, Stewie Griffin, Brian Griffin, and Glenn Quagmire.]]
Family Guy is an American animated sitcom that features five main voice actors, and numerous regular cast and recurring guest stars. The principal voice cast consists of show creator Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Mila Kunis (who replaced Lacey Chabert after the first season (her last episode is "Holy Crap," now marketed as the second episode of season two)), Seth Green, and Mike Henry; Patrick Warburton and Arif Zahir were later added to the main cast (the former being promoted from recurring cast); Recurring voice actors include Adam West, Sam Elliott, John G. Brennan, Nicole Sullivan and Jennifer Tilly, and repeat guest stars include Phyllis Diller, Charles Durning, Rush Limbaugh, James Woods and Phil LaMarr.
Many cast members provide voices for multiple characters. The voice actors, in portraying the various character personalities on the show, draw inspiration from celebrities and pop culture. Family Guy characters have been played by more than one actor, after members of the show left the series or had conflicting obligations.
Kunis was nominated for an Annie Award for voicing Meg Griffin in the season 5 episode "Barely Legal" and MacFarlane has also won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance and an Annie Award for Best Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production, though no other cast member has won an award for their work on the series.
Current cast
File:Seth Green Comic-Con 2011.jpg provides the voice of Chris Griffin.]]
File:Mike Henry (5980337661).jpg voices various characters in the series.]]
File:20120712 Mila Kunis @ Comic-con cropped.jpg provides the voice of Meg Griffin.]]
File:Alex Borstein by Gage Skidmore 4 (retouched).jpg provides the voice of Lois Griffin.]]
File:Patrick Warburton by Gage Skidmore.jpg provides the voice of Joe Swanson.]]
File:Adam West at WonderCon 2009 1.JPG provided the voice of Mayor Adam West.]]
From seasons 1 to 4, Family Guy had four main cast members. Since season 5, there have been five main cast members. The casting of Meg Griffin changed after season 1.
=Seth MacFarlane=
Seth MacFarlane voices four of the show's main characters: Peter Griffin, Brian Griffin, Stewie Griffin, and Glenn Quagmire.{{cite news|title=Cartoonist MacFarlane funny guy of Fox's 'Family' Subversive voice of series is his|work=USA Today|author=Graham, Jefferson|date=January 29, 1999|page=E7}} MacFarlane chose to voice these characters himself, believing it would be easier to portray the voices he had already envisioned than for someone else to attempt it. MacFarlane drew inspiration for the voice of Peter from a security guard he overheard talking while attending the Rhode Island School of Design.{{cite news|url=http://www.projo.com/tv/content/projo_20050430_macfarlan.1d6c9b8.html |work=Providence Journal TV |author=Smith, Andy |title=A Real Family Reunion |date=April 30, 2005 |access-date=August 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722033749/http://www.projo.com/tv/content/projo_20050430_macfarlan.1d6c9b8.html |archive-date=July 22, 2011 }} Stewie's voice was based on the voice of English actor Rex Harrison,{{cite news|url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/portal/site/fb/menuitem.5b2f8f9bb693bd972f08aa8738d48a0c/?vgnextoid=8e1a04e62a94d110VgnVCM10000086c1a8c0RCRD&redirected=true |title=Seth MacFarlane's $2 Billion Family Guy Empire |author=Dean, John |publisher=Fox Business |date=November 1, 2008 |access-date=August 24, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923005419/http://www.foxbusiness.com/portal/site/fb/menuitem.5b2f8f9bb693bd972f08aa8738d48a0c/?vgnextoid=8e1a04e62a94d110VgnVCM10000086c1a8c0RCRD&redirected=true |archive-date=September 23, 2010 }} especially his performance in the 1964 musical drama film My Fair Lady.{{cite magazine|title=American Idiots|magazine=The New Yorker|date=January 16, 2006|author=Franklin, Nancy}} The voice for Glenn Quagmire is based on 1940s and 1950s radio commercials.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6vmGabgzH4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/B6vmGabgzH4 |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=Seth MacFarlane performs his Family Guy voices - The Graham Norton Show: Series 15 - BBC One|last=BBC|date=30 May 2014|access-date=27 May 2018|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} MacFarlane uses his own voice while portraying Brian.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1844711,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926152756/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1844711,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 26, 2008|title=Family Guy's Seth MacFarlane|author=Cruz, Gilbert|date=September 26, 2008|magazine=Time|access-date=August 28, 2009}}
MacFarlane also provides the voices for various other recurring and one-time only characters, including news anchor Tom Tucker, Lois' father Carter Pewterschmidt and Dr. Hartman.{{cite news |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/family-guy/cast/100148 |title=Family Guy Cast and Details |work=TV Guide |access-date=August 24, 2009 |archive-date=October 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024172511/http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/family-guy/cast/100148 |url-status=live }} He is the only cast member to be in every episode.
