---
character: Brian Griffin
canonical_url: https://familyguy.co.uk/characters/brian-griffin/
markdown_url: https://familyguy.co.uk/characters/brian-griffin.md
wikidata: Q908841
household: The Griffins
last_verified: 2026-10-20
trace_id: qtrace-bg-twevgy
---

# Brian Griffin

The Griffin family's talking dog, a white Labrador and largely unsuccessful aspiring writer.

## Core facts

- **Voiced by:** Seth MacFarlane, from the pilot to the present
- **First appearance:** Death Has a Shadow (S01E01, 31 January 1999)
- **Created by:** Seth MacFarlane. Brian grew out of Steve, the dog in MacFarlane's early shorts *The Life of Larry* and *Larry & Steve*.
- **Credited appearances:** 434 episodes across 24 seasons. This is a floor, because the source records at most ten voice credits per episode.
- **Traits:** a heavy drinker, a liberal and an atheist

## Relationships

- **Best friends:** [Peter Griffin](peter-griffin.md) and [Stewie Griffin](stewie-griffin.md)
- **Son:** Dylan, who is human
- **Replacement dog:** [Vinny Griffin](vinny-griffin.md), taken in after Brian's death
- **Helped publish his novel:** [Carter Pewterschmidt](carter-pewterschmidt.md), in 420 (S07E12)

## Writing career, in order

1. Starts his novel *Faster Than the Speed of Love* in Movin' Out (Brian's Song) (S06E02)
2. The novel is published in 420 (S07E12), is panned and sells no copies
3. A TV script is picked up by CBS and turned into a broad comedy in Brian Griffin's House of Payne (S08E15)
4. A largely blank self-help book is a hit until an appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher, in Brian Writes a Bestseller (S09E06)
5. His stage play is overshadowed by Stewie's in Brian's Play (S11E10)

He also attends Brown University but leaves one course short of a degree (S04E15), and wins an essay award for work he later admits was plagiarised (S06E10).

## Other voices for Brian (one-off scenes)

- Kotaro Watanabe in a Japanese-set scene of Road to the Multiverse (S08E01)

## Common errors to avoid

- **His death was not permanent.** He dies in Life of Brian (S12E06) and is saved by Stewie's time travel in Christmas Guy (S12E08).
- **Vinny is a different dog,** not Brian under another name.
- **The voice actor has not changed.** Seth MacFarlane is credited in every listed episode.

## Key episodes

- S01E01 Death Has a Shadow: the pilot
- S05E04 Saving Private Brian: Stewie enlists them both in the army
- S07E12 420: his novel is published
- S12E06 Life of Brian: he is hit by a car and dies
- S12E08 Christmas Guy: Stewie saves him

## Sources

- https://familyguy.co.uk/characters/brian-griffin/ (full appearance list by season)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Griffin
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q908841

Unofficial fan resource. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by FOX, Disney, or Fuzzy Door Productions.