You’ve seen him as a golden-tongued lounge singer, a crooked cop, and a middle-aged woman named Jeannie Gold who specializes in wedding planning and "prostituta" procurement. Roger Smith is the heart of American Dad!, but for a character who has lived a thousand lives on Earth, we know shockingly little about where he actually came from. Specifically, the identity of American Dad Roger's dad is one of those deep-lore questions that sends fans spiraling into wiki-holes at 3:00 AM.
He’s an alien. Obviously. But even within the weird, neon-soaked logic of Planet Space (yes, that is the actual name of his home world), the family tree is a mess.
If you’re looking for a name like "Roger Sr." or a heartwarming flashback of a grey alien playing catch with a young, bulbous-headed Roger, you’re going to be disappointed. The show doesn't really do "heartwarming" in the traditional sense. Instead, what we get is a chaotic mix of throwaway gags, conflicting backstories, and one very specific, very dramatic episode that redefined Roger’s entire biological purpose.
The "Great Grand-Poop" and the Problem with Alien Lineage
Usually, when we talk about Roger's family, the show leans into the absurd. We know he has a biological family back on his home planet. He’s mentioned them. He’s even "called" them, though usually just to complain or demand more Earth luxuries.
In the episode "Lost in Space," we get our best look at Roger’s species. We see a whole civilization of beings who look exactly like him—flabby, grey, and profoundly dramatic. But even here, the concept of American Dad Roger's dad remains elusive. On Planet Space, reproductive roles and familial hierarchies seem to take a backseat to whoever is currently holding the most social power or throwing the best tantrum.
Think about the "Great Grand-Poop." He’s the closest thing to a patriarch we see in the upper echelons of their society. He's the ruler of the planet, a massive, ancient version of Roger's species who resides in a floating chair and decides the fate of "The Decider."
Is he Roger’s father? No. Probably not.
But in a species where everyone seems to be a genetic clone of the same neurotic template, the distinction between a "ruler" and a "father" gets pretty blurry. Honestly, Roger treats everyone like they owe him something, which is a very "spoiled child of a powerful father" vibe.
The Decider: Why Roger Was Really Sent to Earth
For years, we all thought Roger was a crash-landed survivor. We thought he was the Roswell alien. Stan believed he was a high-stakes celestial visitor with a mission.
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Then came the truth.
Roger wasn't sent to Earth to study us. He wasn't sent to lead us. He was a "crash test dummy."
Wait, it gets worse—or better, depending on how much you like dark comedy. In the episode "The 200," and more specifically "OreTron Trail," the show peels back the layers on why Roger is even here. He is "The Decider." On his planet, this isn't a title of honor. It’s a death sentence. The Decider is meant to be sent to a planet to see if the atmosphere is survivable. If the alien dies, the planet is unsafe. If they live, the rest of the species moves in and kills the inhabitants.
When you look at American Dad Roger's dad through this lens, the father figure becomes a much darker concept. Whoever sired Roger—or whatever reproductive committee "created" him—essentially signed his execution warrant. They sent him to Earth expecting him to die.
Roger’s father isn't a character; he’s a symbol of the indifference of his race.
The Closest Thing to a Father: The "Raw" Truth
There is a weird, biological nuance to Roger’s species that replaces traditional fatherhood. They reproduce through "budding" or extreme physical trauma. Remember the episode where Roger gets stressed and literally births a tiny, angry alter-ego named Rogu?
That’s how it works.
If we apply this logic to Roger’s own origin, American Dad Roger's dad might not be a "him" at all. Roger might be a sprout. A literal piece of another alien that broke off during a particularly stressful bingo game or a botched theatrical performance on Planet Space.
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Rogu is essentially Roger’s son, but he’s also Roger. If Roger’s "father" exists, he is likely just another version of Roger currently living his best life somewhere in the Andromeda Galaxy, probably wearing a wig and pretending to be a high-end sommelier.
Why the Mystery Matters for the Character
Seth MacFarlane and the writing team—led by showrunners like Matt Weitzman—have been very careful not to over-explain Roger. Contrast this with Family Guy, where we meet Peter’s biological father (Mickey McFinnigan) in a dedicated arc. In American Dad!, the lack of a father figure is what makes Roger, well, Roger.
He is desperately seeking validation from everyone.
- He seeks it from Stan (the stern, often disappointed "father" surrogate).
- He seeks it from Francine (the enabling "mother" figure).
- He seeks it from the various personas he creates.
If we actually met American Dad Roger's dad, the mystery would evaporate. We’d realize Roger is just a chip off the old block. By keeping the father a mystery, the show allows Roger to be the ultimate orphan—a 1,600-year-old toddler looking for a family he can simultaneously love and exploit.
Real-World Influence: Who "Fathered" the Concept?
From a behind-the-scenes perspective, the "father" of Roger isn't an alien at all. It’s Paul Lynde.
When Seth MacFarlane was developing the voice and persona for Roger, he leaned heavily on the campy, snarky energy of Lynde, the iconic Hollywood Squares star. If you want to understand why Roger acts the way he does, don't look at alien biology. Look at 1970s variety television. That is his true lineage.
The writers have openly admitted that Roger was originally supposed to be more like ALF—a grumpy alien hidden in a house. But as the show evolved, he became a pansexual, sociopathic master of disguise. This shift moved him further away from needing a "backstory" involving a father and closer to being a force of nature.
Misconceptions About the "Roswell" Connection
A lot of casual viewers think the alien seen in the 1947 flashbacks is Roger's dad.
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Nope.
That was Roger. We see this in the episode "The 300," where it's revealed that Roger has been on Earth for a long, long time. He didn't just arrive in the 80s or 90s. He’s been here, influencing history, wearing different hats (literally), and avoiding his home planet.
There is no "Old Man Roger" waiting in a spaceship. Roger is the patriarch of his own chaotic timeline.
What This Means for Future Episodes
Will we ever see a definitive American Dad Roger's dad?
Unlikely. The show has leaned so far into the "Roger is an anomaly" trope that bringing in a father figure would feel like a shark-jumping moment. The closest we get are the "Space 600" and the inhabitants of the slave ship in "Lost in Space."
If the showrunners ever decide to go there, it will probably be for a gag. It won't be a moving reunion. It’ll be a scene where Roger’s dad shows up just to tell him he owes him twenty bucks from five centuries ago.
Key Takeaways for the Dedicated Fan
If you're trying to win an argument at a watch party or just want to master the lore, keep these points in mind:
- Biological Father: Never named, never shown. Likely doesn't matter given the "budding" nature of his species.
- The Decider Role: Roger’s "family" and leaders sent him to Earth to die as a crash test dummy. This explains his abandonment issues.
- Surrogate Fathers: Stan Smith fulfills the "father" role in Roger's life, providing the boundaries and discipline Roger constantly pushes against.
- Rogu: If you want to see what Roger’s father might have dealt with, look at Rogu. Roger is now a father himself, and it’s just as chaotic as you’d expect.
To really dive into the history of the Smith family and their alien boarder, your next move should be re-watching "Lost in Space" (Season 9, Episode 18). It is widely considered one of the best episodes of the series and gives the most concrete look at the culture Roger escaped—or was kicked out of. Pay close attention to the background characters; they are the closest you'll ever get to seeing Roger's biological kin. After that, check out "OreTron Trail" (Season 12, Episode 14) to see the darker side of his "Decider" origins. These two episodes together paint a complete, if disturbing, picture of the family Roger left behind.