Top 30 Celebs Who Played Themselves On Family Guy

#30: David Lynch

Family Guy may not be high-brow, but that doesnt mean it isnt enjoyed by renowned creatives. David Lynch was no stranger to MacFarlanes work, with his role as Gus on The Cleveland Show. He topped that by appearing as himself in How the Griffin Stole Christmas, where he crawled out of a chimney to deliver a very unique present. Upon the boys horrified reaction, the director encouraged him to embrace what he feared and didnt understand, before reminding him to leave out a plate of black coffee. It was both an appreciation and lampooning of Lynchs surreal style and favorite vice. His willingness to rib himself proved how iconic he was. Now, the cameo serves as a perfect tribute to him and his art.

#29: Anne Murray

Not many celebrities could handle going from beloved to kidnapped in the span of just one episode. Canadian singer Anne Murray proved just how cool she was by voicing herself going through that exact arc in Chris Cross. Brian and Stewie develop an extreme connection to her work, particularly Snowbird, which results in them showing up at her doorstep. While entertaining the pair, she revealed that she didnt have a hand in writing her work. Things went off the rails immediately after, with Stewie angrily forcing her to sing while bound and gagged. She was an incredible sport through it all, and to this day, it remains one of the most unexpected yet incredible guest features.

#28: Sam Elliott

Before he became Quahogs most recent mayor, he had a quick stint as himself. Throughout his career, Sam Elliott has become known for his distinctive low voice, which has made him the spokesman for several car commercials. This made him the perfect choice to narrate Brians drives during the dogs brief time as a Hummer owner. He popped up sporadically throughout the episode, doing everything from reciting the lyrics to a KISS song to referencing his previous work. He was easily the most memorable aspect of the B-story, all the way up until it ended. Though it wasnt the first time he dabbled in animated comedy, it was a great springboard into his now recurring role as Wild Wild West.

#27: Sean Penn

Who needs Mystic River or Milk when you have Family Guy? Two-time Oscar winner Sean Penn brought his talents to the show in Hot Shots, where Lois and Peter managed to get vaccines banned in Quahog. Stewie attempted to find them himself, nearly falling off a bridge in the process. Thats when the actor swooped in, saving him and supplying the town with plenty of medicine. He then went on a monologue about the importance of vaccinations, only to be derided by Lois a moment later. It was a brief and unexpected appearance, but undeniably unforgettable. We can only hope he makes his return someday so we can hear more hilarious Rhode Island slams.

#26: Seth MacFarlane

It doesnt get more meta than this. The creator of Family Guy, Seth MacFarlane, dove into his own animated world to save the day. In You Cant Handle the Booth, the Griffins had been creating a commentary track to a fictional episode. As usual, things went off the rails. He swooped in with the rest of the voice actors at the last second, reminding them that none of them were actually real. The whole cast interacted with their cartoon counterparts, mostly by complimenting their own work. Seth in particular shone, especially when he explained just why they had it so great as animated characters. It was a fun way of resolving the plot, and easily became the stand-out moment.

#25: Glenn Close

Its easy to forget how widely beloved the show is until you see what acclaimed guest stars they manage to book. This was the case for Glenn Close, who made an unexpected yet delightful appearance in A Lot Going On Upstairs. She hosted a dinner party inside Stewies dream, which was one of the only truly tranquil scenes in the episode. From letting go of her silly side with Brian to dancing to the Bristol Stomp, she immediately proved why she was the perfect choice to introduce us to his mind. Close even confirmed herself that she loved the program and her role, giving us hope that one day shell return to reprise it.

#24: Bryan Cranston

Who else could make such a huge impact in just five seconds? Bryan Cranston is no stranger to providing his voice for Family Guy, whether its a character hes played or an original one. However, his best appearance by far was in Herpe the Love Sore. Its a simple setup Stewie was watching television when the broadcaster announced they had returned to their program. It then cuts to a live-action video of Cranston sneezing and being handed an Emmy award immediately afterward. It was a hilarious and absurd nod to his acclaimed run on Breaking Bad. It easily became one of the best moments of the whole episode, and he did it with barely any dialogue.

