Matt Groening married Deborah Caplan in 1986. They divorced in 1999 and Groening married Argentine artist Agustina Picasso in 2011. The following year he founded Zongo Comics to target mature comic readers. Nowadays, you can't throw a rock at a TV set without hitting an irreverent animated social satire. He won the Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Television Production for his animated series The Simpsons during three consecutive years i.e. He made his first professional cartoon sale of Life in Hell to the avant-garde magazine Wet in 1978. "When I was a kid, my friends and I used to put on puppet shows, make comic books, and I decided that's what I wanted to do, to play in every medium," he said. Unlike most shows, which he finds sluggish, "The Simpsons" is written to move at a manic pace. I Thought I Told You to Shut Up!! In 2016, Groening developed a new series for Netflix, Disenchantment, which premiered in August 2018. Matt Groening sa constellation est Verseau et . Reader hired sales rep Deborah Caplan, who observed that the Life in Hell strips were "a major selling point" of the paper. The Simpsons was mostly a satire aimed at politicians, teachers, police and other authorities. Most importantly, The Simpsons retained the subversive undercurrent that has driven its creator since he was a bored grade school student. "Of course, those are all true. [10], Matt's grandfather, Abraham Groening, was a professor at Tabor College, a Mennonite Brethren liberal arts college in Hillsboro, Kansas, before moving to Albany College (now known as Lewis and Clark College) in Oregon in 1930. His animated series The Simpsons have won the Primetime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Animated Program for the years 1990, 1991, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000,2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008 and 2011. All rights reserved. And for a guy whose career has been dedicated to skewering television, crass commercialism, "evil billionaire tyrants" (how boss Rupert Murdoch described himself in a cameo on "The Simpsons") and brainless consumers, Groening sure does love his merchandise. But mainly, he is Matt Groening. 1. It was thanks to Brooks' reputation that "The Simpsons" was granted a level of autonomy not normally given to television shows -- especially one as risky as "The Simpsons" seemed at the time. ", Groening himself has always made the deal. [82], In 1994, Groening formed Bongo Comics (named after the character Bongo from Life in Hell[83]) with Steve Vance, Cindy Vance and Bill Morrison, which publishes comic books based on The Simpsons and Futurama (including Futurama Simpsons Infinitely Secret Crossover Crisis, a crossover between the two), as well as a few original titles. A self-published anthology of "Love Is Hell" led to a deal with Pantheon Books, and eventually Caplan began running Life In Hell Inc. [45] Groening also has an older brother and sister, Mark and Patty, and in a 1995 interview Groening divulged that Mark "is the actual inspiration for Bart. He found some work along those lines, whipping up slogans for horror movies, but also took on. In the following week's column, he would confess to fabricating everything in the previous column and swear that everything in the new column was true. Brooks' and Simon's hand in shaping the show was significant. They divorced in 1999 and Groening . Later, Groening attended Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., which was known for its extremely liberal (no grades, no core requirements) liberal arts program. But for a few brief moments in the early '90s, the idea that anything "alternative" could suddenly overtake the mainstream was still surprising. [48] When Groening originally designed Homer, he put his own initials into the character's hairline and ear: the hairline resembled an 'M', and the right ear resembled a 'G'. George Bush once famously regaled the nation with the suggestion that American families should aspire to be "more like the Waltons and less like the Simpsons," prompting Bart to retort, "But we're just like the Waltons -- we're both praying for an end to the depression."). Television and those who watch it are remorselessly lampooned. "Do people who don't have cockroaches and can afford their rent, are they happier?" Ever since his syndicated comic strip "Life in Hell" -- that series of nihilistic but cuddly dispatches from the epicenter of gloom -- first appeared in 1980, Groening has been raising the dampened spirits of the fashionably alienated by dunking Binky, his rabbity, buck-toothed proxy, into a weekly bog of self-pity, anxiety