View source for Peter Griffin

{{Short description|Fictional character from the Family Guy franchise}}
{{About|the ''Family Guy'' character}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = February 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox character
| name = Peter Griffin
| series = [[Family Guy]]
| image = Peter Griffin.png
| alt = 
| caption = 
| first = "[[Death Has a Shadow]]" (1999)
| creator = [[Seth MacFarlane]]
| designer = Seth MacFarlane
| voice = Seth MacFarlane
| occupation = {{unbulleted list
 | Brewery shipping clerk
 | Former safety inspector at the Happy-Go-Lucky toy factory
 | Former [[fisherman]]
}}
| full_name = Peter [[Löwenbräu Brewery|Löwenbräu]] Griffin Sr.{{efn-ua|name=Justin|In the [[Family Guy season 13|season 13]] episode ''[[Quagmire's Mom]]'', Peter's birth name is revealed to be Justin Peter Griffin. He reluctantly changes it to Peter when Lois suggests it. His birth name is never mentioned again.}}
| family = [[Thelma Griffin]] (mother)<br />[[Francis Griffin (Family Guy)|Francis Griffin]] (adoptive father)<br />[[Peter's Sister|Karen Griffin]] (sister)<br />[[Vestigial Peter|Chip Griffin]] (twin brother)
| spouse = [[Lois Griffin]]
| children = [[Meg Griffin]] (daughter)<br />[[Chris Griffin]] (son)<br />[[Stewie Griffin]] (son) <br /> [[Family Guy season 15#ep289|Bertram and dozens of children from Peter's sperm donations]]
| relatives = [[Mickey McFinnigan]] (biological father)
| nationality = Mexican <small>(by birth)</small><br>American <small>(by mother)</small>{{refn|group=lower-alpha|In the episode "[[Family Guy season 6#ep104|Padre de Familia]]" (season 6, episode 6), Peter finds out that he was born in Mexico City and that his mother never legally granted him American citizenship. So, Peter tries to obtain citizenship through a naturalization test, but he fails. In the end, Peter obtains American citizenship by naturalization thanks to his marriage to Lois.}}
| gender = Male
| lbl21 = Height
| data21 = 
| home = [[Quahog, Rhode Island]]
| lbl22 = Age
| data22 = 42-47
}}

'''Peter Löwenbräu Griffin Sr.'''<ref>{{Citation|title=Hero Showdown: Homer vs. Peter – IGN|date=December 19, 2007|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/12/19/hero-showdown-homer-vs-peter|language=en|access-date=May 1, 2021|archive-date=May 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501221523/https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/12/19/hero-showdown-homer-vs-peter|url-status=live}}</ref> ([[né]] '''Justin Peter Griffin'''){{efn-ua|name=Justin}} is a fictional character and the [[protagonist]] of the American animated sitcom ''[[Family Guy]]''. He is voiced by series creator [[Seth MacFarlane]], and first appeared on television, along with the rest of the [[Griffin family]], in the episode "[[Death Has a Shadow]]" on January 31, 1999. Peter was created and designed by MacFarlane himself. MacFarlane was asked to pitch a pilot to the [[Fox Broadcasting Company]] based on ''[[The Life of Larry and Larry & Steve|Larry & Steve]]'', a short made by MacFarlane which featured a middle-aged character named Larry and an intellectual dog, Steve. For the series, Larry was renamed Peter.

Peter is married to [[Lois Griffin|Lois]] and is the father of [[Meg Griffin|Meg]], [[Chris Griffin|Chris]], and [[Stewie Griffin|Stewie]]. He also has a dog named [[Brian Griffin|Brian]], with whom he is best friends. He has worked at a toy factory and at Quahog's Brewery. Peter's voice was inspired by the security guards that MacFarlane heard at his school. His appearance was a redesign of the protagonist Larry from MacFarlane's previous animated short films [[The Life of Larry and Larry & Steve|''The Life of Larry'' and ''Larry & Steve'']]. He has appeared in several pieces of ''Family Guy'' merchandise—including toys, T-shirts, and video games—and he has made [[Fictional crossover|crossover]] appearances in other shows, including ''[[The Simpsons]]'', ''[[Drawn Together]]'' and ''[[South Park]]'', in addition to fellow MacFarlane-associated series ''[[American Dad!]]'', ''[[Bordertown (American TV series)|Bordertown]]'' and ''Family Guy'' spin-off ''[[The Cleveland Show]]''.

As a character, Peter Griffin was initially praised by critics for his outrageous humor, absurd anecdotes, slapstick antics, and over-the-top, goofy yet endearing personality. Over time, however, reception has become more mixed. Some viewers have criticized his increasingly crude, mean-spirited, and offensive behavior, as well as his growing similarities to [[Homer Simpson]] in both personality and comedic style.

== Role in ''Family Guy'' ==
Peter Griffin is a middle-class Mexican-born [[Irish American]] in his mid{{nbh}}forties, who is a bespectacled, obese [[blue-collar worker]] with a prominent [[New England English|Rhode Island]] and [[Boston English|Eastern Massachusetts accent]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Cavalcade Of Cartoons, No Joke: Animated Shows Make Up A Third Of The Midseason Replacements For Axed Fall Premieres|newspaper=[[The Charlotte Observer]]|publisher=[[The McClatchy Company]]|location=Charlotte, North Carolina|date= January 10, 1999}}</ref> Peter's age has never been officially confirmed and has fluctuated throughout the series, although he is consistently referred to as being in his early-to-mid 40s. Peter and his wife, [[Lois Griffin|Lois]], have three children: [[Meg Griffin|Meg]], [[Chris Griffin|Chris]], and [[Stewie Griffin|Stewie]]. He also has three deceased children{{efn|Peter's children other than Meg, Chris and Stewie generally only appear in one-off jokes.}}: Peter Jr., who was [[Shaken baby syndrome|shaken]] to death,<ref name="The Juice Is Loose!">{{cite web |title=The Juice Is Loose! |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1329676/ |website=IMDB |access-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113195233/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1329676/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Dave, Stewie's twin who is implied to have been killed by Stewie during childbirth, and Tmas: [[Chris Griffin|Chris]]'s stillborn twin brother.<ref name="Chris Cross">{{cite web |title=Chris Cross |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2626872/ |website=IMDB |access-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-date=January 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114081320/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2626872/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He is the illegitimate son of Thelma Griffin and Mickey McFinnigan, and was raised by Thelma and his stepfather, Francis Griffin. It is uncertain whether Peter's legal parents were married before he was conceived, however, as Peter has a flashback in which Francis directly tells him, "I'm not your father!" in the episode "[[Peter's Two Dads]]", in which Peter realizes that Francis is not his true father, implying he knew that Peter is not his biological son. On several occasions, Peter has made reference to several ancestors who he notes to have been historically important figures: such as [[Moses]] Griffin, Angus Griffin (who Peter claimed invented golfing), [[Ella Fitzgerald]] Griffin, Peter [[Hitler]] (Adolf Hitler's younger brother), [[Jabba the Hutt|Jabba]] the Griffin, [[Ulysses S Grant|Ulysses S]] Griffin, [[King Arthur]] Griffin, [[Ponce de León]] Griffin, [[Huckleberry Finn|Huck]] Griffin, [[John Wilkes Booth|John Wilkes 'Photo Booth']] Griffin, [[Jim Leavelle|'Guy in the White Hat']] Griffin, [[King of Denmark]] Griffin, and Queen of [[Burlesque]] Griffin among others.

