Lacey Chabert, widely recognized today for her festive roles in Hallmark Christmas movies and her memorable portrayal of Gretchen Wieners in Mean Girls, holds a unique spot in animation history as the original voice of Meg Griffin in the hit animated sitcom Family Guy. Before Mila Kunis became synonymous with Meg’s voice, Chabert laid the foundation for the character during the show’s initial seasons. This exploration delves into Chabert’s brief but significant contribution to Family Guy, examining her tenure as Meg and the reasons behind her departure.
Chabert’s career began early, marked by her appearance on Star Search in 1991 at the age of eight. This early exposure paved the way for roles in television and film, most notably as Claudia Salinger in the 1990s drama Party of Five. Her transition to voice acting saw her cast as Meg Griffin in 1999, a role she undertook for the entirety of the first season and a portion of the second.
Lacey Chabert Star Search performance, showcasing her early talent before voicing Meg Griffin in Family Guy.
However, the voice behind Meg Griffin changed early in the show’s run. According to Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, the change was due to contractual issues. In a 2003 interview with IGN, MacFarlane clarified, “It was just purely a contractual thing. Lacey Chabert, I think there was a mistake in her contract, and I guess she had not intended to be involved for, like, the full run of the show… She wanted to go, and she was very cool about it. We obviously don’t want to keep anyone there who doesn’t want to be there.” MacFarlane’s statement emphasizes that Chabert’s departure was amicable and professional, driven by contractual agreements rather than any personal conflicts.
Chabert herself corroborated this account in a 2006 interview with GameSpy, stating, “I actually left the show of my own accord. And only because I was in school and doing Party of Five at the time.” She further expressed her positive view of the show and her successor, adding, “But I think the show is hilarious, and don’t have a grudge against her at all. I think she’s a great actress.” Her explanation highlights the demands of her concurrent commitments to education and Party of Five, making a long-term commitment to Family Guy challenging at that stage in her career.
The show has since playfully acknowledged Chabert’s initial role as Meg through self-referential humor. In one memorable clip, Stewie Griffin travels back in time and encounters Chabert’s Meg, exclaiming, “Oh my god, we’re getting closer to the beginning – you’re Lacey Chabert!”. This in-joke underscores the show’s awareness of its own history and the voice transition that occurred early in its run.
In conclusion, while Lacey Chabert’s tenure as the voice of Meg Griffin was brief, it marks an interesting chapter in the evolution of Family Guy. Her departure paved the way for Mila Kunis to take over the role, but Chabert’s original voice left an indelible mark as the first to bring Meg Griffin to life. Her subsequent success in both acting and producing further cements her diverse talent and career trajectory, which began, in part, with voicing the often-underappreciated Meg Griffin.
