Family Guy Characters: The Griffins and Their Friends

The main Family Guy characters are the Griffin household: Peter, Lois, Meg, Chris, Stewie and their talking dog Brian. The show surrounds them with neighbours, friends and recurring Quahog residents. This guide identifies the central characters and the differences between a fictional role and the performer providing the voice.

The Griffin family

Peter Griffin

Peter is the father whose impulsive decisions frequently set a story in motion. His relationships at home and with his friends give the show a way to move from domestic disagreements into much larger comic situations.

Lois Griffin

Lois is Peter’s wife and the mother of Meg, Chris and Stewie. She often responds to the family’s chaos, but she also has stories and ambitions of her own; treating her only as a corrective to Peter misses part of the ensemble.

Meg Griffin

Meg is the eldest Griffin child. Her awkward position within the household and her desire for acceptance provide a different comic perspective from the adults’ friendships or Stewie’s adventures.

Chris Griffin

Chris is the teenage son. School, family expectations and his attempts to understand the world around him place him in the show’s coming-of-age plots.

Stewie Griffin

Stewie is the baby, whose intelligence and elaborate schemes contrast with his position as the youngest member of the family. Stories pairing him with Brian can move far beyond the usual limits of a household sitcom.

Brian Griffin

Brian is the talking family dog, rather than a human friend or relative. His conversations and partnership with Stewie are a major part of the show’s identity.

Friends and recurring characters

Glenn Quagmire, Cleveland Brown and Joe Swanson belong to Peter’s circle. Their roles let the series tell stories outside the Griffin home. Familiar recurring characters and guest voices are not always part of the principal household cast.

Characters and voice actors

Seth MacFarlane voices Peter, Stewie, Brian and Quagmire. One performer can therefore play several characters in the same scene. Use the episode’s credits when identifying a particular guest or a role whose performer has changed.

Where to start watching

Family Guy is adult animation. Follow release order for a first introduction, or use an official episode synopsis when choosing a self-contained story. See Fox’s Family Guy series and cast information and Hulu’s official Family Guy guide for programme context.

For another animated ensemble, see the Rick and Morty series guide. Find seasonal viewing ideas in the Halloween television episode guide.