Peter and his family live in the fictional town of [[Quahog, Rhode Island]], which is modeled after [[Providence, Rhode Island]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Family Guy writer at Bryant|newspaper=[[The Providence Journal]]|date= September 24, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Hines|title=''Family'' funny business|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|publisher=[[Tribune Publishing]]|location=Chicago, Illinois|date=September 15, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=James|first=Caryn|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9402E1DD1E39F93AA15752C0A96F958260|title=TV Weekend; Where Matricide Is a Family Value|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|location=New York City|date=January 29, 1999|access-date=November 23, 2008|archive-date=December 18, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218205930/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9402E1DD1E39F93AA15752C0A96F958260|url-status=live}}</ref>

Peter primarily worked as a safety inspector at the Happy-Go-Lucky Toy Factory until his boss, Jonathan Weed, choked to death on a dinner roll while dining with Peter and Lois; he then became a fisherman on his own boat, which was known as the "S.S. ''More Powerful than [[Superman]], [[Batman]], [[Spider-Man]], and [[The Incredible Hulk]] Put Together''", with the help of two Portuguese immigrants, Santos and Pasqual, until his boat was destroyed.<ref name=book>{{cite book|first=Steve|last=Callaghan|author-link=Steve Callaghan|title=Family Guy: The Official Episode Guide, Seasons 1–3|chapter=A Hero Sits Next Door|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|location=[[New York City]]|isbn=0-06-083305-X|date=2005|page=[https://archive.org/details/familyguyofficia00call/page/32 32]|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/familyguyofficia00call/page/32}}</ref><ref name=squad>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2005/09/18/family-guy-perfect-castaway/|website=[[TV Squad]]|title=The Perfect Castaway|access-date=December 8, 2009|archive-date=November 9, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051109203919/http://www.tvsquad.com/2005/09/18/family-guy-perfect-castaway/|url-status=live}}</ref> He now works in the shipping department of the Pawtucket Patriot [[brewery]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Mike|last=Drucker|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/11/29/family-guy-volume-3|title=Family Guy&nbsp;– Volume 3|website=[[IGN]]|date=November 29, 2005|access-date=March 2, 2020|archive-date=March 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302204239/https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/11/29/family-guy-volume-3|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Kevin|last=Wong|url=https://www.popmatters.com/tv/reviews/f/family-guy-2005.shtml|title=Family Guy / American Dad|website=[[PopMatters]]|date=June 13, 2005|access-date=July 4, 2009|archive-date=May 9, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509105418/http://www.popmatters.com/tv/reviews/f/family-guy-2005.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Peter briefly played for the [[National Football League|NFL]]'s [[New England Patriots]] until his behavior resulted in his being kicked off the team in the episode "[[Patriot Games (Family Guy)|Patriot Games]]". Despite the unassuming nature of his occupation, he has had a variety of absurd and often surreal life experiences, which he candidly recounts frequently to his peers.

In several cutaway gags Peter is shown to have previously held many jobs which require higher education, despite the blue-collar nature of most of his previous jobs: for instance working as a [[United Nations]] interpreter, a sonologist, an opera singer (with a band composed of four identical-looking men who call themselves "The Four Peters"), a bomb defuser, etc.

In a [[running gag]], storylines are randomly interrupted by extremely long, unexpected fights between Peter and [[Ernie the Giant Chicken]], an [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] chicken who serves as an archenemy to Peter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/danny-smith/credits/209563|title=Danny Smith:Credits|magazine=[[TV Guide]]|access-date=October 17, 2009|archive-date=October 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014062917/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/danny-smith/credits/209563|url-status=live}}</ref> These battles parody the [[action film]] genre, with explosions, high-speed chases, and immense devastation to the town of Quahog.<ref>{{cite web|first=Brett|last=Love|url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/05/21/family-guy-meet-the-quagmires/|title=Family Guy: Meet The Quagmires|website=[[TV Squad]]|date=May 21, 2007|access-date=February 27, 2010|archive-date=September 27, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090927040022/http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/05/21/family-guy-meet-the-quagmires|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Character ==

