What The Cast Of Family Guy Looks Like In Real Life

To persist for more than 25 years (even after various cancellations), a show like “Family Guy” requires distinctive voices to breathe life into its characters. The initial pilot, painstakingly drawn by its creator and main actor Seth MacFarlane, was presented to Fox and approved nearly 26 years ago, establishing the majority of the Griffin family and their friends for the ensuing two decades. Yet, you may not be familiar with some of these actors beyond the distinctive voices they use for their characters.

As a devoted fan, I’ve come to realize that many of the recurring voices on “Family Guy” aren’t big names from movies or TV, but rather talented individuals who’ve been gathered from the show’s writing room over time. Interestingly, some of these actors have also made significant appearances in Seth MacFarlane’s other animated productions like “American Dad” and “The Cleveland Show,” although they often only appear as minor characters in “Family Guy.

Despite the fact that these voice actors might have extensive resumes beyond “Family Guy,” it can be challenging not to connect their voices with their characters from the animated series. Some might contend that every series created by Seth MacFarlane shares this issue, but where they all truly shine is in their talented cast. Here are some real-life images of the regular cast members from “Family Guy.

Seth MacFarlane

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but appreciate the remarkable talent of Seth MacFarlane. Beyond being the mastermind behind “Family Guy,” he also brings life to numerous characters that grace Quahog. With a staggering count of hundreds, MacFarlane has left an indelible mark on the series, yet it’s his roles as Peter, Brian, and Stewie Griffin that stand out most.

While Brian Griffin mirrors MacFarlane’s own speaking tone, Peter Griffin is modeled after a security guard from the Rhode Island School of Design, and Stewie takes inspiration from Rex Harrison. It’s this versatility and skill that keeps us fans hooked and eagerly awaiting each new episode.

In an interview with Time, MacFarlane shared that the reason he returned to “Family Guy” was primarily because of financial constraints in hiring voice actors, but also as a means to maintain the show’s unique comedic style by stating, “I was after a very specific vocal and delivery style, and it simply made more sense for me to do it myself.” Some of the main characters voiced by MacFarlane include Glenn Quagmire, Peter’s raunchy neighbor and friend; Dr. Hartman, the family physician; Carter Pewterschmidt, Peter’s father-in-law; and Tom Tucker, the local news anchor from Quahog.

Apart from being famously associated with “Family Guy,” Seth MacFarlane has occasionally ventured into live-action roles, such as in his TV series “The Orville” and movies like “A Million Ways to Die in the West” and “Logan Lucky.” Despite changes in his work dynamics over the years, as suggested by “Family Guy” producers, his distinctive voice remains a consistent element.

Alex Borstein

Before voicing Lois Griffin (Peter’s wife), Lois’ mother Barbara, and Tricia Takanawa from Quahog news, Alex Borstein was a cast member on the sketch series “MADtv”. In an interview with TV Guide, she shared how she got the role in “Family Guy”. She said, “Someone who was developing ‘Family Guy’ asked me, ‘Can you help us out with this pilot presentation?’ I replied, ‘Of course.’ It was a blind offer as I hadn’t met Seth [MacFarlane] or seen any artwork at that point.

Apart from clinching a Primetime Emmy Award for exceptional voice-over performance during the 16th season of “Family Guy,” Borstein also secured her first (and not the last) Emmy that year, for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series, in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” In this show, she portrays Suzie, a character known for her colorful language, which shares similarities with Lois Griffin’s delivery in certain scenes. Although Borstein’s role in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” may have introduced her to a fresh audience, the influence of her “Family Guy” character can still be heard in some Suzie scenes.

In “Family Guy,” the character voiced by actress Lois Borstein has a unique mix of Long Island and Hungarian tones, as described by the actress herself. However, her voice in this role shares similarities with her work in Dreamworks’ “The Bad Guys,” where she portrays an intensely aggressive police chief. Regardless of whether it’s live-action or animated, Borstein possesses a cunning and gravelly voice quality that warrants recognition and praise.

