Seth MacFarlane's early career and influences played a significant role in shaping his unique comedic style. After studying animation at the Rhode Island School of Design, MacFarlane was hired by Hanna-Barbera Productions based on the strength of his thesis film "The Life of Larry", which featured early versions of the Family Guy characters.14 At Hanna-Barbera, he worked as a writer and animator on shows like Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken, and Dexter's Laboratory.23

MacFarlane has cited a wide range of influences on his comedy, including Jackie Gleason, Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, Monty Python, and popular sitcoms from the 1980s.14 His musical tastes lean more traditional, drawing inspiration from classic crooners like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.4 This blend of ribald humor and old-school class has become a hallmark of MacFarlane's style, allowing him to create boundary-pushing comedy while also indulging his passion for musical theater and the Great American Songbook.1

Seth MacFarlane's most notable work in television is creating the hit animated sitcom Family Guy, which premiered on Fox in 1999. 1234 The show follows the dysfunctional Griffin family and is known for its irreverent humor, pop culture parodies, and MacFarlane's voice work as characters like Peter Griffin, Stewie Griffin, and Brian Griffin. 4 Despite being canceled in 2002, Family Guy was revived in 2005 due to strong DVD sales and became a cultural phenomenon. 13

Building on Family Guy's success, MacFarlane co-created the animated series American Dad! in 2005, which follows an ultra-patriotic CIA agent and his family. 24 He also co-created the spin-off series The Cleveland Show in 2009, though it was canceled after four seasons. 14 MacFarlane has served as writer, producer, and lead voice actor for these shows, showcasing his versatility in the animated comedy genre. 4

Beyond his own creations, MacFarlane has produced other animated series like Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson, and the live-action sitcoms Dads and Blunt Talk. 14 His work in television has earned him numerous accolades, including five Primetime Emmy Awards for Family Guy. 12

Seth MacFarlane made his live-action directorial debut with the 2012 comedy film Ted, in which he starred as the voice of the titular foul-mouthed teddy bear.1 MacFarlane also wrote the screenplay and served as a producer on the film, which follows a man (Mark Wahlberg) whose childhood wish brings his teddy bear to life as a walking, talking companion.12 Ted was a critical and commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing original R-rated comedy of all time.1

MacFarlane reprised his voice role as Ted in the 2015 sequel Ted 2, which he again wrote, directed, and produced.345 The film follows Ted's legal battle to be recognized as a person and not property, co-starring Wahlberg, Amanda Seyfried, and Morgan Freeman.45 While not as well-received as the original, Ted 2 still performed solidly at the box office, grossing over $215 million worldwide against a $68 million budget.5

Through the Ted films, MacFarlane demonstrated his ability to successfully transition from animated television to live-action feature films, blending his signature irreverent humor with heartfelt storytelling.3 The movies cemented his status as a multi-talented writer, director, producer, and voice actor in both animation and live-action comedy.15