Originally, Brooks wanted Groening to adapt his Life in Hell characters for the show. In the mid '80s, renowned producer James L. Brooks approached Groening about using the characters from "Life in Hell" on a new show he was developing for comedian Tracey Ullman. Groening was born on February 15, 1954, in Portland, Oregon, in the United States. Eventually, he was finally asked to give up the "music" column. From his friends at the "alternative" newspapers like The Village Voice that run his comic strip, Mr. Groening gets a fair amount of flak, he says, about "selling out." [39], Life in Hell caught the attention of Hollywood writer-director-producer and Gracie Films founder James L. Brooks, who had been shown the strip by fellow producer Polly Platt. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/matthew-abram-groening-2308.php, 20th Century Film & Theater Personalities, 21st Century Film & Theater Personalities, 20th Century American Film & Theater Personalities, 21st Century American Film & Theater Personalities, Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour), Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less). After graduation, Matt Groening moved to Los Angeles, in 1977, with the aim of becoming a writer. . [80] He described the fantasy-oriented series as originating in a sketchbook full of "fantastic creatures we couldn't do on The Simpsons". "Simpsons" executive producer Mike Scully, who took over as show runner, or head writer, in 1996, has said that in order to write for "The Simpsons," a writer must have "a healthy disrespect for everything Americans hold dear." "And to be honest, the whole 'Simpsons' project was a project to see how far I could go in the mainstream. He currently serves at The Simpsons as an executive producer and creative consultant. [12] Although Groening previously stated, "I'll never give up the comic strip. [95] In 2020, their daughter Nirvana was born. Matt Groening has made appearances in films and documentaries, such as, Comic Book: The Movie (2004), The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2005), The Seventh Python (2008) and I Know That Voice (2013). Bush family aside, who is not a fan of Matt Groening? A few years earlier they had set up their own syndicate, ACME Features, to distribute the strip. 8) Does this fill you with shame and guilt and cheese puffs? Matt Groening received the British Comedy Award for his Outstanding contribution to comedy. The couple has two sons, Homer and Abe. [10], Matt's grandfather, Abraham Groening, was a professor at Tabor College, a Mennonite Brethren liberal arts college in Hillsboro, Kansas, before moving to Albany College (now known as Lewis and Clark College) in Oregon in 1930. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 14, 2012. A self-published anthology of "Love Is Hell" led to a deal with Pantheon Books, and eventually Caplan began running Life In Hell Inc. This one is a Cinderella story: humble beginings, the insidious discouragement of petty authority figures, the unexpected intervention by fairy godproducer James L. Brooks and the eventual (stormy) marriage to a wealthy potentate (Rupert Murdoch's Fox network). If you answered no, you are also probably a fan of Matt Groening. [17] He served as the editor of the campus newspaper, The Cooper Point Journal, for which he also wrote articles and drew cartoons. The Simpsons premiered in 1989 with him as creator, writer, voice actor and executive producer. He is 68 years old. It is currently running in its 27th season. They have two sons, Homer and Abe, now 13 and 10.). Lisa is a producer and is famous for her work on Christmas at Pee Wees Playhouse (1988), Arnold Escapes from Church (1988), and The Arnold Waltz (1990). . he said in a Mother Jones interview. He married Agustina Picasso 2011 . But the conformity of a suburban existence soon proved dull, even to a young Groening. Groening went to Ainsworth Elementary School and Lincoln High School. Before proceeding to the informational portion of this essay, please take a moment to complete the following questionnaire: 1) Are you disillusioned? MATT GROENING would like to tell you a few things about his family: His father, Homer, is not bald. During this time he was the editor of college paper The Cooper Point Journal. The PJs (1999-2001) [26][32] Vowell also gave Groening his own weekly music column, "Sound Mix," in 1982. In 1987, Groening married fellow Weekly staffer Deborah Caplan. (2015) Unlike most shows, which he finds sluggish, "The Simpsons" is written to move at a manic pace. James L. Brooks negotiated a provision in the contract with the Fox network that prevented Fox from interfering with the show's content. "But I thought I would have a little bit more leeway since I made Fox so much money with 'The Simpsons. His other role model was cartoonist, Charles Monroe