=== Creation ===
MacFarlane initially conceived ''Family Guy'' in 1995 while studying animation at the [[Rhode Island School of Design]] (RISD).<ref name="Lenburg">{{cite book|last=Lenburg|first=Jeff|title=Who's Who in Animated Cartoons: An International Guide to Film & Television's Award-Winning and Legendary Animators|publisher=Applause Theatre & Cinema Books|location=New York City|date=2006|edition=Illustrated|page=[https://archive.org/details/whoswhoinanimate0000lenb/page/221 221]|isbn=978-1-55783-671-7|url=https://archive.org/details/whoswhoinanimate0000lenb/page/221}}</ref> During college, he created his thesis film entitled ''[[The Life of Larry and Larry & Steve#The Life of Larry|The Life of Larry]]'',<ref name="Lenburg" /> which was submitted by his professor at RISD to [[Hanna-Barbera]]. MacFarlane was hired by the company.<ref name="harvard">{{cite news|last=Lenburg|first=Jeff|title="Family Guy" Seth MacFarlane to speak at Class Day: Creator and executive producer of 'Family Guy' will headline undergraduate celebration|url=http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2006/05.11/03-classday.html|newspaper=[[Harvard Gazette]]|publisher=[[Harvard University]]|location=Cambridge, Massachusetts|access-date=December 21, 2007|date=May 11, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418134025/http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2006/05.11/03-classday.html|archive-date=April 18, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Then in 1996, MacFarlane created a sequel to ''The Life of Larry'' entitled ''[[The Life of Larry and Larry & Steve#Larry & Steve|Larry & Steve]]'', which featured a middle-aged character named Larry and an intellectual dog, Steve; the short was broadcast in 1997 as one of [[Cartoon Network]]'s ''[[World Premiere Toons]]''.<ref name="Lenburg" /> Executives at [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] saw the ''Larry'' shorts and contracted MacFarlane to create a series, entitled ''Family Guy'', based on the characters.<ref name="Bartlett">{{cite web|url = http://greatreporter.com/mambo/content/view/1383/11/|title = Seth MacFarlane&nbsp;– he's the "Family Guy"|access-date = December 31, 2007|last = Bartlett|first = James|date = March 12, 2007|work = The Great Reporter|publisher = Presswire Limited|archive-date = August 7, 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120807160047/http://greatreporter.com/content/seth-macfarlane-he-s-family-guy|url-status = live}}</ref> Fox proposed MacFarlane complete a 15-minute short, and gave him a budget of $50,000.<ref name="megadeal">{{cite news|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-macfarlane-idUSN0435504220080505|title="Family Guy" creator seals megadeal|magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|publisher=[[Eldridge Industries]]|location=Los Angeles, California|date=May 5, 2008|access-date=May 31, 2008|archive-date=April 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405171242/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-macfarlane-idUSN0435504220080505|url-status=live}}</ref> Several aspects of ''Family Guy'' were inspired by the ''Larry'' shorts.<ref name="Callaghan, p. 16">[[#Callaghan|Callaghan]], p. 16</ref> While working on the series, the characters of Larry and his dog Steve slowly evolved into Peter and Brian.<ref name="Bartlett" /><ref name="AWN">{{cite news|first=Joe|last=Strike|url=http://www.awn.com/news/events/cartoon-network-pilots-screened-asifa-east-nycs-school-visual-arts|title=Cartoon Network Pilots Screened by ASIFA East at NYC's School of Visual Arts|publisher=[[Animation World Network]]|access-date=November 18, 2009|archive-date=October 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013181729/http://www.awn.com/news/events/cartoon-network-pilots-screened-asifa-east-nycs-school-visual-arts|url-status=live}}</ref> MacFarlane stated that the difference between ''The Life of Larry'' and ''Family Guy'' was that "''Life of Larry'' was shown primarily in my dorm room and ''Family Guy'' was shown after the [[Super Bowl XXXIII|Super Bowl]]."<ref name="Callaghan, p. 16" />

=== Voice ===
[[File:Seth MacFarlane by Gage Skidmore 5.jpg|thumb|right|140px|MacFarlane based Peter's voice on the voices of security guards he heard while he was attending the [[Rhode Island School of Design]].]]

The voice of Peter is provided by MacFarlane, who also provides the voice for Brian, Stewie, [[Glenn Quagmire|Quagmire]], [[Tom Tucker (Family Guy)|Tom Tucker]], [[Carter Pewterschmidt]], Dr. Hartman, and others.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jefferson|last=Graham|title=Cartoonist MacFarlane funny guy of Fox's 'Family' Subversive voice of series is his|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|location=Mclean, Virginia|date=January 29, 1999|page=E7}}</ref> MacFarlane has been part of the main voice cast from the beginning of the series including [[Death Has a Shadow|the pilot]], and has voiced Peter from the start.<ref name="TVGuide cast" /> MacFarlane chose to voice Peter and several other characters himself, believing it would be easier to portray the voices he already envisioned than for someone else to attempt it.<ref name="MacFarlaneTIME">{{cite news|first=Gilbert|last=Cruz|url=http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1844711,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926152756/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1844711,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 26, 2008|title=Family Guy's Seth MacFarlane|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|publisher=[[Meredith Corporation]]|location=New York City|date=September 26, 2008|access-date=August 28, 2009}}</ref> MacFarlane's speaking voice is not very close to Peter's; he uses his normal voice as the voice of Brian.<ref name="MacFarlaneTIME" /> MacFarlane drew inspiration for the voice of Peter from the security guards he overheard talking while he was attending the [[Rhode Island School of Design]];<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.projo.com/tv/content/projo_20050430_macfarlan.1d6c9b8.html |work=Prohaving the vidence Journal TV |author=Smith, Andy |title=A Real Family Reunion |date=April 30, 2005 |access-date=August 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922180650/http://www.projo.com/tv/content/projo_20050430_macfarlan.1d6c9b8.html |archive-date=September 22, 2010 }}</ref> according to him, "I knew a thousand Peter Griffins growing up in New England. Guys who would not think before they spoke, like [switching to Peter's voice] there was no self-editing mechanism. [Pointing to himself] Everything in here, [pointing to his front] it's coming out here, with no gateway".<ref name="grahamnorton20140530">{{cite episode | series=The Graham Norton Show | network=BBC | title=Episode 9 | airdate=May 30, 2014 | season=15 | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b045cgtw | access-date=May 31, 2014 | archive-date=February 28, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228060224/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b045cgtw | url-status=live }}</ref> MacFarlane also voices many of Peter's ancestors who share the same type of voice.<ref name="TVGuide cast">{{cite web |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/family-guy/cast/100148 |title=Family Guy Cast and Details |work=[[TV Guide]] |access-date=August 24, 2009 |archive-date=October 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024172511/http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/family-guy/cast/100148 |url-status=live }}</ref> He noted in an interview that he voices Peter and the rest of the characters partly because they initially had a small budget, but also that he prefers to have the freedom to do it himself.<ref name=avclub>{{cite web|url= https://www.avclub.com/seth-macfarlane-1798208419 |title=Seth MacFarlane |access-date=March 2, 2020 |last=Rabin |first=Nathan |date=January 26, 2006 |work=[[The A.V. Club]]|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926223220/http://www.avclub.com/content/node/23365 |archive-date=September 26, 2007 }}</ref> In another interview, he said that Peter's voice is one of the most difficult to do.<ref name="Road to">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/09/12/an-interview-with-seth-macfarlane-3|title=Interview with Seth MacFarlane|first=Andy|last=Patrizio|website=[[IGN]]|date=September 12, 2003|access-date=December 9, 2009|archive-date=July 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728135827/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/09/12/an-interview-with-seth-macfarlane-3|url-status=live}}</ref>

