Seth MacFarlaneis the man of a thousand voices, quite literally. On just the hit animated series on FOX,Family Guy,MacFarlane is credited with over 700 voices throughout its 23 years. The series has made audiences laugh since 1999 and much of that is to do withMacFarlane’s creative ideasfor characters. Coming from an animation background, he worked on hit series such asJohnny Bravo.But it wasFamily Guythat sent him and his voices into the stratosphere.
Whether minor or major roles,his voice actingimplements something new to each character so that no one sounds cut-and-paste. In addition, MacFarlane has also provided his many voices to the seriesAmerican Dad, The Cleveland Show.But there is something about his characters on Spooner Street that are so iconic and beloved by the viewers. For almost 400 episodes, the Griffin family has warmed the hearts of millions. But which of MacFarlane’s characters are the most popular?
Let’s start withthe playful piratewith pegs… everywhere. The man is literally made of wood except for his face.Seamusappears on-screen at just the right times to deliver some random sea-based humor that never fails to execute effective comedic relief. He has been a part of the series since the third season. Ever since, he has told different stories of how he lost his entire body. A sea serpent, a shark, a shipwreck — we will never truly know.
9Tom Tucker
Tom Tuckeristhe news anchorwe wish we would see on our own nightly news. His authenticity and sometimes hot-mic moments come at perfect, unexpected times. He does not seem to care about offending anyone in the community, or losing his job on Channel 5 News.
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Perhaps one of his most iconic moments came inMother Tucker, the second episode of the fifth season (originally made for season four). This episode parodies the Best Picture-winning filmKramer vs. Kramer,where Tom Tucker marries Peter’s mom and becomes a father to Peter. This of course is very short-lived.
8Carter Pewterschmidt
The ridiculously richfather, grandfather, and businessman we wish we had the honor to know.Carter Pewterschmidt, father to Lois, is Peter’s less than loving father-in-law who never misses a jab. Carter may be an old man, but he is as sharp as a tack. Especially when it comes to ripping on his son-in-law, Carter never ceases a moment to get the last laugh.
He brags of his wealth, flauntshis capitalist mentality, but also has a large heart. This is most notably seen in the tenth episode of the seventh season,Welcome Back Carter, where he cheats on his wife and begs for her forgiveness.
7Kool-Aid Guy
He’s just theKool-Aid Guy, but his sporadic appearances make him a stand-out of the series. It is noted thatFamily Guywent ahead and used the likeliness of the Kool-Aid Guy without permission from Kool-Aid. He first appeared on the pilot episode, bursting through the walls of a courtroom spouting his famous “Oh yeah,” catchphrase at the height of the drama. This moment was later seen again in the episodeBack to the Pilot, ten years later. We got to see what happened before this moment, and afterwards when Stewie and Briantime traveled from the futureto interfere.
WhileFamily Guyparodies and makes obvious jabs at many religious organizations, the Christian version ofGodstands out the most. God, in this series, is just a guy trying to chill in the heavens. He is constantly burdened by the mundanity of humanity, and we constantly see Him in a fit of rage, which isn’t too far off from how He is portrayed in religious texts.
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However, He is truly a comedic character because it is presented in a way that totally deviates from any other iteration of a god-like character especially on an animated series. EvenSouth Parkportrays God as this high and mighty mythical being with all knowing power.
5Dr. Hartman
Yes,Dr. Hartmanhas the exact same voice as Carter Pewterschmidt. It is even noted in the episode where Carter and Dr. Hartman have their first extended interaction. They nod to the fact that their voices are similar, and we just have to deal with it:
Dr. Hartman - “Seems lazy doesn’t it?”
Carter - “Well there’s only so many voices in the world, some of them are bound to be similar.”
It is reported that Dr. Hartman is named after friend of Seth MacFarlane and creator ofThe Fairly Odd Parents,Butch Hartman. In addition, Dr. Hartman has shown that he truly cares for his patients despite his rather lackadaisical demeanor. When Brian was willing to sacrifice himself to give Peter his kidneys, Dr. Hartman came through and gave Peter one of his, saving Brian.
4Brian Griffin
Pretentious, egotistical, and the star of his own world, we nonetheless love this dog like he is one of our own.Brianmay be the first humanoid character that we look at like a human being. He drinks with Peter and his friends, he has aspirations of being a writer, but he also has been one half of the heart of the series. He and Stewie have a bond that is possibly the most emotional part of the entire series. TheirRoad to…episodes are the most beloved, and theBrian and Stewieepisode which features no music is arguably the best episode of the series.
After killing off Brian for a few episodes, MacFarlane wrote onTwitterin response to the backlash, describing how this decision was made to show the sanctity of life. It was done during the holiday season and meant to be a symbol to cherish life.
“I mean, you didn’t think we’d kill off Brian, did you? Jesus, we’d have to be f*****g high […] And thus endeth our warm, fuzzy holiday lesson: Never take those you love for granted, for they could be gone in a flash.”
3Glenn Quagmire
Who else butQuagmire?! He’s Quagmire, love him or hate him he is the series' giggity, giggity goofball who is also an extreme pervert. While it is meant for laughs, he pushes the boundaries of what is considered socially acceptable, even in animation. From drugging, stalking, or just plain gawking, Quagmire represents all there is to hate about toxic men.
But why do we love this character so much? From his inspirations being from old radio commercials and his weird ’70s-style bedroom, he had this vintage quality to him that we cannot get enough of. But we wouldn’t want to be in the same room as the guy.
2Peter Griffin
Everyone knows at least onePeter Griffin, a loudmouthed New England drunk with no filter whatsoever. However, this family man is the central driving force of this series. As outlandish as his shenanigans are, whether it’s buying a horse or starting his own country, Peter is as lovable as he is undeniably obnoxious. Nevertheless, he is shown to always love his family, his wife, and the value of friendship.
1Stewie Griffin
Lastly, and most notably,Stewie Griffinis the highlight of the entireFamily Guycast of characters. He is anevil child genius, but also has a soft interior. While he is more “cartoony” and comedic than his original debut in the pilot (which is even joked about inBack to the Pilot,) Stewie continues to subvert expectations and do things a baby would never do. Time machines, murder, interdimensional travel — what more could one ask for from a two-year-old?
