The talented voice cast behind the beloved animated sitcom Family Guy has successfully negotiated a significant salary bump. Alex Borstein (Lois Griffin), Seth Green (Chris Griffin), Mila Kunis (Meg Griffin), and Mike Henry (Cleveland Brown) have collectively secured substantial raises from 20th Century Fox Television, demonstrating the studio’s continued investment in the long-running series.
According to industry insiders, these key Family Guy actors have negotiated pay increases that land them in the range of $175,000 to $225,000 per episode. This lucrative deal covers at least two more seasons, with the potential to extend up to five, commencing with the 12th season, which is currently in production and slated for release in the fall of 2014. Notably, Seth MacFarlane, the show’s creator and voice behind iconic characters like Peter Griffin, Stewie Griffin, and Brian Griffin, will engage in separate negotiations due to his broader agreement with 20th Century Fox Television encompassing various projects.
While Fox has yet to officially greenlight further seasons of Family Guy, industry experts consider it highly improbable that the network would discontinue such a consistently popular animated show. Although Family Guy may no longer command top-tier advertising revenue, it still generates substantial income, reportedly fetching over $250,000 per 30-second commercial spot. More importantly, the show consistently attracts a highly sought-after younger male demographic for Fox, achieving an average 3.3 rating among adults aged 18-49 in recent live-plus-7 day viewership figures, surpassing all other animated programs on the network.
Family Guy‘s financial significance to 20th Century Fox Television cannot be overstated. Beyond broadcast licensing and merchandise, the studio benefits from lucrative syndication agreements with major distributors like Turner’s TBS and Adult Swim. In fact, Family Guy has become a cornerstone of Adult Swim’s programming, mirroring the role The Big Bang Theory plays for TBS. Nightly reruns of the animated series consistently draw impressive viewership, frequently exceeding 2.5 million viewers and achieving a 1.3 rating among adults 18-49 during the late-night 11 p.m. timeslot. These reruns often outperform most weeknight cable programs, with the exception of major sporting events and high-profile shows like Duck Dynasty, Sons of Anarchy, and American Horror Story.
Of course, the Family Guy cast’s earnings still trail behind their counterparts on Fox’s animated flagship show, The Simpsons. The Simpsons voice actors are estimated to earn around $300,000 per episode for the show’s 25th season, solidifying its status as the longest-running comedy in television history. The Simpsons cast has a well-known history of collective bargaining, having previously reached pay levels closer to $400,000 per episode before adjustments were made.
Nevertheless, securing approximately $200,000 per episode elevates the Family Guy actors into the upper echelon of primetime television talent compensation. This is particularly notable considering the less demanding production schedule compared to live-action programs. Seth Green, for instance, effectively balances his voice work on Family Guy with a co-starring role in another Seth MacFarlane production, the live-action sitcom Dads. Similarly, Alex Borstein is actively involved in HBO’s Getting On, and Mila Kunis maintains a thriving career in feature films, demonstrating the flexibility afforded by voice acting roles.
20th Century Fox Television declined to officially comment on the actors’ new contracts. Alex Borstein is represented by WME and Hansen Jacobson; Seth Green is represented by UTA, Koopman and Sloane Offer; Mila Kunis is represented by CAA, Curtis and Felker Toczek; and Mike Henry is represented by UTA and Ziffren Brittenham.
This substantial pay raise for the Family Guy voice cast underscores the enduring value and profitability of the animated series for Fox and 20th Century Fox Television, recognizing the crucial contributions of these talented family guy actors to the show’s continued success.
