Patrick Warburton Reflects on Religious Parental Disapproval of His Iconic Roles

Patrick Warburton, renowned for his roles in the beloved sitcom ‘Seinfeld’ and the animated series ‘Family Guy,’ has candidly shared that his deeply religious parents, John and Barbara Warburton, were less than enthusiastic about his career choices. Despite gaining a massive fanbase, the 60-year-old actor revealed that his family’s strong Catholic beliefs created a significant rift regarding his work.

Warburton, who is fondly remembered for portraying the quirky David Puddy on ‘Seinfeld,’ has lent his voice to the character of Joe Swanson on ‘Family Guy’ since its inception in 1999. However, he admitted during an enlightening interview with Fox News Digital that his parents were never supportive of their son’s performances in either of these popular shows.

Strong Criticism from Devout Parents

In the interview, Warburton described how his parents expressed a particular disdain for ‘Family Guy.’ They perceived the show’s satirical content not as humor but as blasphemy. Warburton explained, ‘They don’t see it as satire. They see it as blasphemy. So, it was just a conversation we were never really able to have.’

He added that this tension persisted throughout his career. Warburton mentioned, ‘But, yeah, they always hated that show.’ His father, John, had deep ties to the Catholic Church and was a member of the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani, a monastery in Bardstown, Kentucky. He even spent three months there and almost chose a monastic life, influenced by the famous Catholic scholar Thomas Merton.

A Mother’s Relentless Activism

Warburton’s mother Barbara shared her husband’s religious sentiments and was vocal about her disapproval. The actor humorously noted, ‘If Mom could possibly be worse than Dad, she is, yes.’ Barbara even took active steps to have ‘Family Guy’ removed from television, despite her son profiting from his work on the show.

In a previous interview with People magazine, Warburton recounted, ‘My mother belonged to the American Television Council, and they were trying to get the show canceled.’ He shared that his efforts to support his parents financially with earnings from ‘Family Guy’ led to ironic situations, including his mother attempting to convince him to sign a petition to cancel the show.

Censorship of Artistic Expression

Moreover, the friction between Warburton and his parents extended to his role on ‘Seinfeld.’ During a podcast appearance, he recalled the backlash he received after portraying Puddy, Jerry Seinfeld’s mechanic, in the episode