=Alex Borstein=
Alex Borstein voices Lois Griffin, Asian correspondent Tricia Takanawa, Loretta Brown and Lois' mother Barbara Pewterschmidt.{{cite news|url=http://newyork.metromix.com/events/article/q-and-a-alex/782347/content |title=Q&A: Alex Borstein |author=Miller, Kirk |date=November 19, 2008 |publisher=Metromix |access-date=August 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218150554/http://newyork.metromix.com/events/article/q-and-a-alex/782347/content |archive-date=February 18, 2012 }} Borstein was asked to provide a voice for the pilot while she was working on MADtv. She had not met MacFarlane or seen any of his artwork and said it was "really sight unseen".{{cite news |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/Alex-Borstein-Lois-36289.aspx |title=Alex Borstein (Lois) Laughs at the Once-Dead Family Guy{{'}}s Longevity |date=November 13, 2006 |work=TV Guide |access-date=August 24, 2009 |archive-date=October 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013130400/http://www.tvguide.com/news/Alex-Borstein-Lois-36289.aspx |url-status=live }} At the time, Borstein performed in a stage show in Los Angeles, in which she played a redhead mother whose voice she had based on one of her cousins. The voice was originally slower (and deeper for the original season), but when MacFarlane heard it, he replied "Make it a little less fucking annoying ... and speed it up, or every episode will last four hours."
=Seth Green=
Seth Green primarily plays Chris Griffin and Neil Goldman.{{cite news|title=Seth Green fits right in with new Family |newspaper=USA Today |first=Jefferson |last=Graham |date=April 9, 1999}} Green stated that he did an impression of the "Buffalo Bill" character from the thriller film The Silence of the Lambs during his audition.{{cite news|title=Fans help 'Family Guy' return to Fox|work=Observer-Reporter|date=April 29, 2005|page=E5}} His main inspiration for Chris' voice came from envisioning how "Buffalo Bill" would sound if he were speaking through a public address system at a McDonald's.{{cite video|people=Green, Seth|title=Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story: Audio Commentary|medium=DVD|date=September 27, 2005}}
=Mila Kunis=
Mila Kunis voices Meg Griffin. Kunis won the role after the auditions and a slight rewrite of the character, in part due to her performance on That '70s Show.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OS3zGMcbrM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/-OS3zGMcbrM |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=Family Guy – Casting Mila Kunis |publisher=The Paley Center for Media |access-date=September 20, 2010}}{{cbignore}} MacFarlane called Kunis back after her first audition, instructing her to speak slower, and then told her to come back another time and enunciate more. Once she claimed that she had it under control, MacFarlane hired her. Kunis described her character as "the scapegoat". She further explained, "Meg gets picked on a lot. But it's funny. It's like the middle child. She is constantly in the state of being an awkward 14-year-old, when you're kind of going through puberty and what-not. She's just in a perpetual mode of humiliation. And it's fun."{{cite web |url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/family-guy/milas-kunis-talks-about-workin-11435.aspx |title=Mila Kunis Talks About Working on Family Guy and Her Upcoming Movie |work=BuddyTV |last=De Leon |first=Kris |date=September 25, 2007 |access-date=September 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728143037/http://www.buddytv.com/articles/family-guy/milas-kunis-talks-about-workin-11435.aspx |archive-date=July 28, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}
=Mike Henry=
Mike Henry is the voice of Cleveland Brown, John Herbert “The Pervert”, Bruce, Consuela, and various other characters. A Family Guy writer and producer, he began acting on the show as part of the recurring cast repertory (see below) but was promoted to main cast member in 2005. Since the cancellation of The Cleveland Show, he also voices Cleveland's step-son Rallo Tubbs on Family Guy. On June 26, 2020, after twenty years of voicing the character, Mike Henry announced on Twitter that he was stepping down from voicing Cleveland, stating "persons of color should play characters of color."{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/06/family-guy-voice-actor-mike-henry-stepping-down-from-cleveland-role-1202971407/|title='Family Guy' Voice Actor Mike Henry Stepping Down From 'Cleveland Brown' Role|first=Bruce|last=Haring|date=June 26, 2020|website=Deadline|access-date=June 26, 2020|archive-date=June 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627142533/https://deadline.com/2020/06/family-guy-voice-actor-mike-henry-stepping-down-from-cleveland-role-1202971407/|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|last1=Otterson |first1=Joe |title='Family Guy' Star Mike Henry Will No Longer Play Cleveland Brown |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/family-guy-cleveland-mike-henry-1234691851/ |magazine=Variety|date=June 26, 2020 |access-date=June 26, 2020}} On September 25, 2020, it was announced that Arif Zahir would take over as the voice of Cleveland.{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2020/09/25/family-guy-cleveland-voice-recast-arif-zahir-mike-henry/|title=Family Guy Reveals New Actor Voicing Cleveland Brown in Season 19|first=Andy|last=Swift|work=TVLine|date=September 25, 2020|access-date=September 25, 2020|archive-date=September 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927091215/https://tvline.com/2020/09/25/family-guy-cleveland-voice-recast-arif-zahir-mike-henry/|url-status=live}}
Recurring cast
In addition to both its main cast and guest stars, Family Guy utilizes a deep bench of regularly appearing supporting voice actors. Some appear in nearly every episode each season, while others appear less frequently. Some of these actors specifically play recurring characters, while others mainly play background citizens of Quahog or characters in cutaway gags.
