Template:Short description Template:Good article Template:Pp-blp Template:Pp-move Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person Seth Woodbury MacFarlane (Template:IPAc-en; born October 26, 1973) is an American actor, animator, writer, producer, director, comedian, and singer. He is best known as the creator and star of the television series Family Guy (since 1999) and The Orville (2017–2022), and co-creator of the television series American Dad! (since 2005) and The Cleveland Show (2009–2013). He also co-wrote, co-produced, directed, and starred in the films Ted (2012) and its sequel Ted 2 (2015), and A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014).
MacFarlane is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where he studied animation.<ref name="ignint">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was recruited to Hollywood as an animator and writer for Hanna-Barbera's television series Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken and Dexter's Laboratory; during this time, he created the animated short Larry & Steve—a loose precursor of Family Guy—for What a Cartoon!. In 2008, he created the online series Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy. MacFarlane has also made guest appearances as an actor on live action shows including Gilmore Girls, Star Trek: Enterprise, The War at Home, and FlashForward. MacFarlane has won several awards for his work on Family Guy, including five Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2009, he won the Webby Award for Film & Video Person of the Year.
MacFarlane has performed as a vocalist at the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, and the Royal Albert Hall. He has released eight studio albums, in the vein of Frank Sinatra, with influences from jazz orchestrations, and Hollywood musicals beginning with Music Is Better Than Words in 2011. MacFarlane has received five Grammy Award nominations for his work.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He has frequently collaborated with artists such as Sara Bareilles, Norah Jones, and Elizabeth Gillies on his albums.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> He hosted the 85th Academy Awards in 2013 and was nominated for Best Original Song for "Everybody Needs a Best Friend" from Ted.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
MacFarlane was executive producer of the Neil deGrasse Tyson-hosted Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, an update of the 1980s Cosmos series hosted by Carl Sagan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2019 and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2020.
Early life and educationEdit
Seth Woodbury MacFarlane was born on October 26, 1973, in Kent, Connecticut.<ref name="ignint" /> His parents, Ronald Milton MacFarlane (b. 1946) and Ann Perry (née Sager; 1947–2010), were born in Newburyport, Massachusetts.<ref name="annperry" /> His younger sister Rachael is also a voice actress. His maternal grandfather, Arthur Sager, competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics in track and field. MacFarlane's parents met in 1970 when they lived and worked in Boston, and married later that year.<ref name="annperry" /> They moved to Kent in 1972, where Ann began working in the admissions office at South Kent School. She later worked in the college guidance and admissions offices at the Kent School, a selective college preparatory school, where Ronald was a teacher.<ref name="annperry" /><ref name="teacher">Template:Cite news</ref>
As a child, MacFarlane developed an interest in illustration, and at the age of two he began drawing cartoon characters such as Fred Flintstone and Woody Woodpecker.<ref name="usatoday">Template:Cite news</ref> By age five, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in animation, and began by creating flip books after his parents found a book on the subject for him.<ref name="studio1">Template:Cite video</ref> Four years later, at nine, he began publishing a weekly comic strip, Walter Crouton, for The Kent Good Times Dispatch, the local newspaper; it paid him five dollars per week.<ref name="E" /><ref name="studio2">Template:Cite video</ref> MacFarlane said in an October 2011 interview that as a child he was always "weirdly fascinated by the Communion ceremony". He created a strip with a character kneeling at the altar taking Communion and asking "Can I have fries with that?" The paper printed it and he got an "angry letter" from the local priest; it led to "sort of a little mini-controversy" in the town.<ref name=MusicToo>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> MacFarlane received his high school diploma in 1991 from the Kent School.<ref name="annperry" /><ref name="teacher" /> While there, he continued experimenting with animation, and his parents gave him an 8 mm camera.<ref name="studio3">Template:Cite video</ref>
After graduating from high school, MacFarlane attended the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where he majored in animation. As a student, he intended to work for Disney, but changed his mind after seeing The Simpsons.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During his time at RISD, he performed stand-up comedy.<ref name="The Hollywood Reporter">Template:Cite magazine</ref> He also starred in many student films, meeting future Family Guy cast member Mike Henry, whose brother Patrick was MacFarlane's classmate.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In his senior year, he made his thesis film, The Life of Larry, which became the inspiration for Family Guy.<ref name="E">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A professor submitted his film to the animation studio Hanna-Barbera, where he was later hired.<ref name="harvard" /> He graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.<ref name="E" />
CareerEdit
Television careerEdit
Hanna-Barbera yearsEdit
MacFarlane was recruited during the senior film festival by development executive Ellen Cockrill and President Fred Seibert.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He went to work at Hanna-Barbera (then Hanna-Barbera Cartoons) based on the writing content of The Life of Larry, rather than on his drawing abilities. He was one of only a few people hired by the company solely based on writing talent.<ref name="ignint" /> He worked as an animator and writer for Cartoon Network's Cartoon Cartoons series.<ref name="ignint" /> He created a sequel to The Life of Larry entitled Larry & Steve, featuring a middle-aged character named Larry and an intellectual dog, Steve. The short was broadcast as one of Cartoon Network's World Premiere Toons. He described the atmosphere at Hanna-Barbera as resembling an "old-fashioned Hollywood structure, where you move from one show to another or you jump from a writing job on one show to a storyboard job on another". MacFarlane worked on three television series during his tenure at the studio: Dexter's Laboratory, Cow and Chicken, and Johnny Bravo.<ref name="stlouis" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Working as both a writer and storyboard artist, MacFarlane spent the most time on Johnny Bravo. He found it easier to develop his own style at Johnny Bravo through the show's process of scriptwriting, which Dexter's Laboratory and Cow and Chicken did not use.<ref name="ignint" /> As a part of the Johnny Bravo crew, he met actors and voiceover artists such as Adam West and Jack Sheldon of Schoolhouse Rock! fame. These meetings later became significant to the production and success of his Family Guy series.
