Since 1999, Family Guy has become a mainstay of adult animation. Created by Seth MacFarlane, the series centers around the dysfunctional Griffin family and their absurd adventures in the fictional town of Quahog, Rhode Island. Over 400 episodes later, it’s safe to say that Family Guy has introduced some of the most iconic (and controversial) animated characters in TV history.

Love it or hate it, Family Guy thrives on characters who are outrageous, unpredictable, and surprisingly enduring. Some are the heart of the show, others provide chaos, and a few steal every scene they’re in. So, who are the most liked characters in Family Guy history? Let’s count down the most popular figures that keep fans tuning in—season after season.

1. Brian Griffin

Voiced by: Seth MacFarlane

Brian, the family dog, is one of the show’s smartest—and most hypocritical—characters. He drinks martinis, drives a Prius, writes novels, and acts as the show’s liberal voice of reason. But it’s his contradictions that make him so compelling. He gives long-winded rants about politics, only to immediately fall into the same selfish patterns he criticizes in others.

Despite his flaws, Brian has a loyal fanbase. His intellectual banter with Stewie provides some of the show’s most memorable and emotional moments, especially in the “Road to…” episodes. Brian is the closest thing Family Guy has to a straight man—and that’s saying something for a talking dog.

Fan Favorite Moments:

  • Singing duets with Stewie
  • “Brian & Stewie” (Season 8) vaults his character into deeper territory
  • His brief (and hated) death in Season 12 caused a fan uproar, proving just how beloved he is

 2. Stewie Griffin

Voiced by: Seth MacFarlane

Stewart Gilligan Griffin, a.k.a. Stewie, is hands down the show’s breakout star. Originally introduced as a matricidal genius bent on world domination, Stewie has evolved into Family Guy’s most dynamic and fan-favorite character. Today, he’s less focused on killing Lois and more concerned with time travel, musical numbers, and deep philosophical questions.

His complex relationship with Brian has made for some of the show’s best episodes. Stewie walks the line between precocious child and repressed adult, with a British accent and an arsenal of sci-fi gadgets.

Why Fans Love Him:

  • He’s both adorable and dangerous
  • His emotional vulnerability gives him surprising depth
  • His intelligence and sarcasm deliver some of the show’s most clever dialogue

Iconic Episodes:

  • “Road to the Multiverse”
  • “Stewie Kills Lois” / “Lois Kills Stewie”
  • “The Big Bang Theory” (Season 9, Episode 16 – a time-travel masterpiece)

 3. Peter Griffin

Voiced by: Seth MacFarlane

Peter is the chaotic, impulsive, and often idiotic patriarch of the Griffin family. While he’s frequently the source of the show’s most outrageous (and offensive) moments, fans still love Peter because of his sheer unpredictability. He’s like a cartoon version of Homer Simpson dialed up to 100—and with even less impulse control.

Peter’s cutaway gags, brawls with the giant chicken, and absurd jobs (fisherman, Renaissance fair knight, member of the Pawtucket Patriot brewery) are staples of the show’s comedy.

Fan-Favorite Traits:

  • Comedic timing and physical humor
  • His bizarre logic and strange ideas are meme-worthy gold
  • His love for his family—when it occasionally shines through—is genuine

Unforgettable Moments:

  • “Petarded” (Peter discovers he’s legally mentally challenged)
  • “Death Is a Bitch” (Peter fakes his death and meets the Grim Reaper)
  • His endless battles with Ernie the Giant Chicken

 4. Glenn Quagmire

Voiced by: Seth MacFarlane

Giggity. Quagmire is Peter’s neighbor and one of the show’s most exaggerated characters. A former Navy man and commercial pilot, Quagmire is known for his hyper-sexualized behavior and catchphrases. While his antics often push the boundaries of good taste, his comic timing and unpredictable behavior make him a fan favorite.

In later seasons, Quagmire gets more backstory—including a strained relationship with his transgender father and a surprisingly emotional arc when he learns he has a daughter.

Why Fans Like Him:

  • Wild card energy in every episode
  • Reliable punchline delivery
  • His rare moments of humanity (like bonding with Brian or his daughter) show unexpected layers

Best Episodes:

  • “Quagmire’s Baby”
  • “Airport ’07”
  • “The Giggity Wife”

5. Mayor Adam West

Voiced by: Adam West (RIP)

One of the most surreal and beloved supporting characters, Mayor Adam West is Quahog’s unhinged leader. Voiced by the late Adam West himself, the character is a caricature of his real-life persona—complete with nonsensical logic, random obsessions (like digging holes), and absurd speeches.

Fans loved the meta nature of the role, with Adam West embracing his legacy while making himself the butt of the joke. After West’s death in 2017, the character was retired, but his legacy still lives on as one of the show’s funniest and most quotable side characters.

Best Moments:

  • Believing his shadow is a monster
  • Declaring his cat must be buried with full honors
  • His epic battle with a giant rat in “The Tan Aquatic with Steve Zissou”

6. Cleveland Brown

Voiced by: Mike Henry (Seasons 1–19), Arif Zahir (Season 20–Present)

Cleveland is the soft-spoken, mild-mannered neighbor of the Griffins who went on to star in his own spin-off, The Cleveland Show. While not the most outrageous of the bunch, Cleveland is beloved for his calm demeanor, odd laugh, and the iconic moment of his bathtub falling out of his house.

Fans welcomed him back to Family Guy after the end of his solo series, and his return to the core cast felt like reuniting with an old friend.

Best Episodes:

  • “The Cleveland–Loretta Quagmire”
  • “Love, Blactually”
  • Any time he goes “No no no no nooooooo!” as he falls

 7. Chris Griffin

Voiced by: Seth Green

The often-ignored middle child of the Griffins, Chris is dimwitted but full of heart. While he doesn’t always get the most screen time, episodes that focus on Chris highlight his kindness, loyalty, and unique sense of humor.

His awkward puberty storyline, strange relationship with his evil monkey, and wholesome bond with Peter make him a surprisingly endearing character.

Best Moments:

  • His emo makeover in “And the Wiener Is…”
  • Becoming a Renaissance painter in “Saving Private Brian”
  • Confronting the evil monkey in his closet

8. Meg Griffin

Voiced by: Mila Kunis

Poor Meg. The Griffin family’s oldest child is constantly the butt of jokes—from being ignored by her family to being ridiculed for existing. But in recent years, fans have rallied behind Meg, seeing her mistreatment as both hilarious and tragic.

Meg is more complex than the show gives her credit for, and in episodes where she finally fights back, viewers get to see a glimpse of her strength and wit.

Fan-Favorite Moments:

  • Standing up to her family in “Seahorse Seashell Party”
  • Joining a violent girl gang in “Hell Comes to Quahog”
  • Her college road trip in “Dial Meg for Murder”

Honorable Mentions

  • Joe Swanson: The wheelchair-bound cop with a love of justice and insane upper body strength.
  • Tom Tucker: The mustached anchorman always ready to report on the chaos in Quahog.
  • Seamus: The peg-legged, peg-armed fisherman whose every line is comedy gold.
  • Herbert: The creepy old man with a soft voice and even creepier motives—still somehow a fan-favorite.

Final Thoughts

The brilliance of Family Guy lies in its characters. Whether you love the show’s shock humor or tune in for the occasional heartfelt episode, these characters are what keep fans engaged. They’re crude, unpredictable, and at times offensive—but they’re also some of the most memorable figures in animated television.

From the villainous genius of Stewie to the suave sarcasm of Brian, the characters of Family Guy have carved out their own place in pop culture. They’re weird, wild, and, for better or worse, we just can’t quit them.