Schulz, who was known for his comic creation Peanuts. Groening celebrates his birthday on February 15th, every year. Homer Groening (born 1991) He made his first professional cartoon sale to the avant-garde Wet magazine in 1978. [51] At the time Groening was primarily drawing in black and "not thinking that [Bart] would eventually be drawn in color" gave him spikes that appear to be an extension of his head. ", Not that Fox isn't grateful: "If you go back 10 years ago, we didn't have a lot of successful shows on the air," 20th Century Fox Television co-president Gary Newman told Daily Variety in January 2000, about nine months after the debut of "Futurama." [15] Life in Hell made its official debut as a comic strip in the Reader on April 25, 1980. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. He hates having to choose among them, he says, because doing one means not doing the others. The couple have two children together: a son, Homer, and a daughter, Maggie. Deborah Caplan (m.1986, d.1999) Agustina Picasso (m.2011) Children: Abe Groening, Homer Groening, Nathaniel Philip Picasso Groening, India Mia Groening, Venus Ruth Groening, Luna Margaret Groening, Sol . Born Matthew Abram Groening on 15th February, 1954 in Portland, Oregon, he is famous for Creator of The Simpsons, Futurama and Life In Hell. "When I was a kid, my friends and I used to put on puppet shows, make comic books, and I decided that's what I wanted to do, to play in every medium," he said. His sister Maggie is not mute. Some seven years after Binky and his one-eared son, Bongo, first began delving into their epic disaffection, and the heroically insecure (but enterprising) gay twins Akbar and Jeff opened the first of their reprobate money-making "huts," "The Simpsons," the first animated series to hit prime time in 20 years, made its television debut. The Simpsons is a satirical depiction of American life, epitomized by the Simpson family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. 6) Are you trapped in a loveless cubicle? He married Deborah Caplan 1986 . By high school, Groening had learned to channel his subversive leanings in a manner that engaged his classmates. [100][101], Groening was mentioned in a lawsuit by Virginia Giuffre over allegedly being forced by sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein to massage Groening's feet while on Epstein's jet in 2001. Before, Groening was married to his first wife Deborah Caplan. "Technically, I'm an agnostic, but I definitely believe in hell especially after watching the . It was Mr. Groening's girlfriend, Deborah Caplan (now his wife), who in 1984 gave the comic strip its first lift by forming a small company to publish a collection of his cartoons, "Love Is Hell . And judging from the success of "The Simpsons," what Americans hold most dear is disrespect itself. But mainly, he is Matt Groening. [79] On July 25, 2017, the series, Disenchantment, was ordered by Netflix. Executive producer and show runner Mike Scully once told the New Yorker, "People are always asking why 'The Simpsons' is still so good after all these years, and, at the risk of pissing off all the other writers, I think I'd have to say that the main reason is probably George." In Groening's version, the boy dies from his head injury and returns as a ghost every Halloween, a morbid tale that surprisingly became the winning entry. In 2002, he won the National Cartoonist Society Reuben Award for his work on Life in Hell. Deborah Caplan and Matt Groening are divorced after a marriage of 13 years. "Teachers, principals, clergymen, politicians -- for the Simpsons, they're all goofballs, and I think that's a great message for kids." creator, Craig Bartlett, who was married to Groening's sister, Lisa, until they divorced in 2015. After graduating in 1977, Groening headed to Los Angeles with the idea of pursuing a writing career. Groening has won 13 Primetime Emmy Awards, 11 for The Simpsons and 2 for Futurama, and a British Comedy Award for "outstanding contribution to comedy" in 2004. She married Groening in 1987 and they got divorced in 1999, after 13 years of marriage. And for a guy whose career has been dedicated to skewering television, crass commercialism, "evil billionaire tyrants" (how boss Rupert Murdoch described himself in a cameo on "The Simpsons") and brainless consumers, Groening sure does love his merchandise. Matt Groening is an American cartoonist, writer, producer, and director. [69], In 1995, Groening got into a major disagreement with Brooks and other Simpsons producers over "A Star Is Burns", a crossover episode with The Critic, an animated show also produced by Brooks and staffed with many former Simpsons crew members. The duo left the newspaper company and Matt Groening founded the Acme Features Syndicate that distributed Life in Hell. Homer was a cartoonist, advertiser, writer, and