The current supporting cast repertory includes the following actors:
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! Actor ! Character(s) ! No. of episodes ! class="unsortable" | Notes | |||
| | {{sortname|H. Jon|Benjamin}} | Carl | 22 | Since 2006. |
| | {{sortname|Johnny|Brennan}} | {{sortname|Mort|Goldman}}, Horace the bartender | 90 | |
| | {{sortname|Steve|Callaghan}} | Various | 71 | Also the current showrunner and executive producer of Family Guy and former showrunner/EP of American Dad!.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2013/01/steve-callaghan-named-american-dad-showrunner-416084/|title=Steve Callaghan Named 'American Dad' Showrunner|date=30 January 2013|access-date=17 April 2020|archive-date=18 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140618152538/http://www.deadline.com/2013/01/steve-callaghan-named-american-dad-showrunner/|url-status=live}} |
| | {{sortname|Chris|Cox|Chris Cox (voice actor)}} | Various | 111 | |
| | {{sortname|Damien|Fahey}} | Various | 27 | Also a Family Guy writer. |
| | {{sortname|Ralph|Garman}} | Various | 213 | Since 2001. |
| | {{sortname|Christine|Lakin}} | {{sortname|Joyce|Kinney}} and various others | 32 | Since 2010. |
| | {{sortname|Phil|LaMarr}} | {{sortname|Ollie|Williams}} and Judge Dignified Q. Blackman | 67 | |
| | {{sortname|Rachael|MacFarlane}} | Olivia Fuller and various women | 113 | Formerly one of the most frequent female voices. She reduced her number of appearances per season after joining American Dad! in 2005 but still appears several times per season. Seth MacFarlane's sister. |
| | {{sortname|Mark|Hentemann}} | Opie and various others | 74 | Ex-producer. Also a Family Guy writer. |
| | {{sortname|Kevin Michael|Richardson}} | Jerome the bartender and Cleveland Jr. | 82 | Since 1999. |
| | {{sortname|Chris|Sheridan|Chris Sheridan (writer)}} | Various | 44 | Also a Family Guy writer. |
| | {{sortname|Danny|Smith|Danny Smith (writer)}} | Various, including Evil Monkey, Al Harrington and Ernie, the Giant Chicken | 254 | Also a Family Guy writer. |
| | {{sortname|Alec|Sulkin}} | {{sortname|Jesus|Christ}} and various others | 206 | Since 2005. Also a Family Guy writer. |
| | {{sortname|Fred|Tatasciore}} | Various | 92 | |
| | {{sortname|Josh Robert|Thompson}} | Various | 56 | Since 2011. |
| | {{sortname|Jennifer|Tilly}} | {{sortname|Bonnie|Swanson}} | 72 | Has recurred as the Griffin's neighbor since the first season. |
| | {{sortname|John|Viener}} | Various | 276 | Since 2005, he has been one of the most frequently heard male voices aside from Seth MacFarlane. Also a Family Guy writer. |
| | {{sortname|Patrick|Warburton}} | {{sortname|Joe|Swanson}} | 250 | Has appeared as the Griffins' neighbor since the first season. Warburton is the most frequently appearing one-character actor in the supporting repertory. |
| | {{sortname|Gary|Cole}} | Principal Shepherd and various others | 65 | Since 2000. |
In addition to the above, the following actors were formerly regularly recurring voice actors in the series:
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! Actor ! Character(s) ! No. of episodes ! class="unsortable" | Notes | |||
| | {{sortname|Lori|Alan}} | {{sortname|Diane|Simmons|Diane Simmons (Family Guy)}} | 63 | Left the show in season nine when her character was killed off. Was replaced in the series' context by Christine Lakin's Joyce Kinney |
| | {{sortname|Alexandra|Breckenridge}} | Various women | 64 | 2005–2018. Formerly voices most female “extras” not voiced by Alex Borstein, Breckenridge is no longer a various characters on Family Guy, She left the show from 13 years. |
| | {{sortname|Carlos|Alazraqui}} | {{sortname|Mr.|Weed}} | 10 | Peter's first boss, Mr. Weed, was killed off early in the series' run. |
