Matt Groening is a renowned American cartoonist, animator, and writer, best known as the creator of the iconic animated sitcom, “The Simpsons.” Born on February 15, 1954, in Portland, Oregon, Groening grew up in a family of artists, and his parents encouraged him to pursue his passion for drawing and storytelling from a young age.
After completing his education at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, Groening worked as a freelance cartoonist and writer for various publications, including the L.A. Reader and the Portland-based Willamette Week. It was during this time that he created his first comic strip, “Life in Hell,” which gained a cult following and was published in newspapers across the country.
In 1987, Groening was approached by producer James L. Brooks to create a series of animated shorts for “The Tracey Ullman Show.” Drawing inspiration from his own family, Groening created a dysfunctional yet lovable cast of characters that would become the Simpsons. The shorts were an instant hit, and in 1989, “The Simpsons” premiered as a half-hour prime-time series on Fox.
Over the next three decades, “The Simpsons” became a cultural phenomenon and one of the longest-running shows in television history. Groening served as the show’s executive producer and head writer for the first ten seasons, and continued to be involved in the series as a consultant and writer. He also created several other animated series, including “Futurama” and “Disenchantment.”
As a result of his success in the entertainment industry, Groening has amassed a considerable fortune. According to Celebrity Net Worth, as of 2023, his net worth is estimated to be $700 million. He has made much of his wealth from his various television and film projects, as well as from merchandise sales and royalties.
In addition to his work in animation, Groening has also written several books, including the “Life in Hell” series and the “Bart Simpson’s Guide to Life.” He has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the arts, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Despite his success, Groening remains humble and grounded, and continues to be passionate about his work. He has married to his wife, Agustina Picasso, since 1986, and together they have two children.
Here’s a timeline of the significant events in the life of Matt Groening:
- 1954: Matthew Abram Groening is born on February 15th in Portland, Oregon.
- 1977: Graduates from Evergreen State College with a degree in film and video.
- 1978: Moves to Los Angeles and starts working as a freelance cartoonist.
- 1980: Begins publishing his weekly comic strip “Life in Hell” in the L.A. Weekly.
- 1985: “Life in Hell” is picked up for syndication by the Universal Press Syndicate.
- 1987: Creates a series of animated shorts featuring the Simpson family for “The Tracey Ullman Show.”
- 1989: “The Simpsons” premieres as a half-hour prime-time series on Fox and becomes an instant hit.
- 1994: Co-founds Bongo Comics, which publishes “Simpsons Comics” and other titles.
- 1999: Creates the animated sci-fi series “Futurama” for Fox.
- 2010: “Life in Hell” comes to an end after 32 years of publication.
- 2012: “Futurama” ends its original run, but continues in syndication and as a series of comic books.
- 2018: Creates the animated fantasy series “Disenchantment” for Netflix.
- 2021: “The Simpsons” airs its 700th episode, making it the longest-running American primetime scripted TV series.
Throughout his career, Groening has received numerous awards and honors for his work in animation and cartooning, including 14 Primetime Emmy Awards.
5 Interesting Facts about Matt Groening:
- The characters in “The Simpsons” are named after members of his family, including his parents Homer and Marge, and his sisters Lisa and Maggie.
- Before creating “The Simpsons,” Groening originally pitched a cartoon called “The Life in Hell Family” to James L. Brooks, the producer of “The Tracey Ullman Show.”
- Groening is a huge fan of the musician Frank Zappa and has included references to him in several of his shows.
- In addition to his work in animation, Groening has also made cameo appearances in several TV shows and movies, including “The X-Files” and “This Is Spinal Tap.”
- He is a passionate advocate for public transportation and has been known to draw cartoons on the backs of bus schedules.
5 Quotes from Matt Groening:
- “The Simpsons is an excuse to do other things.”
- “I’m the one who’s got to die when it’s time for me to die, so let me live my life the way I want to.”
- “I have a problem with people who take the Constitution loosely and the Bible literally.”
- “I’m not a genius. I’m just a hard-working guy.”
- “Love is a perky elf dancing a merry little jig and then suddenly he turns on you with a miniature machine gun.”