a documentary filmmaker. He is not. When Comedy Central committed to sixteen new episodes, it was decided that four straight-to-DVD films Bender's Big Score (2007), The Beast with a Billion Backs (2008), Bender's Game (2008) and Into the Wild Green Yonder (2009) would be produced. [71] He has had several cameo appearances in the show, with a speaking role in the episode "My Big Fat Geek Wedding". They had 2 children. The pair married in 1986 and had two sons together namely, Homer (who goes by Will) and Abe, both of whom he occasionally portrays as rabbits in Life in Hell. [52] Lisa's physical features are generally not used in other characters; for example, in the later seasons, no character other than Maggie shares her hairline. He wasn't serious. Patricia was an art dealer. Deborah Kaplan Entertainment - Director Why Famous: is an American screenwriter and film director Age: N/A Deborah Kaplan's Relationships (2) Matt Groening Arts - Other Why Famous: The Simpsons and Futurama (2006). "I feel like it's a tidal wave I'm surfing on," he said. It may simply be, he speculates, "that people don't get it.". Groening's rough-and-tumble early days in Tinseltown provided endless fodder for a comic he titled Life in Hell, featuring the anthropomorphic rabbit Binky. They divorced in 1999, after 13 years of marriage.Following this, Groening was in a six-year commitment with dating expert Lauren Frances. In high school, he drew cartoons for the school newspaper until he was kicked off the staff. Simon was also responsible for hiring the writing staff, who shaped the characters into what they are today. Matt Groening married Deborah Caplan in 1986. She married Groening in 1987 and they got divorced in 1999, after 13 years of marriage. Quote Of The Day | Top 100 Quotes, See the events in life of Matt Groening in Chronological Order, (Cartoonist, Writer and Producer Known for His TV Series The Simpsons, Futurama and Disenchantment), https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/matt-groening-netflix-in-talks-report/, http://www.technobuffalo.com/2016/01/17/simpsons-creator-matt-groening-in-talks-with-netflix-for-new-animated-series/, http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/matt-groening-netflix-comedy-talks/, http://www.shannonmcclean.com/new-pagemosaics/. "[19] The show premiered on March 28, 1999. AT WORK WITH: Matt Groening; The Fun of Being Bart's Real Dad, https://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/25/garden/at-work-with-matt-groening-the-fun-of-being-bart-s-real-dad.html. Born in 1954 in Portland, Oregon, The Simpsons creator Matt Groening had, in many ways, an idyllic childhood. After graduating in 1977, Groening headed to Los Angeles with the idea of pursuing a writing career. He made a name exploring his own alienation and a fortune exposing the absurdities and hypocrisies of our culture, and nowadays, Groening is as powerful an insider as they come. He is the creator of the comic strip Life in Hell (19772012) and the television series The Simpsons (1989present), Futurama (19992003, 20082013, 2023present[2]), and Disenchantment (2018present). Again, to his surprise, he won. Futurama: Benders Big Score (2007) The Simpsons was mostly a satire aimed at politicians, teachers, police and other authorities. Reply. They had 2 children, Homer (32) and Abe (30). The goal of the company, she told Newsweek, was to "keep the machine of Matt going." Groening is the brother-in-law of the creator of Hey Arnold !, Craig Barlett, who is married to his sister Lisa. The strip gained traction after a shift in tone, with Binky becoming less preachy and more of a victim of the cultural and social forces that browbeat dissidents into submission. Leslie Jordan. By installment No. Groening made his first professional cartoon sale of Life in Hell to the avant-garde magazine Wet in 1978. The animated shorts that Groening created were The Simpsons (1989). [107] He received a British Comedy Award for "outstanding contribution to comedy" in 2004. Now, though, "The Simpsons" offices at Fox, housed in what looks like a cheap motel, run on a routine, and he has eased off a bit. [110], He received the 2,459th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 14, 2012. [86][88] He illustrated the cover of Frank Zappa's posthumous album Frank Zappa Plays the Music of Frank Zappa: A Memorial Tribute (1996). She died of heart failure on January 24, 2013. Groening's success owes as much to his own work as it does to the work of a slew of others, including co-creators James Brooks and Sam Simon, and "The Simpsons'" writing staff. His television series titled Futurama also earned him the Annie Award for Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production in the years 2010 and 2014, while his other work The Simpsons won the award in this category in the years 