He also did freelance work for Walt Disney Television Animation, writing for Jungle Cubs, and for Nelvana, where he wrote for Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. Through strict observation of writing elements such as story progression, character stakes and plot points, MacFarlane found the work for Disney was, from a writing standpoint, very valuable in preparation for his career (particularly on Ace Ventura).<ref name="ignint" /> He also created and wrote a short titled Zoomates for Frederator Studios' Oh Yeah! Cartoons on Nickelodeon.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Executives at the Fox Broadcasting Company saw both Larry shorts and negotiations soon began for a prime-time animated series.<ref name="Bartlett">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Family GuyEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Although MacFarlane enjoyed working at Hanna-Barbera, he felt his real calling was for prime-time animation, which would allow a much edgier style of humor.<ref name="ignint" /> He first pitched Family Guy to Fox during his tenure at Hanna-Barbera. A development executive there, who was trying to get back into prime-time business, introduced MacFarlane to Leslie Kolins and Mike Darnell, heads of the alternative comedy department at Fox. After the success of King of the Hill in 1997, MacFarlane called Kolins once more to ask about a possible second pitch for the series. Fox offered the young writer a strange deal: They gave him a budget of $50,000 (Template:Inflation) to produce a pilot that could lead to a series (most episodes of animated prime-time productions cost at least $1 million).<ref name="ignint" /><ref name="megadeal">Template:Cite news</ref> Recalling the experience in an interview with The New York Times, MacFarlane said: "I spent about six months with no sleep and no life, just drawing like crazy in my kitchen and doing this pilot."<ref name="Weinraub">Template:Cite news</ref>
After six months, MacFarlane returned to Fox with a "very, very simply, crudely animated film—with just enough to get the tone of the show across" to present to the executives, who loved the pilot and immediately ordered the series.<ref name="ignint" /> In July 1998, they announced the purchase of Family Guy for a January 1999 debut.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Family Guy was originally intended to be a series of shorts on MADtv, much in the same way The Simpsons had begun on The Tracey Ullman Show a decade earlier. Negotiations for the show's MADtv connection fell through early on as a result of budgetary concerns.<ref name="ignint" /> At age 24, MacFarlane was television's youngest executive producer.<ref name="usatoday" />
Family Guy first aired January 31, 1999.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> MacFarlane's work in animating Family Guy was influenced by Jackie Gleason and Hanna-Barbera along with examples from The Simpsons and All in the Family.<ref name="personal">Template:Cite news</ref> In addition to writing three episodes, "Death Has a Shadow", "Family Guy Viewer Mail 1", and "North by North Quahog", MacFarlane voices Family GuyTemplate:'s main male characters of Peter Griffin, Stewie Griffin, Brian Griffin, and Glenn Quagmire, as well as Tom Tucker, his son Jake Tucker, and other characters. Bolstered by high DVD sales and fan loyalty, Family Guy developed into a $1-billion franchise.<ref name="megadeal" /> On May 4, 2008, after approximately Template:Frac years of negotiations, MacFarlane reached a $100-million agreement with Fox to keep Family Guy and American Dad! until 2012. It made him the world's highest paid television writer.<ref>Family Guy Creator Signs Lucrative Deal with Fox. Template:Webarchive BuddyTV. May 7, 2008. Retrieved May 14, 2008.</ref>
MacFarlane's success with Family Guy opened doors to other ventures relating to the show. On April 26, 2005, he and composer Walter Murphy created Family Guy: Live in Vegas. The soundtrack features a Broadway show tune theme, and MacFarlane voiced Stewie in the track "Stewie's Sexy Party".<ref name="Vegas">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A fan of Broadway musicals,<ref name="Bartlett" /> MacFarlane comments on using musicals as a component of Family Guy:
<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />
Template:ErrorTemplate:Main other{{#if:|{{#if:|}}
— {{#if:|, in }}Template:Comma separated entries}}
{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }}
A Family Guy video game was released in 2006.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Two years later, in August 2007, MacFarlane closed a digital content production deal with AdSense.<ref>"Ypulse Essentials: Urban Disney, Marketing's Child, Teen Hackers" Template:Webarchive. YPulse. August 20, 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2008.</ref> He takes cast members on the road to voice characters in front of live audiences. Family Guy Live provides fans with the opportunity to hear future scripts. In mid-2007, Chicago fans had the opportunity to hear the then upcoming sixth-season premiere "Blue Harvest". Shows have played in Montreal, New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles.<ref>Schneider, Michael (August 13, 2007). "Family Guy hits the road: MacFarlane and Co. to perform in Chicago". Variety. Retrieved May 31, 2008. [1]</ref>
On July 22, 2007, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, MacFarlane announced that he might start work on a feature film, although "nothing's official".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In September 2007, Ricky Blitt gave TV.com an interview confirming that he had already started working on the script.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Then in TV Week on July 18, 2008, MacFarlane confirmed plans to produce a theatrically released Family Guy feature film sometime "within the next year".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He came up with an idea for the story, "something that you could not do on the show, which [to him] is the only reason to do a movie". He later went on to say he imagines the film to be "an old-style musical with dialogue" similar to The Sound of Music, saying that he would "really be trying to capture, musically, that feel".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On October 13, 2011, MacFarlane confirmed that a deal for a Family Guy film had been made, and that he would write it with series co-producer Ricky Blitt.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On November 30, 2012, he confirmed plans for the project.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The project was put on hold while MacFarlane worked on Ted 2.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2018, Fox announced that a live-action/animated film based on the series is in development.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> MacFarlane stepped away from the series in 2011 to work on Ted and other projects, and has only been associated with the show as a voice actor since then.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