and existential despair. He married Deborah Caplan 1986 . Work is Hell soon followed, also published by Caplan. Needless to say, it panned out. But the conformity of a suburban existence soon proved dull, even to a young Groening. "A Bit From the Animators", illustrated commentary for "All Singing, All Dancing", in, From a radio interview with Groening that aired on the, Frank Zappa Plays the Music of Frank Zappa: A Memorial Tribute, List of awards and nominations received by Matt Groening, Outstanding Animated Program (for programming one hour or less), "My Rock 'n' Roll Life, Part One: So You Want To Snort Derisively", "Homer Groening, Cartoonist's Father, 'Simpsons' Inspiration", "The real people behind Homer Simpson and family", "Homer Simpson has Canadian Mennonite roots", "Matt Groening Creator and Executive Producer [Bio]", "Matt Groening says Monty Python influenced new show Disenchantment", "Matt Groening | Biography, Cartoons, & Facts | Britannica", "Interview with Harry Shearer (Part 3 of 4)", "Prime time is heaven for 'Life in Hell' Artist", "Index to Comic Art Collection: "Gro" to "Groenne", "Conan on being left out of "Simpsons Movie", "Matt Groening's Reaction to The Critic's First Appearance on The Simpsons", "EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Claudia Katz on Futurama the Movie: Bender's Big Score", "Toon comedy has logged seasons on Fox, Comedy Central since 1999", "Matt Groening Netflix Animated Comedy A Go With 20-Episode Order, Abbi Jacobson, Nat Faxon & Eric Andre Lead Voice Cast", "Matt Groening Talks Origins of New Netflix Series 'Disenchantment', "Meet The End of The Century With Gary Panter", "Frank Zappa Plays The Music Of Frank Zappa", "Photos of Simpsons creator and his son Nathaniel", "aguspicassogroening on Instagram: "nirvana", "aguspicassogroening on Instagram: "One month of my zen baby Satori his name is Him thanks @chriscallahanphotography", "Virginia Roberts Giuffre Alleges Jeffrey Epstein Ordered Her to Massage Matt Groening's 'Crusty' Feet", "Matt Groening's Federal Campaign Contribution Report", "Jennifer Aniston, Vin Diesel among Hollywood Walk of Fame class of 2012", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Matt_Groening&oldid=1142437596, Creator, writer, executive producer, and creative consultant, This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 10:48. 2) Disappointed? SALON is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a trademark of Salon.com, LLC. The final episode aired on September 4, 2013. [15] At the end of its run, Life in Hell was carried in 250 weekly newspapers and has been anthologized in a series of books, including School is Hell, Childhood is Hell, The Big Book of Hell, and The Huge Book of Hell. The /s signifies sarcasm. [61] The half-hour series premiered on December 17, 1989, with "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", a Christmas special. Deborah Caplan: Groening has been in a relationship with Deborah Caplan since 2006. Groening became stepfather to Agustinas daughter named Camila Costantini. Despite his status as an ultimate insider, Groening's writing has always been that of an outsider. In 1997, he and retired Simpsons writer David X. Cohen developed Futurama, an animated series about life in the year 3000, which premiered in 1999, ran for four years on Fox, then picked up by Comedy Central for more seasons. They said, 'It doesn't make any difference!'". Deborah Caplan Born - Unknown Deborah is a publisher. She married Groening in 1987 and they got divorced in 1999, after 13 years of marriage. I may be going to hell, but I did embrace all the stuff -- the T-shirts, the Bart phone, the chess set, all of it.". Reply. Groening has said that due to his limited drawing ability, it's unlikely he could get a job as an animator on "The Simpsons" today. Groenings estimated net worth is $600 million. Matt Groening received the Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Primetime or Late Night Television Program for The Simpsons in the years 1998, 2000 and 2001. platform, and regretted his victory immediately. 