Patrick Warburton's Dad Sent Him a 'Six-Page Letter' About 'How Disappointed He Was' After the Actor'sSeinfeldDebut

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Kevin Winter/GettyPatrick Warburton’s parents haven’t always been supportive of his career.During an appearance on theHowie Mandel Does Stuffpodcast, Warburton, 59, revealed that his parents had a bone to pick with him when he entered the entertainment industry. Recalling his 1995 television debut, he said he got an unexpected response from his dad.“The first show, the first episode I did isSeinfeld,” he explained. “I got a six-page letter from my father about how disappointed he was and the choices I was making.”When hostHowie Mandelinquired about the contents of the episode, which was titled “Fusilli Jerry,” Warburton explained he was Seinfeld’s mechanic, David Puddy, “and I stole his move and used it on Elaine.”(l-r) Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Elaine Benes, Patrick Warburton as David Puddy.Joey Delvalle/NBCU Photo Bank“So they had an issue with not dealing with the sex act with any sanctity,” Warburton said. “Because as we all know, the sex act is full of sanctity — it’s all about procreating and nothing else.”Warburton went on to joke that “women should not be having orgasms or enjoying themselves. It’s all about having babies!”His father wasn’t the only one who took issue with his acting roles. TheRules of Engagementalum revealed his mother’s religiosity led her toresent his career, too.“My mother’s part of the Parents Television Council, and their biggest fish to fry is to getFamily Guyoff the air,” Warburton, who has voiced Joe Swanson on the hit sitcom for over two decades, said. “My mother actually gave me a petition to sign to getFamily Guyoff the air, and then I reminded her what I do, how I’m putting her grandkids through college.”“I was actually helping support my parents withFamily Guymoney while she was still donating money to the Parents Television Council,” he added. “I’m donating money. I go, ‘This is the most ironic donation ever made, mom.’ And I go, ‘I know exactly what you’re doing. You are launderingFamily Guymoney through God and the church.’”Patrick Warburton.Amanda Edwards/GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.His dad, who died six years ago, didn’t likeFamily Guyeither. Warburton said he even called him once to try to get him to quit the series.“He would get information from my mom, so he leaves a message on my phone, ‘Patrick, in a future episode ofFamily Guy, God is sitting in a La-Z-Boy chair next to a bottle of lotion getting ready to masturbate. I wish you would get off that show,’” theEmperor’s New Groovestar remembered. “So the conversation I can never have with my dad is, ‘Dad, God is not a guy with a beard sitting in a chair. It’s satire.’ But I couldn’t explain it to him.”“They saw everything as blasphemous,” he continued.Eventually, Warburton said his mom came around to accepting his time onSeinfeld,but she still hasn’t let go of his 25-year involvement inFamily Guy.“It’s like, if you can’t beat them, join them sort of thing,” he explained. “With all of their friends watchingSeinfeld, all of a sudden,Seinfeld’s not a problem, and most everything else hasn’t really been a problem, butFamily Guywas always a problem.”