Despite its popularity, Family Guy has often been criticized.<ref>Fox's "Comedic Genius"Template:Webarchive by Brent Bozell. TownHall. April 10, 2009. Retrieved August 2, 2009.</ref> The Parents Television Council has been a frequent critic. It organized a letter-writing campaign to remove it from Fox's lineup,<ref>Parents Council E-Alert. Vol. 4, No. 26. May 5, 2000. "In the two months since the show returned, creator Seth MacFarlane has aggressively sought to push the content envelope. Worse, Fox has permitted him to do so. Although Family Guy airs during the family hour, when children are likely to be watching, recent episodes have included animated nudity, vulgar references to genitalia, and references to pornography and masturbation." (Cited episode "Fifteen Minutes of Shame" as example)</ref> and filed complaints with the Federal Communications Commission alleging that some of its episodes contained indecent content.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> MacFarlane has responded to the PTC's criticism by saying, among other things: "That's like getting hate mail from Hitler. They're literally terrible human beings."<ref name="Advocate">Template:Cite news</ref>
Family Guy has been cancelled twice, although strong fan support and DVD sales have caused Fox to reconsider.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> MacFarlane mentioned how these cancellations affected the lineup of writers: "One of the positive aspects of Family Guy constantly being pulled off [the air] is that we were always having to re staff writers."<ref name="norton" />
During its sixth season, episodes of Family Guy and American Dad! were delayed from regular broadcast due to the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike. MacFarlane participated in the strike to support the writers, and Fox aired three Family Guy episodes without his permission. The strike ended on February 12, 2008,<ref name="cnn1">Template:Cite news</ref> and the series resumed airing regularly, beginning with "Back to the Woods".Template:Citation needed
American Dad!Edit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} MacFarlane has a second long-running, successful adult animated series in American Dad!, which has been in production since early 2005. To date, it is his only animated series that has never been cancelled, though it has undergone two network relocations: from Fox to TBS following its 11th season,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and from TBS back to Fox following its 21st.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> MacFarlane provides the voices of protagonist Stan Smith and prominent secondary character Roger.<ref name="usatoday" /> His sister Rachael provides the voice of Hayley, Stan's daughter.<ref name="rachael">"Rachael MacFarlane Biography". Fox. Retrieved December 20, 2007.</ref> Additionally, he co-wrote the show's first episode.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Goodman">Template:Cite news</ref> Aside from his voice acting work, MacFarlane has left much of American Dad!'s creative direction to the show's other co-creators, Matt Weitzman and Mike Barker (though the latter departed after ten seasons),<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="shakeup">Template:Cite news</ref> feeling it helps give the series its own voice and identity.<ref name="doorly1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
MacFarlane has stated that his inspiration to create American Dad! derived from his and Weitzman's exasperation with the George W. Bush administration.<ref>Rogers, Troy. "Seth MacFarlane, American Dad Interview". Underground Online. Retrieved December 21, 2007.</ref> MacFarlane has described the initial seasons of American Dad! as being similar to All in the Family, likening Stan's originally bigoted persona to Archie Bunker.<ref name="norton">Norton James."Seth MacFarlane's Third Act". Flak Magazine. Retrieved December 21, 2007.</ref> After the early couple of seasons however, the series discontinued using these elements of political satire<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and began to serve up its own brand of entertainment and humor.<ref name="doorly1" /> MacFarlane was described as having difficulty understanding the series in its early going; however, he warmed up to the series after its early seasons once he felt the show truly came into its own. His fellow co-creators have sensed this through MacFarlane's greatly increased attention to the series after its early seasons. MacFarlane has also revealed he is an American Dad! fan himself. He has taken note of the positive reaction to the Roger character by fans via his Twitter.<ref name="by Emily VanDerWerff September 28, 2012">Template:Cite news</ref>
The Cleveland ShowEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} MacFarlane developed a Family Guy spin-off called The Cleveland Show, which focuses on the character of Cleveland Brown and his family. The idea for the show originated from a suggestion by Family Guy writer and voice of Cleveland, Mike Henry. Fox ordered 22 episodes and the series first aired on September 27, 2009. The show, which was picked up to air a first season consisting of 22 episodes,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> was picked up by Fox for a second season, consisting of 13 episodes, bringing the total number to 35 episodes. The announcement was made on May 3, 2009, before the first season even premiered.<ref name="season2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Due to strong ratings, Fox picked up the back nine episodes of season 2, making a 22-episode season and bringing the total episode count of the show to 44.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The series ended on May 19, 2013, with a total of 4 seasons and 88 episodes. The character of Cleveland and his family returned to Family Guy in the episode "He's Bla-ack!".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
This is the only animated series created by MacFarlane that does not have him voicing the main character. MacFarlane did, however, play the character Tim the Bear until season 3 episode 10. Jess Harnell voiced Tim from season 3 episode 11 onwards.
