Winnetka's North Shore Country Day Honors ‘Family Guy’ Showrunner Richard Appel At Homecoming Reunion

WINNETKA, IL — North Shore Country Day honored Richard Appel ’81 with the 2026 Francis R. Stanton ’27 Alumni Recognition during the school’s Homecoming Reunion Weekend on Sept. 25-26 in Winnetka.

Appel, a two-time Emmy Award-winning and six-time Emmy-nominated writer, producer and showrunner, returned to celebrate his 45th high school reunion and receive the annual alumni honor.

The school said the recognition is awarded to graduates whose lives and work reflect the values of North Shore Country Day and its motto, “Live and Serve.”

Before joining classmates for reunion events, Appel spent Friday on campus meeting with students across all three divisions. According to the school, those conversations focused on creativity, collaboration, taking risks and the unexpected paths a career can take.

Appel joined North Shore as a fifth grader and said the school helped him explore his interests. As a student, he co-founded a weekly newspaper, took part in a student production of “Bleacher Bums” and played on the tennis team.

“My years at North Shore were very formative and very important to me,” Appel said. “It’s nice to think that you’re still a part of a world that mattered so much to you, and to be connected to a place that encouraged you to invent your life rather than follow a preconceived path.”

After graduating from North Shore, Appel attended Harvard College, where he wrote for the Harvard Lampoon, and later Harvard Law School. He then served as an assistant U.S. attorney in New York before leaving the law at age 30 to pursue television writing.

Within months of moving to Los Angeles, Appel joined the writers’ room at “The Simpsons,” beginning a television career that has lasted more than three decades, according to the school. The school said his credits include “King of the Hill,” “American Dad!,” “The Cleveland Show” and “Family Guy,” where he currently serves as executive producer and co-showrunner. He also served as co-executive producer of “The Bernie Mac Show.”

The school said mentorship has remained an important part of Appel’s work. As a showrunner, he has helped identify and develop emerging writers, including through unsolicited submissions and mentorship programs intended to expand opportunities for writers entering the industry.

The award also carries personal meaning for Appel. North Shore said Francis R. Stanton ’27, the longtime teacher, coach and administrator for whom the recognition is named, was Appel’s tennis coach. According to the school, Appel recalled an athletic dinner where Stanton recognized him for sportsmanship and team spirit rather than his performance on the court.