2011, 2012 and 2015. Groening stands at a height of 5 ft 8 in (approx:1.7 m). His spirit of solidarity with children extends to his own sons, Homer, 3, and Abe, 1, toward whom, he confesses, he is "indulgent and spoiling. [48] When Groening originally designed Homer, he put his own initials into the character's hairline and ear: the hairline resembled an 'M', and the right ear resembled a 'G'. He also co-wrote and produced The Simpsons Movie, released in 2007. His animated series The Simpsons have won the Primetime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Animated Program for the years 1990, 1991, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000,2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008 and 2011. In 2013, the couple had a son named Nathaniel Philip Picasso. In 2012, a 3-D short film based on The Simpsons was released with the title The Longest Daycare. As described in .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}The Simpsons: An Uncensored, Unauthorized History, he grew up next to the old Portland Zoo, which, after reopening in a new location in 1959, became a wonderland for Groening and his friends with its abandoned animal enclosures. (After 13 years of marriage, Caplan filed for divorce in March 1999, the same month as Groening's second show, "Futurama," premiered. If you answered yes to one or more of the above questions, you are probably a fan of Matt Groening. Groening also collectively donated to the Democratic senatorial campaign committee and to the Senate campaigns of Barbara Boxer (California), Dianne Feinstein (California), Paul Simon (Illinois), Ted Kennedy (Massachusetts), Carl Levin (Michigan), Hillary Clinton (New York), Harvey Gantt (North Carolina), Howard Metzenbaum (Ohio), and Tom Bruggere (Oregon). By coincidence, they chose "Abraham", unaware that it was the name of Groening's grandfather. The couple has two sons, Homer and Abe. His wife is Agustina Picasso (m. 2011), Deborah Caplan (m. 1986-1999) Matt Groening Net Worth His net worth has been growing significantly in 2020-2021. Matt Groening (1954-) biography on Film Reference. She joked that "his godfather is SpongeBob's creator Stephen Hillenburg". I vowed I would never forget what it was like.". The show centers on Fry, a pizza-delivery man who is accidentally frozen in a cryogenics lab and defrosted 1,000 years later. Television and those who watch it are remorselessly lampooned. On this date in 1954, Matthew Abraham Groening was born in Portland, Ore., to Homer Groening, an advertising agent and amateur cartoonist, and Margaret Wiggum. Matthew Abram Groening ( / ren / GRAY-ning; born February 15, 1954) [1] is an American cartoonist, writer, producer, and animator. (Statements like these, of course, set off fits of right-wing apoplexy, much to the amusement and delight of everyone else. The message? While at college, he befriended famous cartoonist Lynda Barry, whom he also regards as a great inspiration. [15] He befriended fellow cartoonist Lynda Barry after discovering that she had written a fan letter to Joseph Heller, one of Groening's favorite authors, and had received a reply. The couple also welcomes daughters Luna Margaret and India Mia born in 2015. He also made appearances in episodes of television series The Pitts, Portlandia and Space Ghost Coast to Coast. So, how much is Matt Groening worth at the age of 67 years old? He donned the role of an executive producer for animated films Futurama: Bender's Game (2007), Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs (2008), Futurama: Bender's Game (2008), and Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder (2009). Deborah is a publisher. Were it not for the clueless executives, the inane network decisions, the petty betrayals at the hands of people who benefit from his success, he might have stagnated by now. He found some work along those lines, whipping up slogans for horror movies, but also took on a series of jobs that included chauffeur, dishwasher and record store clerk to make a living. Fearing the loss of ownership rights, he created a new set of characters, the Simpson family. Spouse/Ex-: Agustina Picasso, Deborah Caplan, siblings: Lisa Groening, Maggie Groening, Mark Groening, Patty Groening, children: Abe Groening, Homer Groening, Nathaniel Philip Picasso Groening, Ancestry: Norwegian American, Canadian American, Notable Alumni: The Evergreen State College, Founder/Co-Founder: Bongo Comics Group, Zongo Comics, The Curiosity Company, Quotes By Matt Groening | Matt and Deborah separated in 1999. Furthermore, the once-struggling artist was about to be presented with the business offer that would change his life forever. Groening worked at the Reader for six years, as a typesetter, editor, paste-up artist and rock critic. But that's not my point of view.". Even to this date, it continues to appear