Some actors play it cool; some simply are. Seth Green has the ability to make awkward awesome and geek great. But his talent in acting is being challenged by talent in writing and in directing, each earning him awards and nominations. This year alone, he has nine projects to his credit, so far. Among them are two films, a major video-game, and two very successful TV series, ‘Family Guy’ and ‘Robot Chicken.’

Green got an early start in acting. At eight years old, he appeared in three productions including, ‘The Hotel New Hampshire’ (1984), with Rob Lowe and Jodie Foster. Three years later, he starred in Woody Allen’s ‘Radio Days.’ He has appeared in many TV shows and films, including such hits as the ‘Austin Powers’ trilogy, as Scott Evil; TV’s ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ as Oz; in ‘The Italian Job’ as Lyle.

Lately, it is Green’s voice acting that has been keeping him busy. He has played ‘Joker’ in the successful ‘Mass Effect’ video-game trilogy, and has appeared in a large number of animated TV-shows and films. Most animation fans will be most familiar with his voice-work in ‘Family Guy,’ as Chris Griffin, and as the talent behind 30 to 60 voices per week in ‘Robot Chicken.’

This television series can be regarded as the culmination of his careers, it presents each of his major talents, and includes others. Green created the stop-motion animation with his friend, Matthew Senreich. The parody has hosted a staggering number of celebrities, older and younger, and has given new life to the toy industry.

It is here, too, that Green has been recognized for his writing and directing. He won the Annie Award in 2008 and 2009 for directing and writing, respectively. These accompany his 1989 Young Artist Award for ‘Best Young Actor Guest Starring in a Syndicated Comedy, Drama or Special.’ In ‘Robot Chicken,’ which he co-created, he voice-acts, writes, directs, and produces. It is suspected he has help.

Seth Green is widely considered as cool. Some, such as Ryan Gosling, are perceived as cool in the style of suits and sunglasses; Green is cool (arguably anti-cool) because he appears to have fun, he attends comic conventions, and he makes a TV series revolving around toys. He and another friend, Hugh Sterbakov, created the popular ‘Freshman’ comic in 2005, which sold out in its début week.

But, despite all the toys, comics and animation, he is far from puerile, and he is far from evil (though he can mix the two traits very cleverly in his series). Moreover, his interviews present him as a gracious and humble young man. ‘Robot Chicken’ continues to air, and, next year, he will appear in the film ‘Sexy Evil Genius,’ although, perhaps surprisingly for some, not as the titular character.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/cabbit/

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About the author

Andrew Cameron
There once was a man from Victoria. He would try very hard not to bore you. Why he got into prose, well, nobody knows. But, if you glanced at his work, he'd adore you.