"Groening" redirects here. For other uses, see Gröning.
Matt Groening
Groening in 2010
Born
Matthew Abram Groening
(1954-02-15) February 15, 1954 (age 70)
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Alma mater
Evergreen State College (BA)
Occupations
Cartoonist
writer
producer
animator
Years active
1977–present
Notable work
Life in Hell
The Simpsons
Futurama
Disenchantment
Political party
Democratic
Spouses
Deborah Caplan
(m. 1986; div. 1999)
Agustina Picasso
(m. 2011)
Children
9
Parent
Homer Groening (father)
Awards
Full list
Signature
Matthew Abram Groening (/ˈɡreɪnɪŋ/GRAY-ning; born February 15, 1954)[1] is an American cartoonist, writer, producer, and animator. He is best known as the creator of the comic strip Life in Hell (1977–2012) and the television series The Simpsons (1989–present), Futurama (1999–2003, 2008–2013, 2023–present),[2] and Disenchantment (2018–2023). The Simpsons is the longest-running U.S. primetime television series in history and the longest-running U.S. animated series and sitcom.
Groening made his first professional cartoon sale of Life in Hell to the avant-garde magazine Wet in 1978. At its peak, it was carried in 250 weekly newspapers, and caught the attention of American producer James L. Brooks, who contacted Groening in 1985 about adapting it for animated sequences for the Fox variety show The Tracey Ullman Show. Fearing the loss of ownership rights, Groening created a new set of characters, the Simpson family. The shorts were spun off into their own series, The Simpsons, which has since aired 765 episodes.
In 1997, Groening and former Simpsons writer David X. Cohen developed Futurama, an animated series about life in the year 3000, which premiered in 1999. It ran for four years on Fox; was picked up in 2008 by Comedy Central for another 5 years; then was finally picked up by Hulu for another revival in 2023. In 2016, Groening developed a new series for Netflix, Disenchantment, which premiered in August 2018.
Groening has won 13 Primetime Emmy Awards, 11 for The Simpsons and 2 for Futurama, and a British Comedy Award for "outstanding contribution to comedy" in 2004. In 2002, he won the National Cartoonist Society Reuben Award for his work on Life in Hell. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 14, 2012.
^"When and where was Matt Groening born?". Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on February 7, 2008. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
^Joe Otterson (February 9, 2022). "'Futurama' Revival Ordered at Hulu With Original Cast Returning". Variety. Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
(January 30, 2001). "MattGroening". Salon.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2007. Groening, Matt (1994). "Introduction"...
worked on several comic strips. Groening is the father of MattGroening, the creator of The Simpsons, Lisa Groening, who is married to Craig Bartlett...
was created by the cartoonist MattGroening while he was waiting in the lobby of producer James L. Brooks's office. Groening had been called to pitch a series...
an American animated sitcom created by MattGroening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. Developed by Groening, James L. Brooks, and Sam Simon, the series...
Life in Hell is a comic strip by MattGroening which was published weekly from 1977 to 2012. The strip features anthropomorphic rabbits and a gay couple...
Futurama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by MattGroening for the Fox Broadcasting Company and later revived by Comedy Central...
minor relatives. Groening conceived of the idea for the Simpsons in the lobby of James L. Brooks's office. Brooks had asked Groening to pitch an idea...
and subsequently starred in their own episodes. According to creator MattGroening, the show adopted the concept of a large supporting cast from the Canadian...
April 19, 1987. Cartoonist MattGroening created and designed Bart while waiting in the lobby of James L. Brooks' office. Groening had been called to pitch...
claim that he was intended to be a self-insert of The Simpsons creator MattGroening, that he was a much-beloved character among fans, or, alternatively...
much influence MattGroening has had in the creative process over the years. In general, while early Simpsons-related media give Groening most of the praise...
by cartoonist MattGroening while he was waiting in the lobby of James L. Brooks' office. She received her first name from Groening's youngest sister...
animated science fiction sitcom Futurama, created and developed by MattGroening and David X. Cohen for the Fox Broadcasting Company, originally aired...
family was conceived by Groening shortly before a pitch for a series of animated shorts with producer James L. Brooks. Groening named each character (other...
television series The Simpsons voiced by Pamela Hayden and created by MattGroening. Milhouse is Bart Simpson's best friend in Mrs. Krabappel's fourth grade...
created and designed by cartoonist MattGroening while he was waiting in the lobby of James L. Brooks' office. Groening had been called to pitch a series...
2011. Groening, Matt (1997). Richmond, Ray; Coffman, Antonia (eds.). The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family. Created by MattGroening; edited...
cartoonist MattGroening's Life in Hell comic strips, Brooks asked Groening to pitch an idea for a series of animated shorts, which Groening initially...
roles of Harry Shearer". The Boston Globe. p. 8E. Groening, Matt. (2006). "A Riff From MattGroening", in The Simpsons: The Complete Ninth Season [DVD]...
"Troy McClure" when his back was turned. According to show creator MattGroening, Phil Hartman was cast in the role due to his ability to pull "the maximum...
reaction to Azaria's comments. In an interview with USA Today, creator MattGroening dismissed the criticism of the Apu character, saying, "I think it's...
confirmed until later. Jackson was a fan of the show and called creator MattGroening offering to do a guest spot. Jackson pitched several story ideas and...
sitcom sidekick and just making him as pathetic as possible," said MattGroening, the creator of The Simpsons. The writers drew further inspiration from...
Complete Sixth Season (DVD). 20th Century Fox. Groening 2010, pp. 83, 1187. Groening 2010, pp. 416, 470. Groening 2010, p. 1105. Oakley, Bill; Weinstein, Josh;...
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