Cavalcade of Cartoon ComedyEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} In 2008, MacFarlane released a series of webisodes known as Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy with its animated shorts sponsored by Burger King and released weekly.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The OrvilleEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} In 2016, MacFarlane began producing the sci-fi comedy-drama series The Orville, in which he also stars as Captain Edward "Ed" Mercer.<ref name="JLeeOrville">Template:Cite magazine</ref> MacFarlane originally wrote The Orville as a spec script, which was given a 13-episode order by Fox in May 2016, making it the first live-action television series created by MacFarlane.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The series premiered on September 10, 2017.<ref name=NewMacFarlaneSeries>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Despite the first season receiving negative reviews, it was renewed for a second season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The second season premiered on December 30, 2018, and received better reviews.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The series was renewed for a third season by Fox, however the series would move over to Hulu.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This season is the show's first on Hulu, after airing its previous two seasons on Fox, as well as the first to premiere since The Walt Disney Company's March 2019 acquisition of 20th Century Fox.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The season was originally scheduled to premiere in 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The third season titled as The Orville: New Horizons premiered on June 2, 2022.<ref name="S3PremiereDate">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Due to the pandemic, an episode of third season was scrapped, which MacFarlane subsequently turned into a novel, titled The Orville: Sympathy for the Devil.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Television producingEdit
MacFarlane was the executive producer of a live-action sitcom starring Rob Corddry called The Winner. The plot has a man named Glen discussing the time he matured at 32 and has him pursuing his only love after she moves in next door. Glen meets her son and both become good friends.<ref>Hooper, Barrett. "Winner's one big loser: Not all ex-Daily Show correspondents make great sitcom stars". Now Toronto. Published March 8, 2007. Retrieved December 21, 2007. Template:Webarchive</ref> The show ran on Fox for six episodes in Spring 2007.<ref>Matheson, Whitney. Sample The Winner. USA TODAY Blog. Published February 19, 2007. Retrieved December 21, 2007.</ref><ref>2007 Canceled Shows: Fox Cancels Plenty of Series". TV Series Finale. May 16, 2007.</ref>
In August 2011, Fox ordered a 13-part updated series of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey. MacFarlane co-produced the series with Ann Druyan and Steven Soter. The new series is hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson and began airing on the channel in March 2014, with repeats airing on the National Geographic Channel on the next night.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In addition to serving as one of the executive producers, MacFarlane provided voices for characters during the animated portions of the series. MacFarlane returned to executive produce and provide voices to its sequel series, Cosmos: Possible Worlds, which aired in 2020.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
In 2013 and 2014, MacFarlane produced one season of a live-action sitcom called Dads.<ref name="Fox 2014 Cancellations">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The series, revolves around Eli, played by Seth Green, and Warner, played by Giovanni Ribisi, two successful guys in their 30s whose world is turned upside down when their dads move in with them. MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild executive-produced the series, with Sulkin and Wild writing.<ref name="Kenneally">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2014, MacFarlane executive produced a two-season, 20-episode series called Blunt Talk for Starz.<ref name="variety">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The series followed an English newscaster who moves to Los Angeles with his alcoholic manservant and the baggage of several failed marriages to host a sanctimonious talk show.
In 2009, MacFarlane began work on the animated series Bordertown.<ref name="Bordertown Announcement">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The series is set in Texas and follows a border patrol agent and a Mexican immigrant, satirizing America's changing cultural landscape. It ran for 13 episodes in the first half of 2016, on Fox.<ref name="deadline-btcancelled">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Television hostingEdit
MacFarlane has participated in the Comedy Central Roasts. MacFarlane is the only person to serve as roastmaster for more than one roast. In 2010, he filled this role for the roast of David Hasselhoff.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The following year he was roastmaster at the roasts of Donald Trump and Charlie Sheen.
On October 1, 2012, it was announced that MacFarlane would host the 85th Academy Awards on February 24, 2013.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref name=abcmedianet20121012>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also presented the nominees with actress Emma Stone, on January 10, 2013. In addition to hosting, MacFarlane was also nominated in the Academy Award for Best Original Song category for co-writing the theme song "Everybody Needs a Best Friend" for his film Ted with Walter Murphy.<ref name="Oscars">Template:Cite news</ref> Critical response to MacFarlane's performance was mixed. Columnist Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly commented "By calling constant attention to the naughty factor," MacFarlane created "an echo chamber of outrage, working a little too hard to top himself with faux-scandalous gags about race, Jews in Hollywood, and the killing of Abraham Lincoln."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter praised MacFarlane's performance saying that he did "impressively better than one would have wagered". He also noted that he added "plenty of niceties with a little bit of the Ricky Gervais bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you thing and worked the juxtaposition rather nicely".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He stirred up controversy in the form of a musical number titled "We Saw Your Boobs".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
On October 29, 2014, it was announced that MacFarlane would host the Breakthrough Prize ceremony. The event was held in Silicon Valley and televised on November 15, 2014, on Discovery Channel and Science, and globally on November 22, 2014, on BBC World News.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> He returned to host the following year.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Film careerEdit
TedEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} MacFarlane made his directorial live-action film debut with the release of Ted in 2012. He announced that he was directing it on an episode of Conan that aired on February 10, 2011. Along with directing the film, he also wrote the screenplay, served as producer, and starred as the title character.
Ted tells the story of John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) and his talking teddy bear (MacFarlane) who keeps John and his girlfriend Lori Collins (Mila Kunis) from moving on with their lives. The film received generally favorable reviews from both critics and audiences, and was a box office success, opening with the highest weekend gross of all time for an original R-rated comedy.<ref name="World record">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Internationally, the movie is currently the highest-grossing original R-rated comedy of all time, beating The Hangover. A sequel, Ted 2, was released on June 26, 2015.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
It was announced in June 2021 that Peacock had given a straight to series order for a prequel series. In addition to serving as executive producer for the series, MacFarlane reprises his role as Ted. Due to its prequel nature, Wahlberg and Kunis do not reprise their roles.<ref name="TVseries_Deadline">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
A Million Ways to Die in the WestEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} MacFarlane co-wrote and starred in his second film, A Million Ways to Die in the West. Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild were also co-writers for the film. The film follows a cowardly sheep farmer (MacFarlane) who loses a gunfight and sees his girlfriend leave him for another man. When a mysterious woman rides into town, she helps him find his courage. But when her outlaw husband arrives seeking revenge, the farmer must put his newfound courage to the test.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Chitwood">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The film was met with mixed to negative reviews from critics.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
