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

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

• 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.*