Seth Green

As a devoted fan, I’ve always admired how Seth Green transforms his voice for the character of Chris Griffin on “Family Guy.” During a panel at PaleyFest in 2010, Green revealed that the unique voice he developed was influenced by Buffalo Bill from “The Silence of the Lambs.” He was astonished to land the role and felt incredibly fortunate to have it. Interestingly enough, Seth Green’s voiceover talents extend beyond “Family Guy,” as he’s also lent his voice to Howard the Duck in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Joker in the “Mass Effect” video games.

In terms of his career in live-action, Green is particularly famous for portraying Scott, the rebellious son of Dr. Evil (played by Mike Myers), in the Austin Powers film series. Additionally, he played Oz on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, starting as a recurring character before becoming a regular cast member from seasons 3 to 4. Other notable roles for Green include the lead in the Fox sitcom Dads, a recurring part on That ’70’s Show, and a guest appearance in the final episode of Community.

Beyond his roles in “Family Guy” and other acting ventures, Seth Green is renowned for being the co-creator and chief creative mind behind “Robot Chicken,” an Adult Swim stop-motion animated series that’s been airing since 2005. His work on this show often keeps him busy, although you may still occasionally hear his voice in various productions.

Mila Kunis

Interestingly, the lead actor in the “Family Guy” cast is also the one who receives the most disregard. Originally, Mila Kunis wasn’t the voice behind Meg in the show’s first season, as Lacey Chabert held that role initially. However, Kunis caught the attention of producers with her portrayal of Jackie on “That ’70’s Show,” a role she had been playing since she was 14. As Seth MacFarlane explained at PaleyFest, “Mila would casually dominate a scene… this natural talent eventually led to Meg being developed into a character that often feels resentful, similar to Jan Brady.

Meg has significantly contributed to Mila Kunis’ evolution from her role in “That ’70’s Show” to present day, even though she used her natural voice for the character. Subsequently, she has provided voiceovers for shows like “Robot Chicken” and animated films such as “Wonder Park” and “Hell and Back.” Although Mila’s voice is distinctively identified as Meg, Mila’s face is widely recognized from various other projects.

Mila Kunis has featured in various movies such as “Black Swan,” “Friends with Benefits,” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” She also teamed up again with MacFarlane for the movie “Ted.” In 2025, you can find her on Netflix starring in “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.

Mike Henry

Mike Henry first crossed paths with Seth MacFarlane during their college days, long before the inception of “Family Guy”. Later on, he was among the initial cast members to not only lend his voice but also join the writing team for the series. Henry’s vocal repertoire on the show is extensive, featuring characters such as Herbert the Pervert, Bruce, and the Greased-Up Deaf Guy. However, it was his creation and portrayal of Cleveland Brown, Peter’s friend and neighbor, that truly made an impact. Cleveland, who later starred in his own spin-off series “The Cleveland Show”, is one of Henry’s most notable contributions to the show.

As a gamer reminiscing about my gaming journey, I’d like to share an interesting tidbit: The quirky character Cleveland, whom I brought to life, was inspired by a fellow basketball player who used to pronounce Maryland as ‘Merlin’. This guy had a unique voice that tickled me, and I often imitated him.

Fast forward to 2020, recognizing the importance of representation and standing in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, I chose to pass on voicing Cleveland. Instead, I decided it was time for a person-of-color to take up this role, bringing even more authenticity to the character.

Henry has consistently worked closely with MacFarlane, lending his voice to characters across all of his productions and even making appearances in “Ted” and “A Million Ways to Die in the West.” Additionally, he underwent extensive makeup to portray Lt. Dann, an alien character, on MacFarlane’s live-action series “The Orville,” featuring in a total of 11 episodes.

Patrick Warburton

Patrick Warburton is renowned for having a highly distinctive and widely recognized voice within the realm of Hollywood, making him an ideal pick for portraying Joe Swanson in “Family Guy.” While he has made a name for himself as a live-action actor, particularly through his recurring role as David Puddy on “Seinfeld” opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Elaine Benes, and leading the cult sitcom “The Tick,” it is his character in “Family Guy” that stirs debate among one specific group of spectators: his very own parents.