There have been rare occasions where MacFarlane does not voice Peter. In the episode "[[No Meals on Wheels]]" (season 5, 2007), actor [[Patrick Stewart]] voiced Peter in a cutscene, but MacFarlane voices Peter for the rest of the episode.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=2:68265~T2 |title=Patrick Stewart &gt; Filmography |access-date=February 27, 2009 |publisher=[[Allmovie]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060426195934/http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg |archive-date=April 26, 2006 }}</ref> In the episode "[[Family Gay]]" ([[Family Guy season 7|season 7]], 2009), [[Seth Rogen]] provided a guest-voice as Peter under the effects of the "Seth Rogen gene".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tv.yahoo.com/episode/200320/castcrew|title=Family Guy&nbsp;— Family Gay&nbsp;— Cast and Crew|publisher=Yahoo!|access-date=July 21, 2011|archive-date=June 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615070321/https://tv.yahoo.com/episode/200320/castcrew|url-status=live}}</ref> In "[[Road to the Multiverse]]" ([[Family Guy season 8|season 8]], 2009), he was voiced by actor Jamison Yang, who was required for a scene where everything in the world was Japanese.<ref name="cast">{{cite web |url=https://tv.yahoo.com/episode/217820/castcrew |title=Family Guy&nbsp;– Road to the Multiverse&nbsp;– Cast and Crew |publisher=Yahoo! |access-date=April 4, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615055718/http://tv.yahoo.com/episode/217820/castcrew |archive-date=June 15, 2011 }}</ref> In [[Friends of Peter G]] (season 9, 2011), [[John Viener]] voiced Peter in an alternate timeline where he gave up drinking.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/family-guy--friends-of-peter-g-v551636/cast-crew | title=Family Guy : Friends of Peter G. (2011) - John Holmquist, Peter Shin &#124; Cast and Crew &#124; AllMovie }}</ref>

=== Personality ===
Peter Griffin is a stereotypical [[blue-collar]] worker<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/family-guy-3-dvd/|title=Family Guy, Volume 3|work=[[PopMatters]]|date=November 29, 2005|author=MacIntosh, Dan|access-date=October 18, 2009|archive-date=July 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703163732/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/family-guy-3-dvd/|url-status=live}}</ref> who frequently goes to a local bar with his neighbors and friends [[Cleveland Brown]], [[Joe Swanson]] and [[Glenn Quagmire]] named "The Drunken Clam," Quahog's main tavern.<ref>{{cite news|title='Family Guy Live' a fresh channel for laughs|author=McNarma, Chris|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=September 14, 2007|page=1}}</ref> In the [[Family Guy season 4|season 4]] episode "[[Petarded]]", Peter discovered his low intellect falls slightly below the level for [[intellectual disability]]<ref name="Petarded">{{cite episode|title=Petarded|episode-link=Petarded|series=Family Guy|credits=Writ.: Sulkin, Alec; Wild, Wellesley; Dir.: Kearsley, Seth|network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company]]|airdate= June 19, 2005|season=4|number=6}}</ref> after taking an [[I.Q. test]], which places his I.Q. at around 70. In that same episode, Peter is declared intellectually disabled because of his low I.Q. level. Peter also might have brain damage in [[Wernicke's area]] as he cuts away into seemingly random situations and speaks in perfect grammar, but cannot seem to choose how to create a sentence. Peter is known for his brash impulsiveness, which has led to several awkward situations,<ref>{{cite news|title=Union guy is 'Family Guy' |url=http://alb.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=8129157 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140805125133/http://alb.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=8129157 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 5, 2014 |author=Nearing, Brian |date=May 31, 2009 |work=[[Albany Times Union]] |access-date=October 18, 2009 |page=C1 }}</ref> such as attempting to [[Sexual abuse|molest]] Meg in order to adopt a [[redneck]] lifestyle.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Airport '07|episode-link=Airport '07|series=Family Guy|credits=Writ.: Devanney, Tom; Hentemann, Mark; Dir.: Holmquist, John|network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company]]|airdate= March 4, 2007|season=5|number=12}}</ref> He is easily influenced by anyone he finds interesting and will often try to replicate their lifestyle and behavior merely out of curiosity. He is incredibly jealous of other attractions Lois has in her life, an attitude which has led to extreme situations, such as when he assaulted a whale that kissed Lois at [[SeaWorld]].<ref name="glue" /> In the [[Family Guy season 3|third season]] episode "[[Stuck Together, Torn Apart]]", Peter and Lois split up because of Peter's jealousy, only to discover that Lois has the same character flaw and the two decide to live together with their mutually jealous nature.<ref name="glue">{{cite episode|title=Stuck Together, Torn Apart|episode-link=Stuck Together, Torn Apart|series=Family Guy|credits=Writ.: Hentemann, Mark; Dir.: DiMartino, Michael Dante|network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company]] |airdate=January 31, 2002|season=3|number=19}}</ref> Peter has a very short attention span which frequently leads him to bizarre situations, as Chris points out in "[[Long John Peter]]", after Peter's parrot dies "He will get over it pretty quickly and then move on to another wacky thing", to which Peter finds a [[pipe organ]] and forgets about his parrot (Peter then destroys the pipe organ within seconds and then finds a deed to a cattle ranch).<ref>{{cite episode|title=Long John Peter|episode-link=Long John Peter|series=Family Guy|credits=Writ.: Devanney, Tom; Hentemann, Mark; Dir.: Holmquist, John|network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company]]|airdate= March 4, 2007|season=6|number=12}}</ref>  Peter is also naïve with one example in "[[Airport '07]]" where he thinks his truck will fly by filling it with airplane fuel.

Peter has complex relationships with all three of his children. He normally makes fun of Meg since [[Family Guy season 6|season six]] and treats her with neglect, such as in the episode "[[FOX-y Lady]]", where he, Meg and Chris try to create a cartoon and they exclude Meg and her ideas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.film.com/tv/family-guy/season-8-2008/episode-10-fox-y-lady/26846463 |publisher=[[Film.com]] |title=FOX-Y-Lady |access-date=August 1, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091112195926/http://www.film.com/tv/family-guy/season-8-2008/episode-10-fox-y-lady/26846463 |archive-date=November 12, 2009 }}</ref> Though in some episodes Peter has had a good relationship with Meg, in "[[Hell Comes to Quahog]]" (season 5, 2006), Peter almost tells Meg he loves her and in "[[Road to Rupert]]" (season 5, 2007), he told Meg that he would mistreat in front of the family, but that he would be her friend in secret.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/29/family-guy-road-to-rupert-review|title=Family Guy: "Road to Rupert" Review|date=January 29, 2007|access-date=June 12, 2020|publisher=IGN|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228060233/https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/29/family-guy-road-to-rupert-review|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Iverson|first=Dan|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/25/family-guy-hell-comes-to-quahog-review|title=Family Guy: "Hell Comes to Quahog" Review|access-date=June 12, 2020|date=September 25, 2006|website=IGN|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613024155/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/25/family-guy-hell-comes-to-quahog-review|url-status=live}}</ref> It was presumed though that in "[[Peter's Sister]]" (season 14, 2015), that Peter would stop bullying Meg.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvfanatic.com/2015/11/family-guy-season-14-episode-6-review-peters-sister/|title=Family Guy Season 14 Episode 6 Review: Peter's Sister|date=November 16, 2015|access-date=July 28, 2016|archive-date=August 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810093437/http://www.tvfanatic.com/2015/11/family-guy-season-14-episode-6-review-peters-sister/|url-status=live}}</ref> Peter has a much better, but usually one-sided, relationship with Stewie. Peter and Stewie had their adventures when he took him to [[Walt Disney World Resort]] in the episode "[[The Courtship of Stewie's Father]]" (season 4, 2005).<ref>{{cite video | people=MacFarlane, Seth|date=2005|title=Family Guy season 4 DVD commentary for the episode "The Courtship of Stewie's Father"| medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> With Chris, Peter communicates well, but at times when in need of advice or in an adventure Peter tells Chris to do the opposite of what he should do, like in "[[Long John Peter]]" (season 6, 2008), where Chris is asking for dating advice, and Peter tells him to treat women horribly.<ref>{{cite video|title=[[Family Guy season 7|Family Guy: Volume Seven]]: Commentary for "Long John Peter"|publisher=[[20th Century Fox|Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation]]|type=DVD|people=[[David A. Goodman|Goodman, David A.]]; [[Danny Smith (writer)|Smith, Danny]] (executive producers); Devanney, Tom (consulting producer); Fertman, Kim (co-producer); [[Seth Green|Green, Seth]] (voice actor); [[Dominic Polcino|Polcino, Dominic]] (director)}}</ref>