On January 27, 2014, MacFarlane announced that he wrote a companion novel based on the film's script, which was released on March 4, 2014.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> An audio-book version was also made available, narrated by Jonathan Frakes.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> MacFarlane wrote the book on weekends during shooting for the film, partially due to boredom.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Music careerEdit
Record deal and albumsEdit
In 2010, MacFarlane signed a record deal with Universal Republic Records.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> He released his debut album, Music Is Better Than Words, in 2011. The album is a big band/standards album drawing on his training in and attraction to "the Great American Songbook and particularly the early- to late-'50s era of orchestration".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album featured duets with Norah Jones and Sara Bareilles. It was nominated in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album and the Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical categories at the 54th Grammy Awards.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It received a score of 52 out of 100 on Metacritic's compilation of music critic reviews.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2014, he released his second studio album and first Christmas album Holiday for Swing.<ref name="holidayforswingelusivedisc">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="billboardAugust 29, 2014">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="theguardianMay 16, 2014">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="thrMay 15, 2014">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It received mostly positive reviews.<ref name="AllMusic">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2015, his third studio album No One Ever Tells You was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2016, he was honored by Barbara Sinatra at the 28th annual Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
He released his fourth studio album, In Full Swing, in 2017,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> again featuring songs composed by Joel McNeely.<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref> Three singles were released from it: "That Face",<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Almost Like Being in Love",<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and "Have You Met Miss Jones?"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album was nominated for two Grammy Awards for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album and Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2019, for his fifth studio album Once in a While,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> MacFarlane worked with composer Andrew Cottee.<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref>
In 2020, MacFarlane released his sixth studio album, Great Songs from Stage & Screen,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with composer Bruce Broughton, who he works with on The Orville, to compose the album.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Like his previous four albums, he recorded a majority of the songs at Abbey Road Studios. However, much of the album's post-production work was done at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2022, he released his seventh studio album, Blue Skies.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In November 2023, MacFarlane released a collaborative Christmas album with Gillies titled We Wish You the Merriest. The lead single of the same name was dropped on the day of the announcement.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
In 2025, MacFarlane announced his ninth album, Lush Life: The Lost Sinatra Arrangements. The album, conducted by John Wilson, features music originally arranged by Nelson Riddle, Billy May, and Don Costa for Frank Sinatra, but were never produced, and were discovered by MacFarlane in Sinatra's library of music material. The album is scheduled for release in June 2025.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
CollaborationsEdit
He was featured on Calabria Foti's 2013 single "Let's Fall in Love".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2016, he recorded the song "Pure Imagination" as a duet with Barbra Streisand for her album Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway.<ref>"New album ENCORE: Movie Partners Sing Broadway coming August 26" Template:Webarchive barbrastreisand.com, June 10, 2016</ref> MacFarlane sang numerous show tunes with Ariana Grande on an episode of Carpool Karaoke: The Series in 2017.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, MacFarlane and Elizabeth Gillies collaborated on a series of songs, eight in total, on a playlist entitled, Songs from Home on Spotify.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> MacFarlane was featured in Meghan Trainor's Christmas album, A Very Trainor Christmas and did a cover of "White Christmas". The single debuted at number 24 on the Adult Contemporary chart issued dated November 14, 2020, the third holiday entry for both, and it later peaked at number 1 on the chart.<ref name="BBWhiteChristmas">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2023, MacFarlane was co-featured alongside Redman and Statik Selektah on the album track "Self Medication", from Logic's eighth studio album College Park.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Other projectsEdit
MacFarlane was executive producer of a 2020 feature film adapting Clive Barker's novel Books of Blood for Hulu, directed by Brannon Braga.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2020, he signed a $200 million deal with NBCUniversal to develop television projects for both internal and external networks, including the company's then-developing streaming service Peacock.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Among these projects is The End is Nye, hosted by Bill Nye, a six episode series exploring and explaining six apocalyptic scenarios. MacFarlane is executive producer and will make small appearances in each episode. It premiered on the service on August 25, 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In January 2021, it was announced that MacFarlane had been hired to develop a reboot of The Naked Gun. After MacFarlane had previously expressed interest in casting Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr. in 2015, the filmmaker was hired by the studio. Neeson revealed that the filmmaker alongside Paramount Pictures had approached him with a pitch to star in the movie.<ref name="Reboot_SR">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Reboot_People">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In June of the same year, Neeson stated that MacFarlane was working on a new draft of the script, with the studio additionally negotiating the filmmaker's potential role as director. He expressed excitement for the project and the opportunity to explore a more comedic role, should he decide to star in the movie; while stating that development on the project is ongoing.<ref name="Reboot_CB">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In October 2022, the film was officially greenlit with Neeson in the lead role. The film will be directed by Akiva Schaffer, Dan Gregor and Doug Mand were hired to write a new draft of the script, from a previous draft with contributions from Mark Hentemann, Alec Sulkin and MacFarlane himself. MacFarlane and Erica Huggins will serve as producers.<ref name="Neeson_Deadline">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Guest appearancesEdit
MacFarlane has appeared in sitcoms, comedy and news programs, independent films, and other animated shows. In 2002, MacFarlane appeared in the Gilmore Girls episode "Lorelai's Graduation Day".<ref name="harvard">"Family Guy Seth MacFarlane to speak at Class Day: Creator and executive producer of 'Family Guy' will headline undergraduate celebration Template:Webarchive. Harvard Gazette. Retrieved December 21, 2007.</ref> On November 5, 2006, MacFarlane guest starred on Fox's The War at Home as "Hillary's Date", an unnamed 33-year-old man who secretly dates teenaged Hillary in the episode "I Wash My Hands of You".<ref>The War at Home – "I Wash My Hands of You" Synopsis. Variety. Retrieved January 1, 2008.</ref> MacFarlane also appeared as the engineer Ensign Rivers on Star Trek: Enterprise in the third-season episode "The Forgotten" and the fourth-season episode "Affliction". During 2006, MacFarlane had a role in the independent film Life is Short.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He has been a frequent guest on the radio talkshow Loveline, hosted by Dr. Drew Pinsky.
