Roger Smith | |
---|---|
American Dad! character | |
First appearance | "Pilot" |
Created by |
Seth MacFarlane |
Voiced by | Seth MacFarlane |
Information | |
Full name | Roger Smith |
Aliases |
List
|
Species | Alien |
Gender | other |
Occupation | Various (depending on alias) |
Roger Smith (born Wogir) is a fictional character in the adult animated sitcom American Dad!, voiced by Seth MacFarlane. The character was created and designed by Seth MacFarlane. Roger is a centuries-old grey space alien living with the Smith family, around whom the show revolves. Having lived on Earth since 1947, Roger came to live with the Smiths after rescuing main character Stan Smith at Area 51 four years prior to the beginning of the series.
Roger began the series as a sensitive pushover who is often taken advantage of, cheated, and ridiculed. Over time, the character has become increasingly cruel, selfish, devious, and depraved, although the Smith family are curiously oblivious to his nature. In early episodes of the show, Roger is disallowed from leaving the Smith house in order to conceal his being an alien. This restriction is soon abandoned and Roger begins adopting disguises and fictitious personas in order to have a life outside the house.
Roger's personas have become a major plot device, with his myriad alter egos frequently being the subject or facilitator of an episode's main story or subplot. This also helps to amplify his pansexuality and androgynous nature, which varies dependent on the plot situation and persona he has adopted. Aside from catalyzing the plot or subplot with his various personas, and despite his increasingly evident self-interest, he often serves to counsel the show's main characters, by humorously affirming or bluntly disregarding their opinions.
When voicing the character, MacFarlane speaks in a swish accent intended to resemble Paul Lynde (who played Uncle Arthur in Bewitched). In 2014, Roger was voted "Gayest Cartoon Character of All Time" in a first-ever March Madness style competition held by Logo TV.