Peter is best friends with his human-like dog, [[Brian Griffin|Brian]]. In earlier seasons, Brian often served as a voice of reason for Peter, helping him out with issues. Brian is extremely grateful to Peter for picking him up on the side of the road as a stray, shown during a [[Flashback (narrative)|flashback]] in the episode, "[[Brian: Portrait of a Dog]]". His gratitude was affirmed in "[[New Kidney in Town]]", where Brian offers to give up both his kidneys and his life so that Peter could undergo a kidney transplant, although he did not have to do it thanks to another, more suitable donor being found. At Brian's funeral in "[[Life of Brian (Family Guy)|Life of Brian]]", Peter said that Brian was his "best friend in the whole world" and "like a brother to him". In the episode "Forget-Me-Not", Stewie puts Brian and Peter, along with Joe and Quagmire, in a simulation to prove that they would have never been friends if Peter weren't Brian's owner, wherein they all wake up in a hospital after a great disaster of some kind and forget both their names. In the simulation, Joe and Quagmire believe that Peter was the cause of everybody in Quahog disappearing in the great disaster due to a fake newspaper clipping from a laser tag arena that they had visited with Peter earlier in the episode. Brian, who learns of Joe and Quagmire's plans, goes to talk to Peter to warn him, only for them to quickly bond and become great friends with each other. When Joe and Quagmire come to kill him, Brian saves Peter's life by taking a bullet for Peter, wherein the simulation then ends, and Stewie reveals what happened to him.

Beyond Brian and his main trio of Joe, Quagmire, and Cleveland, Peter is shown to be good friends with a few other characters in the show. Peter is shown to be acquainted with local pharmacist Mort Goldman, even going far as to assist Mort in committing insurance fraud by burning down his pharmacy. Mort even becomes Peter's manager when Peter and Quagmire become a musical duo in the episode "[[Into Harmony's Way]]". Peter and his core friend group are also shown to be good friends with Jerome, who initially served as Cleveland's temporary replacement in the episode he was first introduced (due to Cleveland living in Virginia at the time). Jerome would later buy the Drunken Clam in the episode "[[Save the Clam]]" and often interacts with Peter and the gang at the Clam. Peter and his friends even watch over the bar for Jerome in the episode "[[The Woof of Wall Street]]". Peter also maintains a friendly relationship with his co-workers, Opie and Stella.

=== Ancestry ===
{{quote box|align=left|width=20em|quote="Head of the [[Griffin (surname)|Griffin]] family is Irish-American Catholic Peter, an obese and bespectacled man who is just a big child&nbsp;– and has other roots besides his Irish ones, including African-American, Spanish, Scottish and German."|source=James Bartlett, ''The Great Reporter''.<ref name="GreatReporter">{{cite news|url = http://greatreporter.com/mambo/content/view/1383/11/|title = Seth MacFarlane&nbsp;– he's the "Family Guy"|access-date = October 18, 2009|last = Bartlett|first = James|date = March 12, 2007|work = The Great Reporter|publisher = Presswire Limited|archive-date = August 7, 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120807160047/http://greatreporter.com/content/seth-macfarlane-he-s-family-guy|url-status = live}}</ref>}}

Before Peter was born, his mother Thelma went to [[Mexico City]] to have an abortion<ref name="mexico">{{cite episode| title = Padre de Familia | credits=Writ.: Butler, Kirker; Dir.: Michels, Pete | episode-link = Padre de Familia (Family Guy episode) | airdate= November 18, 2007| season = 6| number = 6| series = Family Guy| network=FOX}}</ref> but gave birth during the procedure, and smuggled him home to Providence, Rhode Island, where he spent his childhood.<ref name="mexico" /><ref>{{cite episode| title = I Dream of Jesus | credits=Writ.: Scully, Brian; Dir.:Kim, Mike | episode-link = I Dream of Jesus | airdate= October 5, 2008| season = 7| number = 2| series = Family Guy| network=FOX}}</ref> Peter was raised by Francis and Thelma Griffin in the [[Roman Catholic]] faith.<ref>{{cite episode| title = Family Goy| credits=Writ.: Hentemann, Mark; Dir.: Purdum, James| episode-link = Family Goy| airdate=  October 4, 2009| season = 8| number = 2| series = Family Guy| network=FOX}}</ref> In "[[Peter's Two Dads]]", he discovers that his biological father is an Irishman named Mickey McFinnigan.<ref name="two dads" /> Peter visits Mickey, who initially rejects him. Mickey later accepts him as his son after beating him in the "game of drink" (the game of drink referring to matching shots until one passes out).<ref name="two dads">{{cite episode| title = Peter's Two Dads | credits=Writ.: Smith, Danny; Dir.: Tang, Cindy | episode-link = Peter's Two Dads| airdate= November 2, 2007| season = 5| number = 10| series = Family Guy| network=FOX}}</ref> Mickey is based on the friends of MacFarlane's father. MacFarlane said: "When I was growing up, my father had lots of friends: big, vocal, opinionated New England Irish Catholics. They were all bursting at the seams with personality, and ''Family Guy'' came out of a lot of those archetypes that I spent years observing."<ref name="GreatReporter"/>

Prior to the discovery of his true biological father, it was implied that Griffin had a black ancestor named Nate Griffin, who he discovered was a slave who was owned by his wife Lois' ancestors.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Peter Griffin: Husband, Father... Brother?|episode-link=Peter Griffin: Husband, Father... Brother? |series=Family Guy |credits=Writ.: Barker, Mike; Weitzman, Matt; Dir.: Wood, Scott|network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]]|airdate= December 6, 2001|season=3|number=14}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|title=The Griffin Family History|episode-link=The Griffin Family History |series=Family Guy |credits=Writ.: Viener, John;; Dir.: Moncrief, Zac|network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]]|airdate= May 14, 2006|season=4|number=27}}</ref>