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. The Good, the Bart, and the Loki (2021) [89] In May 2010, he curated another edition of All Tomorrow's Parties in Minehead, England. Chester Bennington American Singer-Songwriter. But when pressed, he concedes that he is not sure what makes his critique of Middle America so appealing to Middle Americans. Mr. Groening has several theories for the success of his unusually caustic brand of humor. [65] The names of a few other characters were taken from major street names in Groening's hometown of Portland, Oregon, including Flanders, Lovejoy, Powell, Quimby and Kearney. [27] He showed his cartoons to the editor, James Vowell, who was impressed and eventually gave him a spot in the paper. They had 2 children, Homer (32) and Abe (30). Netflix has also renewed the series for twenty additional episodes, which are expected to start in ten-episode batches in 2020 and 2021. Good Grief, Charlie Brown: A Tribute to Charles Schulz (since 2000) [56], The Simpsons shorts first appeared in The Tracey Ullman Show on April 19, 1987. ", Mr. Groening identifies closely with the oppressed children of America, sitting at their desks, waiting to cause trouble. By now, though, the damage, such as it is, has clearly been done: the show has entered the very pop culture it pokes so much fun at. Groening found out the way everybody else did, by picking up the paper. Copyright 2023 Salon.com, LLC. Abe Groening (born 1993) [41][42][43] Groening famously named the main Simpson characters after members of his own family: his parents, Homer and Marge (Margaret or Marjorie in full), and his younger sisters, Lisa and Margaret (Maggie). The Simpsons premiered in 1989 with him as creator, writer, voice actor and executive producer. However, Groening had expressed a desire to continue the Futurama franchise in some form, including as a theatrical film. [97], Matt was the brother-in-law of Hey Arnold!, Dinosaur Train and Ready Jet Go! By coincidence, they chose "Abraham", unaware that it was the name of Groening's grandfather. Mr. Groening describes "The Simpsons" as a decidedly perverse take on some of the most popular shows of his childhood, like "Leave It to Beaver." Matt Groening and Deborah Caplan married in 1986 and have two children: Homer (who goes by the name of Will) and Abe. He was an English major and a World War II vet. Matt is stepfather to Agustinas daughter, Camille. [95] In 2020, their daughter Nirvana was born. [36] Released a month later, the book was an underground success, selling 22,000 copies in its first two printings. In a strange coincidence, they discovered that their parents were friends and that they both attended neighboring high schools in Philadelphia. Matt has a son with his wife, Argentinian artist Agustina Picasso, and two children with his former wife, Deborah Caplan. "But I thought I would have a little bit more leeway since I made Fox so much money with 'The Simpsons. At 39, Mr. Groening still observes many of the customs of the youthful counterculture where he got his start: his hair is longish, his attire runs toward T-shirts and sneakers, and instead of business cards he hands out his phone number on little bits of torn paper. Fearing the loss of ownership rights, Groening created a new set of characters, the Simpson family. From teachers who forced him to rip up his cartoons in front of the class, to the petty tyranny of bosses ("I was told that I would never get a job in the Pacific Northwest in journalism after my disgraceful stewardship of the Cooper Point Journal," Groening told the graduating class in a commencement address at his alma mater, Evergreen State College. During this time he was the editor of college paper The Cooper Point Journal. When Billie Met Lisa (2022), Disenchantment (2018-present) His wife is Agustina Picasso (m. 2011), Deborah Caplan (m. 1986-1999) Matt Groening Net Worth His net worth has been growing significantly in 2020-2021. Groening was born on February 15, 1954,[3][4] in Portland, Oregon,[5] the middle of five children (older brother Mark and sister Patty were born in 1950 and 1952, while the younger sisters Lisa and Maggie in 1956 and 1958, respectively). He currently serves at The Simpsons as an executive producer and creative consultant. In 2002, he won the National Cartoonist Society Reuben Award for his work on Life in Hell. He went through what he described as "a series of lousy jobs," including being an extra in the television movie When Every Day Was the Fourth of July,[25] busing tables,[26] washing dishes at a nursing home, clerking at the Hollywood Licorice Pizza record store, landscaping in a sewage treatment plant,[27] and chauffeuring and ghostwriting for a retired Western director. Deborah Kaplan is currently available. [14] Following his high school graduation in 1972,[15] Groening attended the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. Following this success, came his next work, Work is Hell, also published by Deborah Caplan. In 1994, Groening and other Simpsons producers pitched a live-action spin-off about Krusty the Clown (with Dan Castellaneta playing the lead role), but were unsuccessful in getting it off the ground. Matt Groening received the British Comedy Award for his Outstanding contribution to comedy. 