MacFarlane appeared on the November 11, 2006, episode of Fox's comedy show MADtv.<ref>"MAD TV Gets More Animated on FOX" Template:Webarchive. AWN Headline News. November 2, 2006. Retrieved January 1, 2008.</ref> MacFarlane has also appeared on news shows and late night television shows such as Jimmy Kimmel Live!<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Late Show with David Letterman.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Three months later on March 24, 2007, MacFarlane was interviewed on Fox's Talkshow with Spike Feresten,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and closed the show by singing the Frank Sinatra song "You Make Me Feel So Young".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also provided Stewie's voice when he appeared as a brain tumor-induced hallucination to Seeley Booth in an episode of Bones, writing his own dialogue for the episode.<ref>Ausiello, Michael. Exclusive: 'Bones' plots 'Family Guy' crossover! Entertainment Weekly. March 19, 2009. Retrieved August 2, 2009.</ref> On May 8, 2009, MacFarlane was a guest on Real Time with Bill Maher.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Other than Family Guy and American Dad!, MacFarlane voices characters in other cartoon shows and films. He voiced Wayne "The Brain" McClain in an episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He has also voiced various characters on Adult Swim's Robot Chicken, including a parody of Lion-O and Emperor Palpatine as well as Peter Griffin in the Season 2 premiere – he even parodied himself in the Season 4 premiere, in which he renewed the show simply by mentioning it in a Family Guy-like cutaway after its fictitious cancellation at the end of Season 3. He also played the villain "The Manotaur" in Bob Boyle's animated kids series Yin Yang Yo!.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} p. 2.</ref> In addition, MacFarlane voiced Johann Kraus in the 2008 film Hellboy II: The Golden Army.<ref>"Hellboy 2's Psychic Entity Voiced By Family Guy" Template:Webarchive. io9. Retrieved May 31, 2008.</ref> He also had a guest appearance in the animated film Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder where he sings "That Was Then (And This is Too)", the opening theme.<ref name=MacFarlane>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He had also starred in a commercial for Hulu in which he plays an alien presenting Hulu as an "evil plot to destroy the world", progressively as his famous Family Guy and American Dad! characters. He also lent his voice to the series finale movie of the Comedy Central series, Drawn Together.
MacFarlane played Ziggy in the 2010 film Tooth Fairy. In August 2010, he appeared as a guest voice-over in a sci-fi themed episode of Disney's Phineas and Ferb entitled "Nerds of a Feather".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On September 15, 2012, MacFarlane hosted the season premiere of Saturday Night Live, with musical guest Frank Ocean.<ref name="SNL Premiere">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The episode was MacFarlane's first appearance on the show. MacFarlane had a cameo in the 2013 film Movie 43.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> MacFarlane collaborated with Matt Groening on an episode of The Simpsons and Futurama.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2016, he had a voice role in the animated film Sing, as well as serving as a major performer on the film's soundtrack.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2017, he appeared in Steven Soderbergh's heist comedy Logan Lucky, alongside Channing Tatum and Adam Driver.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2019, MacFarlane appeared in the Showtime limited series The Loudest Voice.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
ArtistryEdit
Musical styleEdit
MacFarlane has a baritone voice.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He is a pianist and singer who, in his early years, trained with Lee and Sally Sweetland, the vocal coaches of Barbra Streisand and Frank Sinatra. In an interview with NPR, he commented on their training style: "They really drill you. They teach you the old-style way of singing, back when you had no electronic help ... [They teach you to] show your teeth. If you look at old photos of Sinatra while he's singing, there's a lot of very exposed teeth. That was something Lee Sweetland hit on day in and day out, and correctly so, because it just brightens the whole performance."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2009, MacFarlane appeared as a vocalist at the BBC Proms with the John Wilson Orchestra in Prom 22, A Celebration of Classic MGM Film Musicals.<ref>Review for the Independent by Edward Seckerson, Monday 3 August 2009 Template:Webarchive. accessed August 29, 2010.</ref> In 2010, he reappeared at the Proms with the John Wilson Orchestra in a Christmas concert special. In 2012, it was announced he would again appear at the Proms with the John Wilson Orchestra in a concert celebrating Broadway musicals.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2015, MacFarlane again appeared at The Proms as a vocalist with the John Wilson Orchestra, this time in a Sinatra program.<ref name="Proms announcement">Template:Cite press release</ref> Regarding his musical passion, MacFarlane has said, "I love and am fascinated by exciting orchestration—what you can do with a band that size—and I think in many ways it's a lost art."<ref name="bio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His music is predominantly vocal jazz, show tunes and swing.<ref name="music">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="easy listening">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="jazz">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="showtunes">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Swinging Christmas">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also uses musical comedy in his shows and movies.<ref name="comedy">Template:Cite news</ref>
InfluencesEdit
MacFarlane has said that his comedy influences include Woody Allen, Jackie Gleason, Mel Brooks, Monty Python, Matt Groening, and Norman Lear;<ref>Template:Cite interview</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> while his musical influences include Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Vic Damone, Johnny Mercer, Bing Crosby, Bobby Darin, Gordon MacRae and the Rat Pack.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
ActivismEdit
Political viewsEdit
MacFarlane is a supporter of the Democratic Party.<ref name=Advocate /> He has donated over $200,000 to various Democratic congressional committees and to the 2008 presidential campaign of then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama.<ref name="political">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He has stated that he supports the legalization of cannabis.<ref>Template:Cite videoTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
In 2015, MacFarlane endorsed Bernie Sanders for the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and he introduced Sanders onstage at a Los Angeles rally.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After the primaries, he supported Hillary Clinton for president during the general election.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2019, he supported Pete Buttigieg in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After the primaries, he endorsed Joe Biden for president during the general election.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He endorsed Biden again for the 2024 U.S. presidential election.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After Biden withdrew his candidacy, MacFarlane endorsed Kamala Harris.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Gay rights advocacyEdit