== Reception ==

=== Praise ===
{{quote box
| align = right
| width = 30em
| quote = "Many of the show's funniest moments come courtesy of Peter's shenanigans. Peter practically invented the "manatee joke," those signature cutaway gags that usually have nothing to do with the episode's plot but offer plenty of laughs anyway. These jokes have revealed, among other things, that Peter wasn't born a man, that he only recently graduated the fourth grade, and that even he doesn't find the comedic stylings of Paul Reiser funny".
| source = Ahsan Haque, [[IGN]]<ref name=matee />
}}

Editors of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' put ''Family Guy'' in their contenders for the 2011 [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series]]; they stated that, depending on your sense of humor, Peter is either "a comedy genius" or "an obnoxious idiot".<ref>{{cite web |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=June 7, 2011 |author1=Heisler, Steve |author2=Levine, Stuart |author3=Weisman, Jon |author4=Whipp, Glenn |author5=Kissell, Rick |author6=Justin, Neal |author7=Albiniak, Paige |author8=Littleton Cynthia |name-list-style=amp |url=https://variety.com/2011/tv/awards/emmy-comedy-veteran-contenders-1118037823/ |title=Emmy comedy: Veteran contenders |access-date=July 22, 2011 |archive-date=January 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108135437/http://variety.com/2011/tv/awards/emmy-comedy-veteran-contenders-1118037823/ |url-status=live }}</ref> MacFarlane has been nominated for a [[Primetime Emmy Award]] in the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance|Outstanding Voice-Over Performance]] category several times for voicing Peter and other characters; he won in [[68th Primetime Emmy Awards|2016]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Yee|first1=Lawrence|title=Creative Arts Emmy Awards Complete Winners List|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/awards/2016-creative-arts-emmy-awards-complete-winners-list-1201857343/|access-date=April 24, 2017|work=Variety|date=September 11, 2016}}</ref><ref name="09noms">{{cite web|url=http://cdn.emmys.tv/awards/2009ptemmys/61stemmys_noms.php |title=The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards and 2009 Creative Arts Emmy Awards Nominees are... |access-date=July 22, 2011 |date=July 16, 2009 |publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718001718/http://cdn.emmys.tv/awards/2009ptemmys/61stemmys_noms.php |archive-date=July 18, 2009 }}</ref> He was also nominated in 2008 for an [[Annie Award]] in the Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production or Short Form for voicing Peter.<ref>{{cite web| first=David|last=Cohen|url=https://variety.com/2008/digital/awards/kung-fu-panda-leads-annie-noms-1117996615/ |title= 'Kung Fu Panda' leads Annie noms|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]]|location=Los Angeles, California|date=December 1, 2008 |access-date=July 22, 2011}}</ref>

Peter has ranked in several of [[IGN]]'s top 10s (generally these lists are related to the show).<ref name="Musical Moments">{{cite web|work=[[IGN]]|author=Haque, Ahsan|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/03/04/family-guy-top-10-musical-moments|title=Family Guy: Top 10 Musical Moments|date=March 4, 2009|access-date=March 2, 2020|archive-date=March 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302204235/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/03/04/family-guy-top-10-musical-moments|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Haque |first1=Ahsan |title=Family Guy: Top 10 Fights |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/07/28/family-guy-top-10-fights |website=IGN |access-date=February 20, 2019 |date=July 28, 2009 |archive-date=February 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220122618/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/07/28/family-guy-top-10-fights |url-status=live }}</ref> Among these, Peter ranked the third spot on IGN's "Top 25 ''Family Guy'' Characters," in which it was stated that many of the show's best gags come from Peter and his shenanigans and that "Peter practically invented the "manatee joke".<ref name=matee>{{cite web|first=Ahsan|last=Haque|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/05/28/igns-top-25-family-guy-characters|title=Top 25 Family Guy Characters|website=[[IGN]]|date=May 27, 2009|access-date=July 22, 2011|archive-date=November 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129030409/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/05/28/igns-top-25-family-guy-characters?|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' placed Peter in its "18 Bad TV Dads" list (the list also included characters like [[Homer Simpson]] and [[Al Bundy]]).<ref>{{cite magazine|author=EW Staff|url=https://ew.com/gallery/24-bad-tv-dads/|title=24 Bad TV Dads&nbsp;— Peter Griffin|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=June 7, 2011|access-date=March 2, 2020|archive-date=March 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302204235/https://ew.com/gallery/24-bad-tv-dads/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Criticism and controversy ===
Peter has been criticized for being too similar to [[Homer Simpson]]. Peter has appeared in some episodes of ''[[The Simpsons]]''; in some of the episodes he has been featured in, he has been depicted as Homer Simpson's clone or accused of [[plagiarism]]. [[Ken Tucker]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' wrote that Peter is Homer Simpson "as conceived by a singularly sophomoric mind that lacks any reference point beyond other TV shows".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Ken|last=Tucker|author-link=Ken Tucker|url=https://ew.com/article/1999/04/09/family-guy-2/|title=Family Guy|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=June 9, 1999|access-date=March 2, 2020|archive-date=October 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008092231/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,273010,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Robin Pierson from ''The TV Critic'' criticized the Griffin family for being too similar to the Simpson family, and said that Peter "has Homer Simpson written all over him".<ref name="TV Critic">{{cite web |title=The TV Critic.org – Family Guy, Season 1, Episode 1: Death Has A Shadow |url=http://thetvcritic.org/death-has-a-shadow/ |website=thetvcritic.org |access-date=February 20, 2019 |archive-date=May 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516151811/http://thetvcritic.org/reviews/comedies/family-guy/season-39/death-has-a-shadow/ |url-status=usurped }}</ref> This is eventually made fun of in the episode "[[Ratings Guy]]" when, after Peter ruins television and goes to the networks to reverse the changes, Homer Simpson shows up with the same plight, with Peter going "A-ha! Looks like this is one ''we'' beat ''you'' to!"<ref>{{cite episode| title = Ratings Guy | credits=Writ.:Ihlenfeld, Dave & Wright, David; Dir.: Purdum, James | episode-link = Ratings Guy | airdate= October 7, 2012| season = 11| number = 2| series = Family Guy| network=FOX}}</ref> In "[[The Simpsons Guy]]", a crossover episode between ''Family Guy'' and ''The Simpsons'', the Griffins end up in the town of [[Springfield (The Simpsons)|Springfield]] after their car is stolen, where they meet the Simpsons.