| | {{sortname|Drew|Barrymore}} | {{sortname|Jillian|Russell}} | 12 | Played Jillian, Brian's former girlfriend. The character still appears in background roles. |
| | {{sortname|Butch|Hartman}} | Various | 8 | |
| | {{sortname|Mike|Henry|Mike Henry (voice actor)}} | Cleveland Brown, Herbert, Bruce, Consuela, and various others | Was promoted to main cast in 2005. Also a Family Guy writer. | |
| | {{sortname|Carrie|Fisher}} | Angela | 19 | Recurring role as Peter's boss since 2005. Died in 2016. |
| | {{sortname|Tara|Strong}} | Various, as well as Meg's singing voice | 24 | 2000–2018. |
| | {{sortname|Nicole|Sullivan}} | {{sortname|Muriel|Goldman}} and various others | 33 | 2000–2022. Muriel was killed off in season nine (2010). |
| | {{sortname|Lisa|Wilhoit}} | {{sortname|Connie|D'Amico}} and various others | 21 | 2000–2020. |
| | {{sortname|Adam|West}} | Mayor {{sortname|Adam|West|Adam West (Family Guy)}} | 118 | Played a warped version of himself as the mayor of Quahog. Died in 2017. |
| | {{sortname|Mae|Whitman}} | Various | 36 | Was a recurring female voice for several seasons between 2008–2019 and again for one episode in 2023. |
| | {{sortname|Wally|Wingert}} | Various | 43 | 1999–2017. |
| | {{sortname|Wellesley|Wild}} | Various | 15 | 2008–2019. Ex-producer. |
Recurring guest voices
{{main|List of Family Guy guest stars}}
The recurring guest voices include Norm Macdonald and Adam Carolla as Death, Patrick Stewart as Susie Swanson, Scott Grimes as Kevin Swanson, Sanaa Lathan as Donna Tubbs Brown and Emily Osment as Ruth Cochamer. Previous recurring guests included Phyllis Diller in three episodes as Peter's Mother, Thelma, and Charles Durning as Peter's father, Francis. Both characters have since died, but Durning returned once to play Francis as a ghost. Early in the show's run, Fred Willard and Jane Lynch had a recurring role as a family of nudists and James Woods as himself. In 2020, it was announced that Sam Elliott would take over as Quahog's new mayor, Mayor West's estranged cousin Wyld West.
Casting changes
- Lacey Chabert voiced Meg for the first production season (14 episodes), but, because of a contractual agreement, was never credited.{{cite web|first=Daniel Robert |last=Epstein |url=http://www.ugo.com/channels/filmTv/features/familyguy/sethmacfarlane.asp |title=Interview with Seth MacFarlane, creator of The Family Guy |work=UGO Networks |access-date=November 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611145603/http://www.ugo.com/channels/filmTv/features/familyguy/sethmacfarlane.asp |archive-date=June 11, 2007 }} Chabert left the series due to time constraints with her acting role in Party of Five, as well as schoolwork.{{cite web|url=http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/sonic-the-hedgehog/737699p2.html|title=Sonic the Horndog|work=GameSpy|access-date=2009-10-03|archive-date=2014-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020132524/http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/sonic-the-hedgehog/737699p2.html|url-status=live}}
- Jon Cryer voiced Kevin Swanson in his first appearance before the role passed to Seth MacFarlane. The character was written out of the series for several years, with Scott Grimes taking over the voice when the character returned.
- Fairuza Balk was the original voice of high school bully Connie D'Amico until Lisa Wilhoit took over the character from the third to eighteenth seasons.
- Natasha Melnick was the original voice of Meg Griffin's Friend Ruth Cochamer until Emily Osment took over the character in the eleventh season.
- Beginning in 2021-onward, Arif Zahir took over voicing Cleveland Brown from Mike Henry.
Awards and nominations
See also
{{Portal-inline|Television}}