MacFarlane is a supporter of gay rights. In 2008, prior to the holding of the Obergefell v. Hodges case by the United States Supreme Court, MacFarlane called it "infuriating and idiotic" that two gay partners "have to go through this fucking dog and pony act when they stop at a hotel and the guy behind the counter says, 'You want one room or two?'" He went on to say: "I'm incredibly passionate about my support for the gay community and what they're dealing with at this current point in time."<ref name=Advocate2>Template:Cite news</ref>
In recognition of "his active, passionate commitment to humanist values, and his fearless support of equal marriage rights and other social justice issues", MacFarlane was named the Harvard Humanist of the Year in 2011.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Speaking engagementsEdit
MacFarlane is a frequent speaking guest on college campuses.<ref name="gwu" /> On April 16, 2006, he was invited by Stanford University's ASSU Speakers' Bureau to address an audience of over 1,000 at Memorial Auditorium.<ref>Finley, Adam. "Seth McFarlane talks about South Park" Template:Webarchive TV Squad. Published April 20, 2006. Retrieved October 18, 2009.</ref> He was invited by Harvard University's class of 2006 to deliver the "class day" address on June 7, 2006. He spoke as himself, and also as Peter Griffin, Stewie Griffin and Glenn Quagmire.<ref>"'Family Guy' Seth MacFarlane to speak at Class Day" Template:Webarchive. The Harvard University Gazette. Retrieved October 18, 2009.</ref> He has also spoken at George Washington University,<ref name="gwu">"Seth MacFarlane coming to George Washington Univ.!" Adult Swim. Retrieved December 20, 2007. Template:Webarchive</ref> Washington University in St. Louis,<ref name="stlouis">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the University of Texas at Austin,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}. The Daily Texan. Retrieved April 22, 2007.</ref> the University of Missouri,<ref name="maneater">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Bowling Green State University,<ref name="bowlinggreen">Template:Cite news</ref> Loyola Marymount University,<ref name="loyolamarymount">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and University of California, Los Angeles.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2007–08 Writers Guild of America strikeEdit
During the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike, MacFarlane publicly sided with the Writers Guild, and fully participated in the strike.<ref>"Pencils Down" Template:Webarchive. Writers' Guild of America. Retrieved December 20, 2007.</ref> Official production of Family Guy was halted for most of December 2007 and various periods afterwards. Fox continued producing episodes without MacFarlane's final approval, and although he refused to work on the show during the strike, his contract with Fox required him to contribute to any episodes it subsequently produced.<ref name="adalian">Template:Cite news</ref> Rumors of continued production on Family Guy prompted the statement from MacFarlane that ".....it would just be a colossal dick move if they did that".<ref name="adalian" /> During the strike, MacFarlane wrote an inside joke into an episode of Family Guy about Jon Stewart's choice to return to the air and undermine the writers of The Daily Show, causing Stewart to respond with an angry phone-call, harassing MacFarlane and arguing his point.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref> The strike ended on February 12, 2008.<ref name="cnn1" />
2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikeEdit
During the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike and the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, MacFarlane donated $1 million to The Entertainment Community Fund to Support Film and Television Workers During Strikes. The Entertainment Community, formerly The Actors Fund, is there to help provide financial assistance for industry workers during the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The Seth MacFarlane Collection of the Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan ArchiveEdit
In 2012, MacFarlane donated money to create The Seth MacFarlane Collection of the Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan Archive at the Library of Congress. MacFarlane said, "The work of Carl Sagan has been a profound influence in my life, and the life of every individual who recognizes the importance of humanity's ongoing commitment to the exploration of our universe [...] The continuance of our journey outward into space should always occupy some part of our collective attention, regardless of whatever Snooki did last week."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The collection opened on November 12, 2013.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Film preservationEdit
On April 20, 2024, MacFarlane partnered with Martin Scorsese to showcase Back from the Ink: Restored Animated Shorts at the 2024 TCM Classic Film Festival. MacFarlane and Scorsese funded the restoration and worked with the UCLA Film and Television Archive and The Film Foundation with Paramount Pictures Archives.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Personal lifeEdit
MacFarlane lives in Beverly Hills, California.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He is not married and has no children.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> From 2012 to 2013, he was in a relationship with British actress Emilia Clarke.<ref name="Fisher">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="splits">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
MacFarlane gave a speech at his alma mater, the Rhode Island School of Design, on September 10, 2001;<ref>"Full Frontal TV" Q&A: Head of the Family". Penthouse. September 2007.</ref> the next morning he was scheduled to return to Los Angeles on American Airlines Flight 11, one of the planes hijacked in the September 11 attacks. Due to a hangover after the previous night's celebrations and an incorrect departure time (8:15 a.m. instead of 7:45 a.m.) from his travel agent,<ref name="usatoday-tvinsider" /><ref name="tenquestions" /> he arrived at Logan International Airport about ten minutes too late to board the flight, as the gates had been closed.<ref name="usatoday-tvinsider">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="tenquestions">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web
}}</ref> Speaking of his experience of missing the fatal trip, MacFarlane said:
The only reason it hasn't really affected me as it maybe could have is I didn't really know that I was in any danger until after it was over, so I never had that panic moment. After the fact, it was sobering, but people have a lot of close calls; you're crossing the street and you almost get hit by a car... This one just happened to be related to something massive. I really can't let it affect me because I'm a comedy writer. I have to put that in the back of my head.<ref name=TVShows>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web
}}</ref>
The Family Guy episode "Boy (Dog) Meets Girl (Dog)" references the incident.
