¶ Vinny
Vinny Griffin is an Italian-American dog owned by the Griffin family, adopted by the Griffins from a pet rescue to become the family's new pet following the temporary departure of Brian, due to his death in a car accident. While he is technically property, Vinny is as much a member of the family as the Griffin family’s original dog, Brian Griffin—who is also technically property.
Despite his relatively brief tenure on the original show, Vinny made an impression on fans and is remembered for offering a different kind of companionship to the Griffin family, and for adding a new layer to the show's dynamic during his time on the series, so his addition to the AI Peter Stream has been highly anticipated.
¶ Spawn locations
| Living Room | Kitchen | Chris' Room | Stewie's Room | Outside | Pharmacy | Hospital | Mini-Mart | Drunken Clam | News studio | Courtroom | Comedy Club | Heaven |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
¶ Appearance
Vinny is an anthropomorphic dog of Italian descent. He is slightly taller than Brian and has large bushy eyebrows that hover over his eyes. Vinny’s breed is indeterminate, but he visually resembles a Pit Bull Terrier or some other ”bully” breed—his fur is brown and tan, and his snout is more cone-shaped than the distinctly Labrador-shaped muzzle that Brian has.
¶ Personality
Vinny has a markedly different personality from Brian; while Brian is a straight-laced, book-smart individual who is very concerned with pretension and the way he is perceived by others, Vinny is characterized by his street-smart demeanour, thick New Jersey or New York Italian accent, honest attitude, and more laid-back perspective towards life.
Vinny is not as culturally or politically savvy as Brian but offers his kind of wisdom, often derived from his life experiences. His background as a rescue dog from a pet shop and his allusions to the world of organized crime suggest a tough past that contrasts with his amiable nature—but Vinny is not one to dwell on this past.
Vinny's humour often stems from this straightforward attitude, combined with his genuine willingness to be a part of the family. He is portrayed as loyal and protective of the Griffins, quickly forming a bond with them after Brian's temporary departure from the show. Overall, Vinny's personality provides a fresh dynamic to the Griffin family during his time on "Family Guy," contributing to the series' ongoing exploration of different character interactions and family compositions.
Vinny frequently makes allusions to the world of organized crime—specifically, the Italian mafia. It’s unclear if Vinny has ever been in the mafia himself, but he does have a love for preparing authentic New York Italian food, often playing a character called Chef Vinny when he prepares meals for himself or others.
¶ Lore
- Vinny is currently on probation [clip]
- He's Lois's husband [clip]
- His last name is Filthy [clip]
- He apparently has golden teeth [clip]
- Vinny and Brian once peed on Joe's wheelchair and blamed it on Chris [clip]
- Vinny isn't Italian [clip]
¶ Notable Quotes
- chef vinny says