8) Does this fill you with shame and guilt and cheese puffs? Groening worked as the editor of the campus newspaper, The Cooper Point Journal, for which Groening also wrote articles and drew cartoons. He winds up working for an intergalactic delivery service, with a crew of misfits including Leela, the ship's one-eyed alien captain and Bender, a corrupt, vice-addled, disgruntled robot. Ian Maxtone-Graham, another writer on the show, has said in an interview, "I would rather make George Meyer laugh than get an Emmy." In the mid-1980s, he moved to Los Angeles and started drawing a comic strip named "Life in Hell", which eventually became published in the newspaper where he worked. There are Bart cake pans, Bart bicycles and Bart pinball machines, Bart note cards, Bart soda bottles and Bart game books. [12] Although Groening previously stated, "I'll never give up the comic strip. On this date in 1954, Matthew Abraham Groening was born in Portland, Ore., to Homer Groening, an advertising agent and amateur cartoonist, and Margaret Wiggum. More than just a television hit, "The Simpsons" is also a mass marketing phenomenon: probably not since Mickey Mouse raised his ears has a silhouette appeared on as many paraphernalia as Bart Simpson's crown-roast-shaped head. Matt Groening created a dysfunctional family and The Simpsons aired on the show for the first time in 1987. Homer was a cartoonist, advertiser, writer, and a documentary filmmaker. The couple divorced in 1999. His sister Lisa does not play the saxophone. It is six years since "The Simpsons" made its debut as a 20-second segment in "The Tracey Ullman Show" and three years since it became its own series on Fox Broadcasting. It is currently running in its 27th season. Even to this date, it continues to appear in many other alternative newspapers. His then-girlfriend and co-worker at the Reader Deborah Caplan offered to publish Love is Hell, a series of relationship-themed Life in Hell strips, in book form. Groening knew this would have meant losing ownership rights to his characters, so he decided to start from scratch. Ten years later, at the age of 46, Groening is responsible for a comic strip syndicated in 250 newspapers, more than 25 books, two prime-time animated series and untold containers full of valuable merchandise. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. "[19] The show premiered on March 28, 1999. He made a name exploring his own alienation and a fortune exposing the absurdities and hypocrisies of our culture, and nowadays, Groening is as powerful an insider as they come. After four years the show was cancelled, however, it maintained a strong fan following. His Norwegian American mother, Margaret Ruth (ne Wiggum; March 23, 1919 April 22, 2013),[6] was once a teacher, and his Russian Mennonite father, Homer Philip Groening (December 30, 1919 March 15, 1996),[7] was a filmmaker, advertiser, writer and cartoonist. A few years earlier they had set up their own syndicate, ACME Features, to distribute the strip. While working on his animated series Futurama, he took up multiple roles like voice actor, creator, writer and executive producer of the show. In high school, he drew cartoons for the school newspaper until he was kicked off the staff. Over the years, "The Simpsons" and its irreverently unsentimental outlook have provoked a mountain of commentary about the decline of American culture. Deborah is a publisher. Groening has received 13 Primetime Emmy Awards, 11 for The Simpsons and 2 for Futurama, and a British Comedy Award due to outstanding contribution to comedy in 2004. The couple have two children together: a son, Homer, and a daughter, Maggie. About Matt Groening is a 68 year old American Cartoonist. And I always say, 'Whatever offends you the most.' . However, the couple divorced in 1999 after thirteen years of marriage. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Years later, during the early seasons of The Simpsons, when it came time to give Grampa a first name, Groening says he refused to name him after his own grandfather, Abraham Groening, leaving it to other writers to choose a name. [33] Among the fans of the column was Harry Shearer, who would later become a voice on The Simpsons. Groening also became a father of twins On June 16, 2018, when his wife Agustina gave birth to Sol Matthew and Venus Ruth, as reported via Instagram. In 2011, he married artist Augustina Picasso, with whom he had been in a relationship for four years. Deborah Caplan (m.1986, d.1999) Agustina Picasso (m.2011) Children: Abe Groening, Homer Groening, Nathaniel Philip Picasso Groening, India Mia Groening, Venus Ruth Groening, Luna Margaret Groening, Sol . The comic strip Life in Hell was a huge success. The early iteration of The Simpsons was a crude, Neanderthal version of the family that would become ubiquitous in pop culture; both Bart and Lisa were troublemakers, and Homer was a barely controlled cauldron of rage. Matts youngest child is named after writer Nathaniel West. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. For more information, please consult the OP. You know, "Meet George Jetson. While at college, he befriended famous cartoonist Lynda Barry, whom he also regards as a great inspiration. [85], Groening is known for his eclectic taste in music. Creating 'The Simpsons:' How Matt Groening's Own Family Inspired the Characters, Matt Groening; Photo: Gary Moss/Corbis via Getty Images, Matt Groening with a cutout of Bart Simpson; Photo: Getty Images, James Cameron Keeps Smashing His Own Records, The Simpsons: An Uncensored, Unauthorized History, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. The couple has two sons, Homer and Abe. Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs (2008) The show continued in to 2013,[76][77] before Comedy Central announced in April 2013 that they would not be renewing it beyond its seventh season. [81] The cast includes Abbi Jacobson, Eric Andre, and Nat Faxon. (2006). Many members of the Simpson family are named for members of his own family: Homer, Marge, Maggie, Lisa and Patty. He also made appearances in episodes of television series The Pitts, Portlandia and Space Ghost Coast to Coast. Deborah Caplan-Matt Groening: 68: Aquarius: Cartoonist: American: Children Name Gender Born Age Other Parent; Homer: Male: 1991: 31 years old: Matt Groening: Abe: Male: 1993: 29 years old: Matt Groening: Discussions Have your say Be the first to make a comment >> Recommended Recommended. Were it not for the clueless executives, the inane network decisions, the petty betrayals at the hands of people who benefit from his success, he might have stagnated by now. "But I don't consider 'The Simpsons' a compromise in any way. His work The Simpsons grabbed the Annie Award in the Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Television Program category for the year 1999. [102], Groening has made a number of campaign contributions, all towards Democratic Party candidates and organizations. Born in 1954 in Portland, Oregon, The Simpsons creator Matt Groening had, in many ways, an idyllic childhood. [108] In 2007, he was ranked fourth (and highest American by birth) in a list of the "top 100 living geniuses", published by British newspaper The Daily Telegraph. "[17] The Simpsons was co-developed by Groening, Brooks, and Sam Simon, a writer-producer with whom Brooks had worked on previous projects. By installment No. [62] "Some Enchanted Evening" was the first full-length episode produced, but it did not broadcast until May 1990, as the last episode of the first season, because of animation problems. As to his position on the "Simpsons" voice actors' recent contract negotiations, he told Mother Jones, "I have sympathy. "What's happened is that mainstream culture has gotten so good at marketing pseudo-hipness that it overwhelms other choices that are out there.". Groening and Deborah Caplan married in 1986[27] and had two sons together, Homer (who goes by Will) and Abe,[44] both of whom Groening occasionally portrays as rabbits in Life in Hell. [2], On January 15, 2016, it was announced that Groening was in talks with Netflix to develop a new animated series. Realizing that he would lose the rights to his Life in Hell characters with the deal, Groening quickly created a new cartoon family named after his own siblings and parents, albeit with a "Bart" in lieu of a character named after himself. Patricia was an art dealer. Groenings grandfather named Abraham Groening, worked as a professor at Tabor College, a Mennonite Brethren liberal arts college in Hillsboro, Kansas, prior to moving to Albany College (now named Lewis and Clark College) in Oregon in 1930. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/matthew-abram-groening-2308.php, 20th Century Film & Theater Personalities, 21st Century Film & Theater Personalities, 20th Century American Film & Theater Personalities, 21st Century American Film & Theater Personalities, Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour), Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less). He also plays the drums in the all-author rock and roll band The Rock Bottom Remainders (although he is listed as the cowbell player), whose other members include Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson, Scott Turow, Amy Tan, James McBride, Mitch Albom, Roy Blount Jr., Stephen King, Kathi Kamen Goldmark, Sam Barry and Greg Iles. Indeed, the biggest danger the show seems to face is that it will lose its power to surprise. Brooks contacted him in 1985 about adapting Life in Hell for animated sequences for the Fox variety shows The Tracey Ullman Show. Since 1989, Groening take part in the television series The Simpsons which is the longest-running U.S. primetime-television series in history and the longest-running U.S. animated series and sitcom. Indeed, "The Simpsons" has something to offend almost everyone: the cops sit around eating doughnuts, the teachers are lost without their answer books, the parents are losers and even God is a malcontent. Groening worked at the Reader for six years, as a typesetter, editor, paste-up artist and rock critic. "[46], Maggie Groening has co-written a few Simpsons books featuring her cartoon namesake. "If there's a message that runs through the show," he told The New York Times in 2001, well after he had become wealthy and influential beyond his wildest dreams, "it's that maybe the authorities don't have your best interests at heart. Lisa is a producer and is famous for her work on Christmas at Pee Wees Playhouse (1988), Arnold Escapes from Church (1988), and The Arnold Waltz (1990). [110], He received the 2,459th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 14, 2012. The final strip of the comic strip "Life in Hell" was published on June 16, 2012. That year, he also began working for the alternative-weekly newspaper the L.A. For a man who has become famous on the strength of his dark musings, starting with "Life in Hell," his weekly comic strip, Mr. Groening (it rhymes with complaining, his publicist says) comes off in person as surprisingly benign: big, bearish and still a bit astonished to find his jokes getting so out of hand. In a situation similar to Family Guy, however, strong DVD sales and very stable ratings on Adult Swim brought Futurama back to life. Matt Groening (full Name: Matthew Abram Groening) is a popular American cartoonist, writer, producer, and animator. They divorced in 1999, after 13 years of marriage.Following this, Groening was in a six-year commitment with dating expert Lauren Frances. His television series titled Futurama also earned him the Annie Award for Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production in the years 2010 and 2014, while his other work The Simpsons won the award in this category in the years 2011, 2012 and 2015. James L. Brooks negotiated a provision in the contract with the Fox network that prevented Fox from interfering with the show's content. "Hey, they were right! He used to write articles and draw cartoon illustrations for the journal. Hair High (2004) as Dill Homer and Abe were their two sons. I like the idea of trying to be successful on some level, at least reaching an audience enough so that you can sustain it and keep on going." When he and former "Simpsons" show runner David X. Cohen (now the show runner on "Futurama") first approached Fox with the new idea, the network went into instant paroxysms of ecstasy. "So much humor is based on 'life is horrible, sex is nasty and you can't trust anyone,' " he said. Matt Groening married Deborah Caplan in 1986. Deborah Kaplan Entertainment - Director Why Famous: is an American screenwriter and film director Age: N/A Deborah Kaplan's Relationships (2) Matt Groening Arts - Other Why Famous: The Simpsons and Futurama Twenty-four years ago, Groening was just another unrecognized genius driving to Los Angeles in a crummy car with a coat hanger for a radio antenna. Brooks selected his longtime colleague Sam Simon to help Groening develop the animated series, and The Simpsons dynasty began on December 17, 1989, when the first episode aired. Reader in 1986, after writing a letter to the editor over a fellow writer's dismissal, but by then Life in Hell was already appearing in other alt-weeklies and providing extra income through merchandise sales. So, how much is Matt Groening worth at the age of 67 years old? With a developing cast of characters that included Binky's girlfriend Sheba, his one-eared son Bongo and the gay entrepreneurs Akbar and Jeff, and recurring components like "The 16 Types of Sisters" and "The 9 Secret Love Techniques That Could Possibly Turn Men Into Putty in Your Hands," the minimally drawn but meticulously written Life in Hell found its niche between the underground comics and mainstream fare.

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