Due to her involvement with the American Television Council, Warburton’s mother attempted to persuade him to support the petition to cancel the show. In response, he humorously commented, “If you think I won’t discuss this openly, it’s the most amusing irony. You’re funneling money, and guess who’s receiving it? Yourself.” Warburton has also expressed criticism towards some controversial scenes on the show, given his strong religious beliefs, and there have been instances where he declined to participate in certain “Family Guy” episodes.

Warburton has additionally contributed his voice to projects that are suitable for families, such as “The Emperor’s New Groove” and “Bee Movie.” He also portrayed Lemony Snicket in the Netflix live-action series “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” and reteamed with Seth MacFarlane for a supporting part in “Ted.

Jennifer Tilly

It’s possible you didn’t realize that before “Family Guy” debuted in 1999, Jennifer Tilly, who voices Joe Swanson’s wife Bonnie, had a notable acting career behind her. In 1995, she even self-submitted for an Oscar nomination in the category of Best Supporting Actress for her work in “Bullets over Broadway.” However, she was beaten by her co-star Dianne Wiest for that award. Among her other significant roles are those in “Bound,” “Liar Liar,” and providing the voice for Tiffany Valentine in “Bride of Chucky,” a character she continues to reprise to this day.

Although Tilly is well-known for her voice acting abilities, she has only provided vocals for one character on “Family Guy” – Bonnie, who was pregnant throughout the first seven seasons of the series. After Bonnie gave birth in Season 7’s “Ocean’s Three and a Half,” Tilly expressed enjoyment at the opportunity to showcase her acting talents more frequently, as Bonnie began exploring new aspects such as lesbian relationships and affairs. In recognition of the show’s 25th anniversary during PaleyFest in 2024, Tilly also emphasized the unique experience of being part of a program for over two decades.

Johnny Brennan

Johnny Brennan is recognized by comedy enthusiasts for his role as co-creator of “The Jerky Boys,” a humor group from New York that became famous for their prank phone calls. It was during this time that Brennan developed the voice for his “Family Guy” character, Mort Goldman, who was previously known as Sol Rosenberg. Interestingly, even the character from “The Jerky Boys” took inspiration from Brennan’s own mother.

In essence, according to Brennan, Sol and Mort significantly differ in their personalities, as described in Joey B. vs. the World: Mort resembles one aspect of Brennan’s mother – outspoken and direct – while Sal on The Jerky Boys reflects another side – more reserved and sensitive. However, it’s worth noting that Mort isn’t the only character voiced by Brennan on Family Guy; he also played Horace, the bartender from The Drunken Clam, who met his end in the show during its 11th season.

Besides his voice roles in “The Jerky Boys” and “Family Guy,” Brennan also acted in the 2005 film “Tara Road” alongside Andie MacDowell, Iain Glen, and Olivia Williams. Moreover, he made a brief appearance together with other members of The Jerky Boys in Mariah Carey’s music video for “Honey,” demonstrating that this group enjoyed considerable celebrity status.

Rachael MacFarlane

Rachael MacFarlane, the younger sibling of “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane, isn’t among Hollywood’s nepotism cases despite her family ties. In fact, Rachael has made a name for herself in voice acting outside of “Family Guy.” She’s lent her voice to characters on shows like “Johnny Bravo,” “The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy,” and “Codename: Kids Next Door.” Within the MacFarlane universe, she voices Hayley Smith on “American Dad” and a super-computer on “The Orville.” On “Family Guy,” she’s voiced over 100 characters throughout the series.

Rachael MacFarlane is best known for playing Olivia, a toddler who competes with and sometimes has feelings for Stewie on the show “Family Guy.” In the latest episode of Season 15 titled “The Boys in the Band,” Olivia appeared alongside Stewie and Brian in a musical contest, partnering with Vinny (who replaced Brian after his death in Season 12). Interestingly, MacFarlane also provided the voice for Meg Griffin during the initial pitch for “Family Guy” before she was replaced for the actual series.