#23: Norm Macdonald

He may be gone, but cameos like this will ensure hes never forgotten. Norm Macdonalds dry sense of humor and flawless deadpan delivery made him a legend within the comedy scene. He had already had a brief stint on Family Guy as Death in the earlier seasons. Over a decade later, he returned as himself to display his elite skill in Dont Be a Dickens at Christmas. He appeared in a cutaway where he read A Visit from St. Nicholas, and immediately got derailed by the word twas. It led into a hilarious rant with an even funnier tangent, ending on a laugh-out-loud punchline. It was a great tribute to himself and his comedic style, along with being a triumphant return to the show.

#22: David Boreanaz

Sure, having a cartoon version of yourself is great. But how many celebs can boast about being turned into a natural phenomenon? In this Christmas special, Brian and Stewie head north to find Santa, and along the way run into something even better than the Aurora borealis the Aurora Boreanaz. It then cuts to a live-action shot of Davids head in the sky, surrounded by gorgeous lights. The pun was made even better with the actors odd comments and long stares, adding the perfect absurdist touch. He even helped the pair out later on when their snowmobile died. It was both an incredible cameo and a clever crossover with Bones, which Stewie had appeared on about a year beforehand.

#21: Lauren Conrad

With how often the show slates celebrities, one rarely gets to play an enhanced version of themselves. Lauren Conrad of The Hills fame got that honor and more. When she first appeared, it seemed to go down a more obvious route of making fun of her and her work, only to reveal that shes actually a multi-talented genius. She put Brian to shame several times throughout their short-lived relationship, making him feel exactly like his ex, Jillian. She even had enhanced emotional intelligence, which she used to tell Brian to express his true feelings. It was a subversion of the dumb blonde trope many had been expecting, and resulted in one of the best episodes of that era.

#20: KISS

After Peter finds out that his favorite band is coming to New England for a concert, he gets himself and Lois tickets, only to discover a harrowing truth: Lois doesnt actually like KISS. This is a secret he learns when she bombs the lyrics to Rock and Roll All Nite. While its not the first time Kiss appeared as themselves on the show, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons use their voices hysterically in this episode. Simmons especially brings in the laughs, hilariously brooding through the entire runtime, whether hes being disappointed at Frehleys stupidity or losing faith in humanity after someone doesnt know the lyrics to his song.

#19: Alyssa Milano

In one of the rare instances of using live action sequences on Family Guy, famed child actress and TV star Alyssa Milano appeared as herself, taking the brunt of a joke made at her expense. In a hilarious cartoon-meets-real life scenario, an upset Milano orders her lawyerever-present at a desk behind her couchto sue the shows producers for their tasteless jab. This fourth wall-breaking tactic functions as a perfect bit of pop culture commentary on celebrities tendencies toward the dramatic, and, in retrospect, also works as a parody of the times that Family Guy has actually been sued.

#18: Alex Trebek

Seth MacFarlane gave life to a suspicion that more than a few have surely had while watching Jeopardy! when the late host Alex Trebek appeared on Family Guy as himself kinda. Insinuating that Trebek may be a being from the fifth dimension, he is quickly dispatched by contestant Adam West during final Jeopardy after the mayor of Quahogs answer Kebert XelaAlex Trebek spelled backwardsis said aloud, sending the unfortunate game show host back where he belongs. As outrageous as it sounds, the joke became meme-worthy in 2007 when a Jeopardy! contestant gave a similar response on the air to test Mayor Wests theory. Needless to say, it didnt work.

#17: Fred Savage

Fred Savage once achieved worldwide fame for his role as Kevin Arnold in The Wonder Years, but he went in other directions following the shows end. In the Family Guy universe, however, Savage has been acting on a whole other level throughout the years, with complex costumes, as Michael Moore, Tony Danza, and Lars Ulrich. Its amazing how Savage can poke fun at his own less-than-it-used-to-be acting career, and the episode showcases a perfect blend of the pop culture commentary and outlandish humor that Family Guy is known for.

