Who is Lois in Family Guy?

Last Modified Feb 3, 2025 01:23 EST
Who is Lois in Family Guy?
Lois Griffin (Source: Screengrab from the show)


Lois Patrice Griffin (née Pewterschmidt) is a fictional character from the American animated television show Family Guy.


She was first featured in the show's debut episode "Death Has a Shadow" on January 31, 1999, and was voiced by Alex Borstein. Lois was written and developed by Seth MacFarlane. Lois is the Griffin family's matriarch. Chris, Stewie, and Meg are her three children with her husband, Peter.


Lois Griffin in Family Guy


Lois Griffin was born to Carter and Barbara Pewterschmidt, wealthy WASP parents. The "Family Goy" episode reveals that, despite Lois's Protestant upbringing, her mother is a Jewish American Holocaust survivor who hid her Judaism.


Lois has a pronounced nasal New England accent. Her driver's license in the episode "A Lot Going on Upstairs" shows that she is 5' 8" (1.73 m) tall. Although she did teach piano in the first few episodes of the series, Lois's main role is that of a housewife.


Who is Lois in Family Guy?
Peter and Lois (Source: Screengrab from the show)


Also, she has had a variety of jobs in different episodes, including "FOX-y Lady," where she serves as the new reporter for Fox News Channel; "It Takes a Village Idiot, and I Married One," where Lois is elected Quahog's mayor; and "Call Girl," where Lois is hired to provide phone sex. Lois also works at the post office in the "Take a Letter" episode. During the "Dammit Janet!" episode, Lois is hired as a flight attendant. In the "Baby, You Knock Me Out" episode, Lois, a champion boxer, leaves with an 18-0 record. In the "Lethal Weapons" episode, Lois quickly earned her Black belt in Tae-Jitsu. It is revealed in "The Fat Guy Strangler" that Lois has a violent sibling.


Lois's personality has changed throughout the episodes. Although she frequently acts as the voice of reason in Peter's pranks and mocking, she sometimes shows a liking for sadomasochism and can act darker than usual in certain situations. Lois is also hinted to be bisexual or at least bi-curious in some episodes.


Read More: who played Alana in family guy


Lois Griffin’s voice actor


Who is Lois in Family Guy?
Lois Griffin (Source: Screengrab from the show)


Producer and staff writer Alex Borstein, who also provides the voices of recurrent characters such as Asian reporter Tricia Takanawa, Loretta Brown, and Lois's mother Barbara Pewterschmidt, portrays Lois Griffin. Borstein has voiced Lois since the beginning of the series and has been a member of the primary voice cast, including the pilot.


Borstein had worked at MADtv, a sketch comedy when Family Guy was being developed. One of the MADtv employees who was assisting MacFarlane in creating the show urged her to try out. She described it as "really sight unseen" because she had neither met MacFarlane nor seen any of the artwork.


She was performing in a theatrical production in Los Angeles at the time when she played a redhead mother whose voice was modeled after that of one of her Long Island, New York, relatives. She used the character's voice for Lois when she got on the set. When MacFarlane heard the slower voice, he requested her to make it higher and faster. Lois's voice has been shifting from the slower original voice to the faster, uptempo voice of the current episodes, according to Borstein.


On a few occasions, Borstein has not voiced Lois. For example, in the episode "Road to the Multiverse," Japanese actress Kei Ogawa voices Lois since she is needed for a sequence in which the entire planet is Japanese. She also provided Meg's voice for the scene.


FAQs about Lois in Family Guy

A. Lois Griffin is 60 years old in Family Guy.

A. According to the pilot episode, Stewie's matricidal tendencies stem from Lois unintentionally and continuously foiling his plans, which is why he intends to kill her to carry them out without her intervention.

A. Lois Griffin was born to Carter and Barbara Pewterschmidt, wealthy WASP parents. The "Family Goy" episode reveals that, despite Lois's Protestant upbringing, her mother is a Jewish American Holocaust survivor who hid her Judaism. 

Related Stories

Watson Season 2 Episode 10: Release date news, streaming details and more Watson Season 2 Episode 10: Release date news, streaming details and more
Watson Season 2 Episode 10: Release date news, streaming details and more
2d
Did Dateline NBC make the Golden Globes nomination cut in Best Podcast category? Details revealed Did Dateline NBC make the Golden Globes nomination cut in Best Podcast category? Details revealed
Did Dateline NBC make the Golden Globes nomination cut in Best Podcast category? Details revealed
1d
“Was entirely expected”: Netflix’s Ted Sarandos speaks out on Paramount’s surprising bid for Warner Bros. Discovery “Was entirely expected”: Netflix’s Ted Sarandos speaks out on Paramount’s surprising bid for Warner Bros. Discovery
“Was entirely expected”: Netflix’s Ted Sarandos speaks out on Paramount’s surprising bid for Warner Bros. Discovery
2d
Little Disasters cast and characters: Here’s who brought the thriller drama to life Little Disasters cast and characters: Here’s who brought the thriller drama to life
Little Disasters cast and characters: Here’s who brought the thriller drama to life
1d
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 star Dior Goodjohn reveals the Disney+ show will return with "many good" fight sequences Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 star Dior Goodjohn reveals the Disney+ show will return with "many good" fight sequences
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 star Dior Goodjohn reveals the Disney+ show will return with "many good" fight sequences
1d
Margo’s Got Money Troubles drops first look and release date for its star-studded Apple TV series Margo’s Got Money Troubles drops first look and release date for its star-studded Apple TV series
Margo’s Got Money Troubles drops first look and release date for its star-studded Apple TV series
1d
Tell Me Lies Season 1 finale's twist is still the best moment of the Hulu drama - thanks to Lydia's big reveal Tell Me Lies Season 1 finale's twist is still the best moment of the Hulu drama - thanks to Lydia's big reveal
Tell Me Lies Season 1 finale's twist is still the best moment of the Hulu drama - thanks to Lydia's big reveal
1d
Why IT: Welcome to Derry Episode 7 and Sinners feel like the same nightmare? Explained Why IT: Welcome to Derry Episode 7 and Sinners feel like the same nightmare? Explained
Why IT: Welcome to Derry Episode 7 and Sinners feel like the same nightmare? Explained 
2d
Will Norman Lloyd return in upcoming Yellowstone spin-offs? Speculations explored Will Norman Lloyd return in upcoming Yellowstone spin-offs? Speculations explored
Will Norman Lloyd return in upcoming Yellowstone spin-offs? Speculations explored
1d
Snowfall cast and characters: Here's who brought the FX crime drama to life Snowfall cast and characters: Here's who brought the FX crime drama to life
Snowfall cast and characters: Here's who brought the FX crime drama to life 
1d