As anticipated, MacFarlane attributes her career in voice-acting to her brother, sharing with Film Speak that she found herself drawn to animation when she felt uncertain about her post-college path. She expressed, “I was contemplating pursuing a singer-songwriter route, and it was him who suggested, ‘You have an exceptional voice, and you’re a fantastic actor. You should explore voice acting. I believe you’d excel at it.’ It had never crossed my mind before.

Danny Smith

Although Danny Smith might not be instantly recognizable among the cast of “Family Guy,” his voice is familiar to many, having lent it to over 200 characters throughout the series. Initially, Smith worked as a writer for “Family Guy” in its early stages, but he has also contributed to shows like “3rd Rock from the Sun” and “Nurses.” Beyond writing for “Family Guy,” Smith has held the position of executive producer on the show since 2008.

Although Smith doesn’t play prominent characters in the show, he’s hard to miss due to his distinctive voice. He lends his voice to various anthropomorphic creatures, such as Ernie the Giant Chicken, the Malicious Monkey, and the Melancholic Cow. As for human characters, it’s Smith’s voice that stands out most notably in the character of Al Harrington, proprietor of Al Harrington’s Amusing Inflatable Arm-Waving Tubeman Emporium.

Initially, Smith wasn’t optimistic about “Family Guy,” as he shared with a FOX reporter at the SCAD TV Fest, “When I first met Seth MacFarlane, he was only 24 years old. At that time, I was 38 and thought, ‘What is this? This kid is interviewing me.’ I even told my agent, ‘I’ll give it a try, but I think I’ll find another legitimate show next year.’ However, I’ve been with the show ever since.

Lori Allan

Previously, Lori Alan played a significant character on “Family Guy,” portraying Diane Simmons, who worked alongside Tom Tucker as co-anchors in Quahog. However, the storyline for Diane took an unexpected twist in the Season 9 premiere episode titled “And Then There Were Fewer,” which was modeled after murder mysteries. In this episode, it’s revealed that Diane herself is the villain, planning to frame Tom and ultimately become the sole news anchor. Despite attempting to kill Lois to protect herself, she is shot by Stewie in an attempt to save Lois from harm, as Stewie has plans to eventually murder her himself.

Although Alan has lent her voice to various side characters in “Family Guy,” she is arguably more renowned for her vocal roles in shows such as “SpongeBob SquarePants,” where she portrays Pearl, the daughter of Mr. Krabs. Her voice can also be heard in numerous Pixar films, the Netflix animated series “Pokemon Concierge,” and the “Metal Gear Solid” video games. In live-action roles, Alan has made guest appearances on shows like “Shameless,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and “Friends.

Yet, Alan’s voice acting career took off primarily due to “Family Guy,” as he explained to Verité Entertainment, “[Seth MacFarlane] had graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design … he won a contest that allowed him to create a pilot at Hanna-Barbera. Kris Zimmerman, who was kind enough to bring me in, introduced me to do some voices with him, making it just Seth and I.

Arif Zahir

As Mike Henry stepped down from voicing Cleveland Brown in 2020, I found myself stepping into those shoes, marking a significant shift towards representation. Unlike many actors on “Family Guy,” I, Arif Zahir, didn’t have a personal or professional connection with Seth MacFarlane. Instead, I was recognized for my work on my YouTube channel, Azerrz, where I showcased a wide range of impressions, with my Cleveland being spot-on.

Zahir shared that he’s been a devoted fan of the show for quite some time, reminiscing, “Back when I was in high school, ‘Family Guy’ captured my heart, and whenever our teacher stepped out of the classroom, all the kids would ask me to do their Family Guy character voices.” Following his impressions gaining attention on YouTube, Zahir received an audition invite for the role of Cleveland. Since then, he has featured in more than 40 episodes of “Family Guy,” as well as episodes from shows like “American Dad” and “Robot Chicken.

It’s great to see Zahir embarking on his acting journey with voicing Cleveland, and he’s particularly thankful for the warm reception he’s received from “Family Guy” fans. Even if you weren’t aware of Henry leaving the role, it’s unlikely you’d notice any change while watching “Family Guy”.

2025-02-23 20:31