Philip J. Fry is the main character of the animated television series Futurama and is voiced by Billy West. He is usually referred to by his family name, "Fry".
Fry is a 20th century pizza delivery boy who awakes to life at the dawn of the 31st century after being cryopreserved since the first few seconds of the year 2000. According to the Volume 1 Futurama DVD, he was born on August 9, 1974, in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, being 25 at the time of the first episode.
The name "Philip" was given to Fry by Matt Groening as a homage to the then recently murdered Phil Hartman, for whom the role of Zapp Brannigan was created. The "J" is akin to the "J" in Bullwinkle J. Moose, Bartholomew J. Simpson and Homer J. Simpson, in tribute to Jay Ward, creator of The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.
Philip J. Fry is an example of an extratemporal character. His disappointments and incomprehension of the future and his joy at what the other characters find mundane in their native time are central elements of the show.