On July 16, 2010, MacFarlane's mother, Ann Perry Sager, died from cancer. Her death was reported by Larry King on his show Larry King Live, who acknowledged a conversation he had with her during an interview with MacFarlane in May 2010.<ref name="annperry">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
MacFarlane is an atheist, explaining his beliefs, "I do not believe in God. I'm an atheist. I consider myself a critical thinker, and it fascinates me that in the 21st century most people still believe in, as George Carlin puts it, 'the invisible man living in the sky'."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Seth MacFarlane to Steppin' Out magazineTemplate:Volume needed</ref>
LawsuitsEdit
On October 3, 2007, Bourne Co. Music Publishers filed a lawsuit accusing Family Guy of infringing its copyright on the song "When You Wish Upon a Star", through a parody song titled "I Need a Jew" appearing in the episode "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein". Bourne Co., which holds the copyright, alleged the parody pairs a "thinly veiled" copy of their music with anti semitic lyrics. Named in the suit were MacFarlane, 20th Century Fox Film Corp., Fox Broadcasting Co., Cartoon Network and Walter Murphy; the suit sought to stop the program's distribution and asked for unspecified damages.<ref>Template:Cite court</ref> Bourne argued that "I Need a Jew" uses the copyrighted melody of "When You Wish Upon a Star" without commenting on that song, and that it was therefore not a First Amendment-protected parody per the ruling in Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On March 16, 2009, United States District Judge Deborah Batts held that Family Guy did not infringe on Bourne's copyright when it transformed the song for comical use in an episode.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In December 2007, Family Guy was again accused of copyright infringement when actor Art Metrano filed a lawsuit regarding a scene in Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story, in which Jesus performs Metrano's signature magic parody act, involving absurd faux magical hand gestures while humming the distinctive tune "Fine and Dandy".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> MacFarlane, 20th Century Fox, Steve Callaghan, and Alex Borstein were all named in the suit.<ref>Template:Cite court</ref> In July 2009, a federal district court judge rejected Fox's motion to dismiss, saying that the first three fair use factors involved—"purpose and character of the use", "nature of the infringed work", and "amount and substantiality of the taking"—counted in Metrano's favor, while the fourth—"economic impact"—had to await more fact-finding. In denying the dismissal, the court held that the reference in the scene made light of Jesus and his followers—not Metrano or his act.<ref>Template:Cite court</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The case was settled out of court in 2010 with undisclosed terms.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
On July 16, 2014, MacFarlane was served with a lawsuit from the production company of a series of Internet videos called Charlie the Abusive Teddy Bear claiming that Ted infringes on the copyright of its videos due to the Ted bear largely matching the background story, persona, voice tone, attitude, and dialogue of the Charlie bear.<ref name="lawsuit">Template:Cite news</ref> The suit was dismissed with prejudice on March 23, 2015, after the plaintiffs conceded Ted was independently created and withdrew the suit.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref>
Awards and nominationsEdit
Template:See also MacFarlane has been nominated for twenty-four Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on Family Guy and has won five times, in 2000, 2002, 2016, 2017 and 2019.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He has been nominated for five Grammy Awards for his work in Family Guy: Live in Vegas, Music Is Better Than Words, Family Guy, No One Ever Tells You and In Full Swing.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for co-writing the opening song, "Everybody Needs a Best Friend", from his film Ted with the film's composer Walter Murphy.<ref name="Oscars" />
He has received numerous awards from other organizations, including the Annie Award for Best Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production and the Saturn Award for Best Television Presentation for the Family Guy episode titled "Blue Harvest", the MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo and the Empire Award for Best Comedy for Ted.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2019, MacFarlane received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6259 Hollywood Blvd.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2020, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2022, a new species of Hyloscirtus frog (Hyloscirtus sethmacfarlanei) was described from Ecuador and named after him.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
FilmographyEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}
- Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story (2005)
- Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
- Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder (2009)
- The Drawn Together Movie: The Movie! (2010)
- Tooth Fairy (2010)
- Ted (2012)
- Movie 43 (2013)
- A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014)
- Ted 2 (2015)
- Sing (2016)
- Logan Lucky (2017)
DiscographyEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}
- Music Is Better Than Words (2011)
- Holiday for Swing (2014)
- No One Ever Tells You (2015)
- In Full Swing (2017)
- Once in a While (2019)
- Great Songs from Stage & Screen (2020)
- Blue Skies (2022)
- We Wish You the Merriest (with Elizabeth Gillies) (2023)
- Lush Life: The Lost Sinatra Arrangements (2025)
Written worksEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
| name/{{#if:{{#invoke:ustring|match|1=0532235|2=^nm}}
| Template:Trim/
| nm0532235/
}}
| {{#if: {{#property:P345}}
| name/Template:First word/
| find?q=%7B%7B%23if%3A+%0A++++++%7C+%7B%7B%7Bname%7D%7D%7D%0A++++++%7C+%5B%5B%3ATemplate%3APAGENAMEBASE%5D%5D%0A++++++%7D%7D&s=nm
}}
}}{{#if: 0532235 {{#property:P345}} | {{#switch:
| award | awards = awards Awards for | biography | bio = bio Biography for
}}}} {{#if:
| {{{name}}}
| Template:PAGENAMEBASE
}}] at IMDb{{#if: 0532235{{#property:P345}}
| Template:EditAtWikidata
| Template:Main other
}}{{#switch:{{#invoke:string2|matchAny|^nm.........|^nm.......|nm|.........|source=0532235|plain=false}}
| 1 | 3 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning | 4 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning
}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:IMDb name with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|showblankpositional=1| 1 | 2 | id | name | section }}
- {{#ifeq: | yes
| https://www.allmusic.com/Template:Trim/mn0000529571{{
#if:
| /{{{tab}}}
}}
| {{#if: mn0000529571
| {{#if:
| {{#if: |[[{{{author-link}}}|{{#if: |, {{{first}}} }}]]|{{#if: |, {{{first}}} }}}}.
}}[https://www.allmusic.com/Template:Trim/mn0000529571{{
#if:
| /{{{tab}}}
}} {{
#if:
| {{{title}}}
| Template:PAGENAMEBASE
}}] at AllMusic{{
#if:
| . Retrieved .
}}
| {{#if: {{#property:P1728}}
| Template:First word {{#if: | {{{title}}} | Template:PAGENAMEBASE }} at AllMusicTemplate:EditAtWikidata
| {{#if: {{#property:P1729}}
| Template:First word {{#if: | {{{title}}} | Template:PAGENAMEBASE }} at AllMusicTemplate:EditAtWikidata
| {{#if: {{#property:P1730}}
| Template:First word {{#if: | {{{title}}} | Template:PAGENAMEBASE }} at AllMusicTemplate:EditAtWikidata
| {{#if: {{#property:P1994}}
| Template:First word {{#if: | {{{title}}} | Template:PAGENAMEBASE }} at AllMusicTemplate:EditAtWikidata
| {{AllMusic}} template missing ID and not present in Wikidata.Template:Main other
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
Template:Seth MacFarlane Template:Fuzzy Door Productions Template:Navboxes Template:Subject bar Template:Authority control