in many other alternative newspapers. Matts youngest child is named after writer Nathaniel West. Then Fox moved "Futurama" to Tuesday night, and audiences fell to about 8 million. In the spirit of youthful rebellion, he makes pointed digs at Fox in front of network officials. "I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, because this is how everyone is treated [in Hollywood]," he told Mother Jones. Matt Groening Futurama A team of production companies adapted The Simpsons into a half-hour series for the Fox Broadcasting Company. ------------------------------------------. It sneaked up on everybody. Maratona Especial Os Simpsons (since 2017). But while he used to drive a beat-up Dodge Dart, he now drives a sleek new BMW. Matt Groening Love Is Hell His then-girlfriend and co-worker at the Reader Deborah Caplan offered to publish "Love is Hell", a series of relationship-themed Life in Hell strips, in book form. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. He received the Annie Award (for accomplishments in animation) in the Best Animated Television Production category for his series The Simpsons for six years from the year 1992 to 1997. In 2016, Groening developed a new series for Netflix, Disenchantment, which premiered in August 2018. A critic of most of what is on television, Mr. Groening sees the popularity of "The Simpsons" as a challenge to the writers and producers who have been inundating America with successive waves of innocuous situation comedies. He has donated money to the unsuccessful presidential campaigns of Democratic candidates Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004, as well as previously donating to Kerry's Massachusetts senator campaign. I Know That Voice (2013) "I wanted to write something they couldn't teach in high school because it had too much foul language," he said. The company published comics related to The Simpsons and Futurama. He gleefully zinged their sensibilities after becoming editor of the school paper, at one point instigating a petition that condemned his satirization of communal life, while also training his ire on mainstream targets like the Washington state legislature. Olive, the Other Reindeer (1999) [78], On February 9, 2022, the series was revived at Hulu, set for a 2023 release. Needless to say, the life-affirming executives at Fox worried that the show was too dark and negative. Work is Hell soon followed, also published by Caplan. Published a month later, the book was an underground success, selling 22,000 copies in its first two printings. They had 2 children, Homer (31) and Abe (29). ", "I had a real strong sense of drama as a kid," he said, "and I couldn't believe adults didn't remember what it was like to be a kid. You know, "Meet George Jetson. She was Groenings long-time girlfriend before she married him in 2011. "He was a deviant.". Beginning 1987, he worked in the Traccy Ullman Show for two years as writer and animator. The couple has two sons, Homer and Abe. The show continued in to 2013,[76][77] before Comedy Central announced in April 2013 that they would not be renewing it beyond its seventh season. "[46] He also formed Zongo Comics in 1995, an imprint of Bongo that published comics for more mature readers,[46] which included three issues of Mary Fleener's Fleener[84] and seven issues of his close friend Gary Panter's Jimbo comics. It's my foundation,"[37] the June 16, 2012 strip marked Life in Hell's conclusion. In the early days of "The Simpsons," Mr. Groening used to preside over all aspects of production, from scripts to story boards to voice-overs to animation. Matt Groening. While working on his animated series Futurama, he took up multiple roles like voice actor, creator, writer and executive producer of the show. He is starting to think about other projects, like developing a show starring the Simpsons' favorite entertainer, Krusty, the dissolute clown. [28][29], Groening described life in Los Angeles to his friends in the form of the self-published comic book Life in Hell, which was loosely inspired by the chapter "How to Go to Hell" in Walter Kaufmann's book Critique of Religion and Philosophy. He then married Argentinian artist Augustina Picasso in 2011, after dating for four years. Published a month later, the book was an underground success, selling 22,000 copies in its first two printings. [36] Released a month later, the book was an underground success, selling 22,000 copies in its first two printings. It was Groening's first day in hell. Matt Groening's income source is mostly from being a successful Cartoonist. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. **** [38] After Groening ended the strip, the Center for Cartoon Studies commissioned a poster that was presented to Groening in honor of his work. At its peak, the cartoon was carried in 250 weekly newspapers. [18] Groening has credited Barry with being "probably [his] biggest inspiration. SALON is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a trademark of Salon.com, LLC. Matt and Deborah married in 1986, and had 2 sons Homer (who goes by Will) and Abe, both who Matt portrays as rabbits in Life in Hell. From teachers who forced him to rip up his cartoons in front of the class, to the petty tyranny of bosses ("I was told that I would never get a job in the Pacific Northwest in journalism after my disgraceful stewardship of the Cooper Point Journal," Groening told the graduating class in a commencement address at his alma mater, Evergreen State College. Groening is credited with writing or co-writing the episodes "Some Enchanted Evening", "The Telltale Head", "Colonel Homer" and "22 Short Films About Springfield". However, the couple divorced in 1999 after thirteen years of marriage. [99], Groening is a self-identified agnostic. Groening decided that this would be too distracting though, and redesigned the ear to look normal. Matt Groening created the show The Simpsons, and two of the principal characters, a husband and wife, are named Homer and Marge. Deborah Caplan Born - Unknown Deborah is a publisher. In 1987, Groening married fellow Weekly staffer Deborah Caplan. Indeed, the biggest danger the show seems to face is that it will lose its power to surprise. "Of course, those are all true. "Bart is like what would happen if Eddie Haskell got his own show," he said. However, he began doing a series of odd jobs while at the city. Groening has received 13 Primetime Emmy Awards, 11 for The Simpsons and 2 for Futurama, and a British Comedy Award due to outstanding contribution to comedy in 2004. Hair High (2004) as Dill Twenty-four years ago, Groening was just another unrecognized genius driving to Los Angeles in a crummy car with a coat hanger for a radio antenna. Groening also became a father of twins On June 16, 2018, when his wife Agustina gave birth to Sol Matthew and Venus Ruth, as reported via Instagram. [23] Groening graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism in 1977. [8][9] Homer, born in Main Centre, Saskatchewan, Canada, grew up in a Plautdietsch-speaking family. Though the Tracy Ullman Show was soon cancelled, The Simpsons had gained popularity and earned its exclusive half an hour spin-off series. He ran for student body president on the "Teens for Decency" ("If You're Against Decency, What Are You For?") Groening is married to his wife Agustina Picasso an Argentine artist. Groening won a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 14, 2012. The Simpsons is the longest-running U.S. primetime-television series in history and the longest-running U.S. animated series and sitcom. He found some work along those lines, whipping up slogans for horror movies, but also took on. From this and other joyless jobs, "Life in Hell" was born. We're calling everybody's bluff. And he has "gone Hollywood" enough, he concedes, that when he is picked up by a limousine, he no longer feels that he has to keep the chauffeur entertained for the whole ride. Has two sons with Deborah Caplan: Homer Groening (born 1991) and Abe Groening (born 1993). [24], In 1977, at the age of 23, Groening moved to Los Angeles to become a writer. "I think Matt likes the fact that this is more his baby," Rich Moore, supervising director of Rough Draft, the company that animates "Futurama," told Spin magazine. They have a son, Nathaniel, and twin daughters, Luna and India. Since 1989, Groening take part in the television series The Simpsons which is the longest-running U.S. primetime-television series in history and the longest-running U.S. animated series and sitcom. Matt Groening, an American animator, television producer, author, and cartoonist, has an estimated net worth of a staggering $600 million. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. He used to write articles and draw cartoon illustrations for the journal. Deborah Caplan (29 October 1987 - 1999) . Groening started sending the comic back home to friends in Portland in lieu of doleful letters about his miserable life. Groening and Deborah Caplan married in 1986 and had two sons, Homer (who goes by Will) and Abe. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. This comic book made its official debut as a comic strip in the Reader on April 25, 1980, and caught the attention of Hollywood writer-producer and Gracie Films founder James L. Brooks, who had been shown the strip by fellow producer Polly Platt. However, the show's collection of memorable supporting characters and winking, multilayered nods to popular culture, arguably owes more to Simon and the original stable of writers than to Groening. Reader through an ever-shifting array of responsibilities that included reporter, distribution manager, punk rock critic and assistant editor.