Matt Groening Biography (1954-)

Surname is pronounced "gray-ning" (rhymes with "raining"); born February 15, 1954, in Portland, OR; son of Homer (a filmmaker) and Margaret Ruth (ateacher; maiden name, Wiggum) Groening; married Deborah Lee Caplan (Groening's manager and business partner), October 29, 1986; children: Homer, Abraham.Avocational interests: Watching poorly translated foreign films, nurturing ducks. Career: Writer, cartoonist, producer, animator, television show creator, director, and business executive. Worked variously as a cemetery landscaper, dishwasher in a nursing home, clerk in recording and copy shops, and ghost writer/chauffeur to an elderly filmmaker, Los Angeles, CA, 1977-79; Los Angeles Reader, Los Angeles, positions included circulation manager, editor, writer, cartoonist, and author of "Sound Mix" music column, 1979-84; formed Life in Hell Cartoon Co. and Acme Features Syndicate, with wife, Deborah Caplan, in the 1980s; "Life in Hell" comic strip cartoonist, Sheridan, OR, 1980--; president, Matt Groening Productions, Inc., Los Angeles, 1988--; created Bongo Comics Group, Los Angeles, 1993, including Simpsons Comics, Itchy & Scratchy, Radioactive Man, and Bart Man, 1993, and Krusty Comics, Lisa Comics, 1995; founder of Zongo Comics, includingJimbo, 1995 and Fleener, 1996. Awards, Honors: Won short story contest, Jack and Jill, 1962; Emmy Award nominations, outstanding writing in a variety or music program, 1987-89, all for The Tracy Ullman Show; Emmy Awards, outstanding animated program, 1989-91, 1995, 1997-98, all for The Simpsons; Emmy Award nomination, outstanding animated program, 1990, 1993, and 1996; Diamond Distribution Gem Award, New Publicationof the Year, for Zongo Comics, 1993; George Foster Peabody Award, 1997, for The Simpsons. Addresses: Office: Matt Groening Productions, Los Angeles, CA.; Contact: Sondra Gatewood, ACME Features Syndicate, 147NE Yamhill, Sheridan, OR 97378.

Nationality: American
Gender: Male
Occupation: writer, cartoonist, producer, animator, television show creator, director, business executive
Birth Details: February 15, 1954; Portland, Oregon, United States

Famous Works

CREDITS
Television Work
Series
Creator, developer, animator, director, and producer, "The Simpsons" (animated), The Tracey Ullman Show, Fox, 1987-89
Creator, creative consultant, character designer, and co-executive producer (with James L. Brooks and Sam Simon), The Simpsons (animated), Fox,1990--
Creator and executive producer, Futurama (animated), Fox, 1999--
Specials
Animator, Tracey Ullman Backstage, Fox, 1988
Creator, developer, animator, and executive producer (with James L. Brooks and Sam Simon), The Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire, Fox, 1990
Episodic
The King of the Hill (animated), Fox, 1997
Television Appearances
Series
Voice of Maggie Simpson (pacifier sucking), The Simpsons, Fox, 1990--
Episodic
Behind the Scenes, 1992
The Magical World of Chuck Jones, 1992
Himself, "Glen Campbell," Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Cartoon Network, 1994
Specials
Barry Levinson on the Future in the 20th Century: Yesterday's Tomorrow, 1999
Influences: From Yesterday to Today, 1999
RECORDINGS
Albums
(Executive producer) The Simpsons Sing the Blues, Geffen, 1991
Deep, Deep Trouble; Sibling Rivalry, Geffen, 1991
WRITINGS
ldquo
Life in Hell" Cartoon Strip Books
Love Is Hell, privately printed, 1984revised ed., Pantheon, 1985
Work Is Hell: A Cartoon Book, Pantheon, 1986
School Is Hell: A Cartoon Book, Pantheon, 1987