Photo:Kevin Winter/Getty

Kevin Winter/Getty

Patrick Warburton’s parents haven’t always been supportive of his career.During an appearance on theHowie Mandel Does Stuffpodcast, Warburton, 59, revealed that his parents had a bone to pick with him when he entered the entertainment industry. Recalling his 1995 television debut, he said he got an unexpected response from his dad.“The first show, the first episode I did isSeinfeld,” he explained. “I got a six-page letter from my father about how disappointed he was and the choices I was making.”When hostHowie Mandelinquired about the contents of the episode, which was titled “Fusilli Jerry,” Warburton explained he was Seinfeld’s mechanic, David Puddy, “and I stole his move and used it on Elaine.”(l-r) Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Elaine Benes, Patrick Warburton as David Puddy.Joey Delvalle/NBCU Photo Bank“So they had an issue with not dealing with the sex act with any sanctity,” Warburton said. “Because as we all know, the sex act is full of sanctity — it’s all about procreating and nothing else.”Warburton went on to joke that “women should not be having orgasms or enjoying themselves. It’s all about having babies!”His father wasn’t the only one who took issue with his acting roles. TheRules of Engagementalum revealed his mother’s religiosity led her toresent his career, too.“My mother’s part of the Parents Television Council, and their biggest fish to fry is to getFamily Guyoff the air,” Warburton, who has voiced Joe Swanson on the hit sitcom for over two decades, said. “My mother actually gave me a petition to sign to getFamily Guyoff the air, and then I reminded her what I do, how I’m putting her grandkids through college.”“I was actually helping support my parents withFamily Guymoney while she was still donating money to the Parents Television Council,” he added. “I’m donating money. I go, ‘This is the most ironic donation ever made, mom.’ And I go, ‘I know exactly what you’re doing. You are launderingFamily Guymoney through God and the church.’”Patrick Warburton.Amanda Edwards/GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.His dad, who died six years ago, didn’t likeFamily Guyeither. Warburton said he even called him once to try to get him to quit the series.“He would get information from my mom, so he leaves a message on my phone, ‘Patrick, in a future episode ofFamily Guy, God is sitting in a La-Z-Boy chair next to a bottle of lotion getting ready to masturbate. I wish you would get off that show,’” theEmperor’s New Groovestar remembered. “So the conversation I can never have with my dad is, ‘Dad, God is not a guy with a beard sitting in a chair. It’s satire.’ But I couldn’t explain it to him.”“They saw everything as blasphemous,” he continued.Eventually, Warburton said his mom came around to accepting his time onSeinfeld,but she still hasn’t let go of his 25-year involvement inFamily Guy.“It’s like, if you can’t beat them, join them sort of thing,” he explained. “With all of their friends watchingSeinfeld, all of a sudden,Seinfeld’s not a problem, and most everything else hasn’t really been a problem, butFamily Guywas always a problem.”

Patrick Warburton’s parents haven’t always been supportive of his career.

During an appearance on theHowie Mandel Does Stuffpodcast, Warburton, 59, revealed that his parents had a bone to pick with him when he entered the entertainment industry. Recalling his 1995 television debut, he said he got an unexpected response from his dad.

“The first show, the first episode I did isSeinfeld,” he explained. “I got a six-page letter from my father about how disappointed he was and the choices I was making.”

When hostHowie Mandelinquired about the contents of the episode, which was titled “Fusilli Jerry,” Warburton explained he was Seinfeld’s mechanic, David Puddy, “and I stole his move and used it on Elaine.”

(l-r) Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Elaine Benes, Patrick Warburton as David Puddy.Joey Delvalle/NBCU Photo Bank

Joey Delvalle/NBCU Photo Bank

“So they had an issue with not dealing with the sex act with any sanctity,” Warburton said. “Because as we all know, the sex act is full of sanctity — it’s all about procreating and nothing else.”

Warburton went on to joke that “women should not be having orgasms or enjoying themselves. It’s all about having babies!”

His father wasn’t the only one who took issue with his acting roles. TheRules of Engagementalum revealed his mother’s religiosity led her toresent his career, too.

“My mother’s part of the Parents Television Council, and their biggest fish to fry is to getFamily Guyoff the air,” Warburton, who has voiced Joe Swanson on the hit sitcom for over two decades, said. “My mother actually gave me a petition to sign to getFamily Guyoff the air, and then I reminded her what I do, how I’m putting her grandkids through college.”

“I was actually helping support my parents withFamily Guymoney while she was still donating money to the Parents Television Council,” he added. “I’m donating money. I go, ‘This is the most ironic donation ever made, mom.’ And I go, ‘I know exactly what you’re doing. You are launderingFamily Guymoney through God and the church.’”

Patrick Warburton.Amanda Edwards/Getty

Amanda Edwards/Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

His dad, who died six years ago, didn’t likeFamily Guyeither. Warburton said he even called him once to try to get him to quit the series.

“He would get information from my mom, so he leaves a message on my phone, ‘Patrick, in a future episode ofFamily Guy, God is sitting in a La-Z-Boy chair next to a bottle of lotion getting ready to masturbate. I wish you would get off that show,’” theEmperor’s New Groovestar remembered. “So the conversation I can never have with my dad is, ‘Dad, God is not a guy with a beard sitting in a chair. It’s satire.’ But I couldn’t explain it to him.”

“They saw everything as blasphemous,” he continued.

Eventually, Warburton said his mom came around to accepting his time onSeinfeld,but she still hasn’t let go of his 25-year involvement inFamily Guy.

“It’s like, if you can’t beat them, join them sort of thing,” he explained. “With all of their friends watchingSeinfeld, all of a sudden,Seinfeld’s not a problem, and most everything else hasn’t really been a problem, butFamily Guywas always a problem.”

source: people.com