Matt Groening is a well-known cartoonist, animator, writer, producer, and voice actor from the United States. He was a lifelong cartoonist who never seriously considered it as a professional choice because he wanted to be a writer. Matt Groening renewed his former passion and began writing comic strips based on his experiences later in life, while he was struggling to find work. Matt Groening began producing his own comic strips in the newspaper, named ‘Life in Hell,’ at this stage in his life. Later, he went on to create some of the most well-known animated shows, including ‘The Simpsons,’ which holds the record for being the longest-running American television show, and ‘Futurama.’ His work has received widespread acclaim, and he has received numerous important accolades. Many of the characters developed by Matt Groening are named after members of his family, according to him. He has also had the opportunity to do voice acting and play cameo roles in films and documentaries during his career.
Childhood and Adolescence
Matt Groening was born in Portland, Oregon, on February 15, 1954. Homer Philip Groening was a writer, filmmaker, and advertiser, and Margaret Ruth Groening was a teacher. He attended Ainsworth Elementary School and Lincoln High School while growing up in Portland. In 1972, he enrolled at Olympia’s Evergreen State College and spent five years there studying. He was the editor of the college paper ‘The Cooper Point Journal’ during this time. For the journal, he used to write articles and make cartoon graphics.
He knew legendary cartoonist Lynda Barry while in college, whom he considers a huge inspiration. Matt Groening has indicated that the animated film “One Hundred and One Dalmatians” inspired him to start drawing cartoons. His second role model was cartoonist Charles Monroe Schulz, best known for creating the ‘Peanuts’ comic strip.
Career of Matt
Matt Groening traveled to Los Angeles in 1977 after graduating to pursue his dream of becoming a writer. However, while in the city, he began working a variety of odd jobs. He began painting cartoons for his self-published book, ‘Life in Hell,’ which was based on his experiences and featured an oppressed bunny named ‘Binky.’ In 1978, he sold his first comic to the magazine ‘Wet.’
Later, he found a job at the alternative daily Los Angeles Reader, where, with the help of his boss, he was able to officially publish his first comic strip, ‘Life in Hell,’ in 1980. For a short time, he was also handed responsibility for the paper’s music column. ‘Life in Hell,’ a comic strip, was a great hit. Deborah Caplan, a coworker, wrote a book titled “Love in Hell” in 1984 based on some of his relationship-themed strips from his employment. The book was a huge hit, selling over 20000 copies in its first two printings. Following this accomplishment, he wrote ‘Work is Hell,’ which was published by Deborah Caplan as well.
Matt Groening formed the Acme Features Syndicate, which released ‘Life in Hell’ when the two departed the newspaper company. Over 250 weekly newspapers carried the ‘Life in Hell’ comic strips, which were later collected in a series of books titled ‘School is Hell,’ ‘Childhood is Hell,’ ‘The Big Book of Hell,’ and ‘The Huge Book of Hell.’
The strip was featured in the LA Weekly until 2009, when they could no longer afford to pay Matt Groening. It continues to appear in a variety of alternative newspapers to this day.
After witnessing Matt Groening’s work in the comic strip, producer and writer James L Brooks expressed interest in collaborating with him on the creation of an animated series for the comedy series ‘The Tracy Ullman Show.’ In 1987, Matt Groening developed a dysfunctional family, and ‘The Simpsons’ debuted on the show.
He worked as a writer and animator on the ‘Traccy Ullman Show’ for two years starting in 1987. Despite the fact that the ‘Tracy Ullman Show’ was quickly terminated, ‘The Simpsons’ had grown in popularity and was given its own half-hour spin-off series.
He was the creator, writer, voice actor, and executive producer of The Simpsons when it first aired in 1989. ‘The Simpsons’ was mostly a satire of politicians, teachers, cops, and other government officials. The show went on to win numerous honors and become the longest-running primetime television series in the United States. The show is presently on its 27th season. Matt Groening founded the ‘Bongo Comics’ comic book publishing company in 1994. Comics based on “The Simpsons” and “Futurama” were published by the firm. He launched Zongo Comics the next year to cater to older comic book enthusiasts.
After years of research into science fiction, Matt Groening and producer David X Cohen produced the animated series ‘Futurama’ in 1997, which is set in the year 3000. The show debuted in 1999 under the Fox Broadcasting Company name. The show was cancelled after four years, although it still had a large fan base. He took on numerous responsibilities while working on his cartoon series ‘Futurama,’ including voice actor, creator, writer, and executive producer. He has appeared in episodes of ‘The Pitts,’ ‘Portlandia,’ and ‘Space Ghost Coast to Coast,’ among others.
Matt Groening has appeared in a number of films and documentaries, including ‘Comic Book: The Movie’ (2004), ‘The Devil and Daniel Johnston’ (2005), ‘The Seventh Python’ (2008), and ‘I Know That Voice’ (2010). (2013).
For the animated features ‘Futurama: Bender’s Game’ (2007), ‘Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs’ (2008), ‘Futurama: Bender’s Game’ (2008), and ‘Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder’ (2008), he served as an executive producer (2009). ‘The Longest Daycare,’ a 3-D short film based on ‘The Simpsons,’ was released in 2012. The project’s writer and executive producer was Matt Groening.
Major Projects of Matt
Matt Groening is well-known for his animated television programs, comic strips, and cartoon characters. With his comic strip ‘Life in Hell’ and his animated television series ‘The Simpsons,’ he became famous.
Achievements & Awards
Matt Groening has been nominated for 12 Primetime Emmy Awards and 23 Annie Awards in a variety of categories.
For the years 1990, 1991, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, and 2011, his cartoon series ‘The Simpsons’ won Primetime Emmy Awards in the category of ‘Outstanding Animated Program.’ For six years, from 1992 to 1997, he got the Annie Award (for achievements in animation) in the category of ‘Best Animated Television Production’ for his series ‘The Simpsons.’ In 1998, 2000, and 2001, Matt Groening won the Annie Award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Primetime or Late Night Television Program’ for ‘The Simpsons.’
For the year 1999, his work ‘The Simpsons’ won the Annie Award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Television Program.’
He earned the Annie Award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in a Cartoon Television Production’ three years in a row, in 2002, 2003, and 2004, for his animated series ‘The Simpsons.’ Matt Groening won an Annie Award for ‘Writing in a Feature Production’ in 2008 for the comedy feature ‘The Simpsons movie.’ In the same year, he won an Annie Award for ‘Best Animated Home Entertainment’ for his direct-to-video film ‘Futurama: Bender’s Big Score.’
Matt Groening won the Annie Award for ‘Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs’ and ‘Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder’ in 2009 and 2010, respectively, for ‘Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs’ and ‘Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder.’
In 2010 and 2014, his television series ‘Futurama’ won the Annie Prize for ‘Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production,’ while his other work ‘The Simpsons’ won the award in this category in 2011, 2012, and 2015. For his work ‘Life in Hell,’ he received the Reuben Award from the National Cartoonists Society in 2002.
Matt Groening was honored with the British Humor Award in 2004 for his “Outstanding contribution to comedy.”
Personal History and Legacy
In 1986, Matt Groening married Deborah Caplan. Homer and Abe are the couple’s two kids. In 1999, Matt and Deborah divorced. He married Augustina Picasso, an artist with whom he had been in a four-year relationship, in 2011. He married Augustina Picasso’s daughter Camille and became her stepfather. Nathaniel Philip Picasso, the couple’s son, was born in 2013.
Estimated Net Worth
Matt Groening has a net worth of $750 million as an American animator, novelist, television producer, and cartoonist. He is most known for creating the hit television show “The Simpsons,” which is the longest-running primetime television series in history.