Childhood Is Hell: A Cartoon Book, Pantheon, 1988
Box Full of Hell, Pantheon, 1988
Akbar and Jeff's Guide to Life: A Cartoon Book, Pantheon, 1989
Greetings from Hell, Pantheon, 1989
The Big Book of Hell: A Cartoon Book, Pantheon, 1990
With Love from Hell: A Postcard Book, HarperCollins, 1991
How to Go to Hell, HarperCollins, 1991
The Road to Hell: A Cartoon Book, HarperPerennial, 1992
Love Is Hell 10th Anniversary Edition, 1994
Binky's Guide to Love: A Cartoon Book, HarperCollins, 1994
The Huge Book of Hell, Penguin, 1997
Life in Hell appeared as a privately printed comic strip beginningin the late 1970s, and first appeared in Wet, 1978, then as a regularfeature in The Los Angeles Reader, 1980-86, and in L.A. Weekly, 1986--. The strip began syndication in two hundred periodicals worldwide through Acme Features Syndicate, beginning in the 1980s. Groening also created"The Life in Hell Fun Calendars" published by Pantheon, 1985-89, HarperCollins, 1990-96, then Bongo Comics Publishing Group, 1997--.
The Simpsons" Books
The Simpsons Xmas Book (adapted from a screenplay by Mimi Pond), HarperCollins, 1990
Greetings from the Simpsons, HarperCollins, 1990
The Simpsons Rainy Day Fun Book, HarperCollins, 1991
(With sister, Maggie Groening) Maggie Simpson's Alphabet Book, HarperCollins, 1991
(With Maggie Groening) Maggie Simpson's Book of Animals, HarperCollins, 1991
(With Maggie Groening) Maggie Simpson's Book of Colors and Shapes,HarperCollins, 1991
(With Maggie Groening) Maggie Simpson's Counting Book, HarperCollins, 1991
Simpsons Student Diary, Trielle Publishers, 1991
Simpsons Uncensored Family Album, HarperCollins, 1991
Simpsons Fun in the Sun Book, HarperCollins, 1992
Making Faces with the Simpsons, 1992
Bart Simpson's Guide to Life, HarperPerennial, 1993
The Simpsons Ultra-Jumbo Rain-or-Shine Fun Book, 1993
Cartooning with the Simpsons, HarperPerennial, 1993
Simpsons Comics Extravaganza, HarperPerennial, 1994
Simpsons Comics Spectacular 1994, HarperPerennial, 1995
Bartman: The Best of the Best!, HarperPerennial, 1995
Simpsons Comics: Simps-O-Rama, HarperPerennial, 1995
Simpson Comics: Strike Back!, HarperPerennial, 1996
Simpsons Comics WingDing, HarperPerennial, 1997
Groening is also the creator of Simpsons calendars, published by HarperCollins, 1990-95, and Simpsons Illustrated magazine, published by Welsh,1991-93.
Other Books
(With Steve Vance) Postcards That Ate My Brain, Pantheon, 1990
Creator, with Vance, of "Postcards That Ate My Brain" calendars. Contributor to periodicals, including Jack and Jill and Film Comment.
Songs
(With D. J. Jazzy Jeff), "Deep, Deep Trouble," The Simpsons Sing the Blues, Geffen, 1991
Television Series
"The Simpsons" (animated), The Tracey Ullman Show, Fox, 1987-89
(With others) The Simpsons (animated), Fox, 1990--
(With others) Futurama (animated), Fox, 1999--
Television Specials
(Animated character dialogue) The Ice Capades Fiftieth Anniversary Special, ABC, 1990

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Books:

Authors and Artists for Young Adults, Volume 8, Gale, 1992, pp. 73-83.
Italia, Bob, The Simpsons, Abdo and Daughters, 1991.

Periodicals:

Advocate, February 26, 1991, p. 30.
Detroit Free Press, July 16, 1990, p. A13.
Los Angeles Magazine, February 16, 1985, p. 22.
Los Angeles Times, April 29, 1990, pp. D1-7.
Mother Jones, December 29, 1989, p. 28; March 1999, p. 34.
National Geographic World, July 29, 1994, pp. 8-9.
People Weekly, October 30, 1995, p.17.
Playboy, July 30, 1990, p. 130; June 1999, p. 38.
Saturday Review, April 30, 1985, p. 50.
Washington Post, December 18, 1988, pp. F16-18.*

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