Peter has created some controversy in various episodes of ''Family Guy''. The episode "[[The Cleveland-Loretta Quagmire|The Cleveland–Loretta Quagmire]]" (season 4, 2005) featured a sequence titled "You Have AIDS", in which Peter dances and sings in a [[barbershop quartet]] fashion around the bed of a man with end-stage [[AIDS]] about his diagnosis, which drew protests from several AIDS service organizations.<ref name="fgaids">{{cite magazine|first=Bob|last=Adams| url = http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid19925.asp| title='Family Guy' has fun with AIDS|magazine=[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]]|date = August 22, 2005|access-date = December 12, 2006| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050923175341/http://advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid19925.asp| archive-date = September 23, 2005| quote = ... showcases a comic musical number called 'You Have AIDS.' Overburdened AIDS service organizations are not amused.}}</ref> In the episode "[[When You Wish Upon a Weinstein]]" (season 3, 2003), Peter sings a parody song of "[[When You Wish upon a Star]]", entitled "I Need a Jew"; on October 3, 2007, [[Bourne Co. Music Publishers]] filed a lawsuit accusing the show of infringing its copyright on the original song; Bourne Co., the sole United States copyright owner of the song, alleged the parody pairs a "thinly veiled" copy of their music with [[antisemitic]] lyrics.<ref>{{cite court|litigants=Bourne Co., vs. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Fox Broadcasting Company, Twentieth Century Fox Television, Inc., Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Inc., Fuzzy Door Productions, Inc., The Cartoon Network, Inc., Seth MacFarlane, Walter Murphy |court=[[United States District Court for the Southern District of New York|United States District Court, Southern District of New York]] |date=October 3, 2007|access-date=September 5, 2010|url=http://www.schwimmerlegal.com/family%20guy%20complaint.pdf |format=PDF}}</ref> The complaint was not upheld.<ref>{{cite news|first=Christine|last=Kearney|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE52F6W620090316?feedType=RSS|title="Family Guy" Wins Court Battle Over song|work=[[Reuters]]|date=March 16, 2009|access-date=March 17, 2009|archive-date=May 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517180844/http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/03/16/us-usa-familyguy-song-idUSTRE52F6W620090316?feedType=RSS|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Cultural influence ==

=== Appearances in the media ===
Peter has made several television appearances outside of ''Family Guy'', often in the form of direct [[parody]]. Peter has appeared in two episodes of ''The Simpsons'', poking fun at how the two shows are frequently compared to each other. In the [[The Simpsons season 14|fourteenth season]] episode "[[Treehouse of Horror XIII]]", Peter is depicted as one of [[Homer Simpson]]'s clones,<ref>{{cite news|first=Adam|last=Finley|title=Family Guy and The Simpsons|website=[[TV Squad]]|url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2005/07/14/family-guy-and-the-simpsons/|date=July 14, 2005|access-date=October 19, 2009|archive-date=February 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226192648/http://www.tvsquad.com/2005/07/14/family-guy-and-the-simpsons/|url-status=live}}</ref> and in the [[The Simpsons season 17|seventeenth season]] episode, "[[The Italian Bob]]", photos of Peter and [[Stan Smith (American Dad!)|Stan Smith]] are in a book of criminals, which says they are wanted for "plagiarismo" and "plagiarismo di plagiarismo" respectively.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ryan|last=Budtke|title=The Simpsons: The Italian Bob|url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2005/12/12/the-simpsons-the-italian-bob/|website=[[TV Squad]]|date=December 12, 2005|access-date=October 19, 2009|archive-date=February 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226190953/http://www.tvsquad.com/2005/12/12/the-simpsons-the-italian-bob/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[Futurama]] direct to video film "[[Bender's Big Score]]", [[Philip J. Fry]] is seen nailing a "Family Guy 12 laughs a year" calendar which has Peter and Stewie on the cover. Peter also appeared in various episodes of the show's spin-off ''[[The Cleveland Show]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Tom|last=Conroy|url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reviews_21/Cleveland_Show_acquired_lack_of_taste.asp|title=Cleveland Show, acquired lack of taste|magazine=[[Media Life]] Magazine|date=October 8, 2009|access-date=October 19, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014223117/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reviews_21/Cleveland_Show_acquired_lack_of_taste.asp|archive-date=October 14, 2009}}</ref> In addition, Peter has appeared at the end of the ''[[American Dad!]]'' episode "[[Hurricane! (American Dad!)|Hurricane!]]" with guns on both [[Stan Smith (American Dad!)|Stan Smith]] and former neighbor [[Cleveland Brown]]. During the stand-off, Stan accidentally shoots his wife [[Francine Smith|Francine]], which Peter declares as "classic ''American Dad!''".

=== Merchandise ===
Peter is also featured on the ''[[Family Guy: Live in Vegas]]'' CD,<ref>{{cite news|first=Rob|last=Owen|author-link=Rob Owen (journalist)|url=http://www.pe.com/entertainment/stories/PE_Fea_Ent_D_familyguy.stuff.581fa.html#|title='Family Guy' goes beyond TV with CD, movie|newspaper=[[Press-Enterprise]]|publisher=[[Digital First Media]]|location=Riverside, California|date=May 1, 2005|access-date=October 19, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060720234011/http://www.pe.com/entertainment/stories/PE_Fea_Ent_D_familyguy.stuff.581fa.html|archive-date=July 20, 2006}}</ref> and plays a significant part in ''[[Family Guy Video Game!]]'', the first ''Family Guy'' video game, which was released by [[2K Games]] in 2006.<ref>{{cite news|title='Family Guy' makes for simple-but-funny gaming|newspaper=[[The Gazette (Colorado Springs)|The Gazette]]|publisher=[[Clarity Media Group]]|location=Colorado Springs, Colorado|date=November 24, 2006}}</ref> Peter was used in the game ''Family Guy Online'' as a [[character class]] for the game's character creator.<ref>{{cite web|first=Allan|last=Wallenstein|title='Family Guy' after brand world domination|url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/118/1182626p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110190734/http://pc.ign.com/articles/118/1182626p1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 10, 2012|website=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[j2 Global]]|location=San Francisco, California|date=July 20, 2011|access-date=July 21, 2011}}</ref> In December 2023, Peter was featured as a [[battle pass]] skin in the first season of the fifth chapter of ''[[Fortnite Battle Royale|Fortnite]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sabarwal |first1=Rishabh |title=Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 1 trailer reveals Weapon mods, Train, Wall Running & more |url=https://www.dexerto.com/fortnite/fortnite-chapter-5-season-1-trailer-2411600/ |website=Dexerto |date=December 2, 2023 |access-date=4 December 2023 |archive-date=December 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202193817/https://www.dexerto.com/fortnite/fortnite-chapter-5-season-1-trailer-2411600/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Files containing clips of Peter were data mined from the game as early as February 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Duckworth |first1=Joshua |title=Fortnite Fans Think Family Guy's Peter Griffin is Coming to the Game |url=https://gamerant.com/fortnite-skin-peter-griffin-trending-twitter-why/ |website=GameRant |date=February 20, 2021 |access-date=4 December 2023 |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113134233/https://gamerant.com/fortnite-skin-peter-griffin-trending-twitter-why/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