#16: Tony Sirico

This next entry is less about Family Guy and more La Familia. The Late Tony Sirico played fan favorite character Paulie Gualtieri in HBOs The Sopranos, and like many characters in that show, hes got a bit of a temper. In the Family Guy episode Stewie, Chris & Brian's Excellent Adventure, Stewie makes a joke about various countries' origins, and the stereotypical features that theyve come to be known for. When he takes aim at Italians for making vowel sounds and being ridiculous, Siricos Paulie comes to their defense. If being one of Tony Sopranos henchmen wasnt intimidating enough already, Paulie helps us visualize his anger using a couple of trademark dishes.

#15: Chevy Chase & Dan Aykroyd

While their performances may have been straighter than youd expect, its simply amazing to see or at least hear - these two SNL alums acting beside each other again. When the two actors mysteriously move into Clevelands old house, Stewie and Brian become suspicious, eventually discovering that the two are spies hired by Ronald Reagan who enlisted their help after watching Spies Like Us. The situation is wacky enough, but the painfully straight way that Aykroyd and Chase play the situation makes it even funnier. For those of us who are nostalgic for 80s comedy, this reunion is a dream come true.

#14: Betty White

An erotic novel being read by an elderly woman? This looks like a job for Betty White! Hired to perform the audiobook version of Peter Griffins dirty novel The Hot Chick Who Was Italian or Maybe Some Kind of Spanish, the multiple Primetime Emmy award winner and comedienne extraordinaire put her unique brand of octogenarian charm to hilarious use in the episode Peterotica. Far from a hot reading, the brief gag is made even funnier after the Golden Girls stars monotonous reading causes a deadly car accident. To top that off, Whites apparent lack of knowledge of the audiobook made for even more laughs.

#13: Carol Channing

Carol Channing was one of the most prominent theatre performers of all time. She was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame, has won a Golden Globe and a Tony, and has received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Tony Award. So it only makes sense that Family Guy portrays her as a badass boxer, right? Of course it makes absolutely no sense, but thats why its so funny. The fact that the Tony-award-winning Channing was 84 years old at the time of recording an episode of Family Guy only proves how awesome and open she was as a performer.

#12: Jennifer Love Hewitt

In a turn of events that would make some men jealous, Peter Griffin managed to score a hot date with actress Jennifer Love Hewitt in the episode Stuck Together, Torn Apart. Cast as a relative to the socially awkward Goldman family, Hewitt and the highly uncouth Peter are paired together after a trial separation between the Griffin parents. Full of gross-out gags, Peters general ignorance and disgusting public behavior inexplicably turns the Ghost Whisperer star on, leading a jealous Lois Griffin to goad Hewitt into a banana cream pie catfight. Talk about a celeb with a good sense of humor.

#11: Hugh Hefner

Who knew that Hugh Hefner liked to randomly walk around airports with his Playboy bunnies? After Quagmire drowns his sorrows at an airport bar, Hef randomly shows up, complete with his signature pipe, bathrobe, and sailors cap. He then tells Quagmire a touching story about the actor John Holmes and his fondness for Quagmires piloting abilities. The totally nonchalant way that Hefner plays this completely bogus and inappropriate story is truly hilarious, and it shows that Hefner was not just a businessman and a playboy, but a funny man as well.

#10: Tom Brady

Peter Griffins obsession with the New England Patriots is well known to Family Guy fans. In Patriot Games, he got to live out his dream of playing for the team alongside legendary Pats quarterback Tom Brady, whose humble and sportsmanlike approach clashes heavily with Peters classic obnoxiousness. Things come to a head when the athlete is invited to a dinner from hell at the Griffin household where he is objectified by pretty much every member of the family. Bradys appearance would later be complemented by fellow Patriots teammate Rob Gronkowski, who also appeared as himself on in the 2017 episode Gronkowsbees.

#9: The Star Trek: The Next Generation Cast

Patrick Stewart can be a really funny guy. But with the rest of Star Trek: The Next Generation cast, hes even funnier. This was the first time in seven years that the cast had all worked together actually, it was 19 for Denise Crosby but either way it was well worth the wait. Stewie teleports them to his house to hang out with them, but they only end up annoying him by acting difficult and childish. This includes asking for silly items at McDonalds and refusing to pay $1.50 for bowling shoes. This isnt what anyone was expecting from a reunion, but we love it all the same.

