Matthew Abram "Matt" Groening ( ; born February 15, 1954) is an American cartoonist, writer, producer, animator, and voice actor. He is the creator of the comic strip Life in Hell (1977–2012) and the television series The Simpsons (1989–present) and Futurama (1999–2003, 2008–2013). The Simpsons has gone on to become the longest running U.S. primetime television series in history, as well as the longest running animated series and sitcom.