MacFarlane recorded exclusive material of Peter's voice and other ''Family Guy'' characters for a 2007 pinball machine based the show, created by [[Stern Pinball]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Adam|last=Finley|url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/02/03/family-guy-pinball-is-freakin-sweet/|title=Family Guy pinball is freakin' sweet|website=[[TV Squad]]|date=February 3, 2007|access-date=October 19, 2009|archive-date=September 12, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912203742/http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/02/03/family-guy-pinball-is-freakin-sweet/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2004, the first series of ''Family Guy'' toy figurines was released by [[Mezco Toyz]]; each member of the Griffin family had their own toy, with the exception of Stewie, of whom two different figures were made.<ref>{{cite news|first=Tim|last=Clodfelter|title=Here's the Offbeat Stuff that true geeks are made of|newspaper=[[Winston-Salem Journal]]|publisher=[[Berkshire, Hathaway]]|location=Winston-Salem, North Carolina|date=November 11, 2004|page=33}}</ref> Over the course of two years, four more series of toy figures have been released, with various forms of Peter.<ref>{{cite news|first=Joseph|last=Szadkowski|title=Undead monster doomed to wander the high seas|newspaper=[[The Washington Times]]|publisher=Operations Holdings|location=Washington DC|date= June 3, 2006}}</ref> Alongside the action figures, Peter has been included in various other ''Family Guy''-related merchandise.<ref>{{cite news|first=Andrew|last=Wallenstein|title='Family Guy' after brand world domination |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000902881# |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=[[Eldridge Industries]]|location=Los Angeles, California|date=April 29, 2005 |access-date=October 19, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007044033/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000902881 |archive-date=October 7, 2007 }}</ref>

As of 2009, six books have been released about the ''Family Guy'' [[fictional universe|universe]], all published by [[HarperCollins]] since 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.harpercollins.com/search/index.aspx?kw=family+guy |title=Search results: Family Guy |work=[[HarperCollins]] |access-date=August 23, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102055402/http://www.harpercollins.com/search/index.aspx?kw=family+guy |archive-date=January 2, 2011 }}</ref> This include ''[[Family Guy: It Takes a Village Idiot, and I Married One]]'' ({{ISBN|978-0-7528-7593-4}}), which covers the entire events of the episode "[[It Takes a Village Idiot, and I Married One]]",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780061143328/Family_Guy_It_takes_a_Village_Idiot_and_I_Married_One/index.aspx |title=Family Guy: It Takes a Village Idiot, and I Married One |work=HarperCollins |access-date=December 26, 2008 |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208074710/http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780061143328/Family_Guy_It_takes_a_Village_Idiot_and_I_Married_One/index.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''Family Guy and Philosophy: A Cure for the Petarded'' ({{ISBN|978-1-4051-6316-3}}), a collection of 17 essays exploring the connections between the series and historical philosophers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hartwick.edu/x21175.xml |title=Philosophy Professor Jeremy Wisnewski Publishes Book on ''Family Guy'' |website=[[Hartwick College]] |access-date=August 23, 2009 |date=September 18, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527204648/http://www.hartwick.edu/x21175.xml |archive-date=May 27, 2010 }}</ref> which include Peter as a character. Peter appears in a comic book based on the ''Family Guy'' universe; by [[Titan Magazines|Titan]] Comics.<ref name= comic /> The first comic book was released July 27, 2011.<ref name=comic>{{cite web|first=Marissa|last=Meli|url=http://www.ugo.com/the-goods/the-family-guy-comic-book-is-coming-for-you-nerds |title=The Family Guy Comic Book is Coming For You Nerds |website=[[UGO]] |publisher=[[IGN Entertainment]]|location=New York City|date=June 8, 2011 |access-date=June 22, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110620190831/http://www.ugo.com/the-goods/the-family-guy-comic-book-is-coming-for-you-nerds |archive-date=June 20, 2011 }}</ref>

In 2008, the character appeared in advertisements for [[Subway (restaurant)|Subway]], promoting the restaurant's massive feast sandwich.<ref name="BostonGlobeSubway">{{cite news|first=Brian|last=Steinberg|url=https://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2007/12/30/the_year_in_advertising/?page=2|title=The year in advertising|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|publisher=Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC|location=Boston, Massachusetts|date=December 30, 2007|access-date=October 19, 2009|archive-date=June 1, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601005529/http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2007/12/30/the_year_in_advertising/?page=2|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Subway&nbsp;— it's for the fat-loving guy, too|newspaper=[[The News Tribune]]|publisher=[[The McClatchy Company]]|location=Tacoma, Washington|date=November 30, 2007}}</ref> Chief marketing officer Tony Pace commented "Peter's a good representation of the people who are interested in the Feast, and ''Family Guy'' is a show "that appeals to that target audience."<ref>{{cite news|first=Stewart|last=Elliott|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/business/worldbusiness/18iht-18adco.13790482.html|title=Crude? So what? These characters still find work in ads|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|location=New York City|date=June 18, 2008|access-date=October 19, 2009|archive-date=December 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208175043/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/business/worldbusiness/18iht-18adco.13790482.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' critic Brian Steinberg praised the restaurant's use of the character for the commercials.<ref name="BostonGlobeSubway" />

== Notes ==
{{notelist-ua}}
<references group="lower-alpha"/>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{cite web|title=Peter Griffin|url=https://www.fox.com/familyguy/bios/peter-griffin/|website=Fox|access-date=September 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121206043722/https://www.fox.com/familyguy/bios/peter-griffin/|archive-date=December 6, 2012|publisher=Fox.com}}

{{Family Guy}}
{{Seth MacFarlane}}
{{Portal bar|Television|Animation|Comedy}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Griffin, Peter}}
[[Category:Family Guy characters]]
[[Category:Fictional factory workers]]
[[Category:Fictional alcohol abusers]]
[[Category:Fictional characters who break the fourth wall]]
[[Category:Fictional child abusers]]
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[[Category:Television characters introduced in 1999]]
[[Category:Animated characters introduced in 1999]]
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[[Category:Fictional characters with intellectual disability]]
[[Category:Fictional American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:American male characters in sitcoms]]
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