<Tr> <Th> Nationality </Th> <Td> American </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Education </Th> <Td> Brown University (did not graduate) </Td> </Tr> <P> Brian Griffin is a fictional character from the American animated television series Family Guy . An anthropomorphic white dog voiced by Seth MacFarlane, he is one of the show's main characters as a member of the Griffin family . He primarily works in the series as a less - than - adept writer struggling to find himself, attempting essays, novels, screenplays, and newspaper articles . </P> <P> He first appeared on television, along with the rest of the family, in a 15 - minute short on December 20, 1998 . Brian 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, two shorts made by MacFarlane featuring a middle - aged character named Larry and an intellectual dog, Steve . After the pilot was given the green light, the Griffin family appeared in the episode "Death Has a Shadow". Brian's appearance is a redesign of Steve the dog, from MacFarlane's previous show . </P>

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