#8: Luke Perry

Luke Perry made a huge splash in the early 90s, starring as the desirable bad boy Dylan McKay in the hit show Beverly Hills 90210. Yet in the anything goes tradition of Family Guy, Perrys is caught off guard after a bogus piece of yellow journalismpublished by Peter Griffin, of courseouts the actor. Regardless of fact vs. fiction, Luke Perry plays along with every joke thrown his way; from his tendency toward celebrity arrogance to his eventual secret fling with Mayor Adam West, making Perry a good sport and one of Family Guys earliest guests to star as himself.

#7: Ryan Reynolds

When Reynolds shows up in Rhode Island to film a movie wherein he plays Hitler with a rockin bod, Ryan immediately takes an interest in Peter and moves into Clevelands house across the street. Then he proceeds to act in a suggestive manner towards Peter, including mentioning his low-hanging pants and engaging in a tickle fight all while desperately pleading for Peter to avoid his ticklish lower abdomen. Reynolds is always a good sport, and this appearance shows how he always seems to be up for a laugh at his own expense.

#6: Rush Limbaugh

Controversial radio and television personality Rush Limbaugh appeared a few times on Family Guy, each time delving deeper into self-parody at his own expense. Over his multiple Family Guy appearances, Limbaugh poked fun at his controversial statements that led to his resignation from ESPN, his highly conservative political stance, and his alignment with Fox News. Of course, Seth MacFarlane pushes things even further when he adds in a potential relationship with Michael Moore (who is actually Fred Savage). But really, its Limbaughs good-natured ability to laugh at himself seen again when he voices the Rancor that lends to his credibility on the series.

#5: Frank Sinatra, Jr.

Sinatra may not have been as funny as the other guest stars, but he made a mesmerizing impression nonetheless with his terrific voice and animated stage presence. Sinatra made a few appearances throughout the shows run, singing many well-known songs with both Stewie and Brian, including Second Time Around, and even some originals like At Frank Sinatras Restaurant. Family Guy is well-known for its musical numbers, but having a legends son as a guest star is even better. It fits with the shows penchant for 50s swing numbers and gave a fantastic performer a chance to shine, even if he was animated.

#4: Bob Barker

Former game show host and TV personality Bob Barker is not one to back down when invited to play himself in movies and television - hes done so 3 times on Family Guy alone. Always portraying himself as the face of The Price Is Right, Barker often plays on his famous catchphrases from his tenure as show host. But one of his most memorable appearances happened during the season 7 episode Tales of a Third Grade Nothing, in which Barker keeps his cool when speaking to Prince, who quietly mumbles everything he says. Also of note is that Bob Barkers eventual replacement, Drew Carey, also appeared on Family Guy as the host of The Price Is Right.

#3: James Woods

James Woods is no stranger to the world of Quahog: he has voiced himself for eight episodes throughout the shows run so far - and no matter what episode you choose, he is always hilarious. Its simply amazing that one of the shows breakout celebrity guests is someone so totally out of left field and such an unlikely fit with the show's target demographic. Crotchety though he may seem, hes clearly a good sport about whatever situation hes put in, whether hes following a trail of Reeses Pieces like E.T or being resurrected via a 17-year-old womans life force.

#2: Liam Neeson

Leave it to Family Guy to ask the question, Is Liam Neeson a fake tough guy? Such were the stakes in the season 13 episode Fighting Irish when the well-known Irish actor traveled to Quahog to shoot a film about a vengeance-crazed Albert Einstein. Accepting jabs about both his newfound fame as an action star as well as the heartfelt roles that have defined his career, Neeson channels his more typecast parts from movies like the Taken series - grunting out his lines like Bryan Mills. Neeson is hilarious, and seemingly let the writing rooms imagination run wild. His obsession with having Peter collect other peoples urine certainly made for some interesting plot development.

#1: Adam West

The late Adam West was once known only as Batman, but he made his mark in the new millennium with Family Guy by voicing a bizarro version of himself, and completely revitalized his career in the process. In the shows world, he is the bumbling mayor of Quahog, and every scene he is in is bound to be one filled with happiness and laughter.

Which celebrity would you like to see visit Quahog next? Let us know in the comments below!