Scott Grimes Scott Christopher Grimes is an actor and musician who appeared as Eric in , the third season opener of . His role originally had dialogue , but the two scenes in which he spoke were removed from the final aired version . He neither spoke in the aired version , nor did he receive credit for his role . Grimes is best - known for being a series regular on the television dramas " Party of Five " and " ER " and for voicing Steve Smith on Seth MacFarlane ' s " American Dad ! " In 2017 , Grimes was cast as a series regular in Seth MacFarlane ' s sci - fi comedy / drama " The Orville " . Personal life . Grimes was born in Lowell , Massachusetts , and was raised in adjacent Dracut . He is the uncle of Daytime Emmy Award - winning soap opera actress Camryn Grimes . Scott ' s sister , Heather , is also an actress . He married Dawn Bailey in 1997 and they had two children together , but they divorced in 2007 . Besides acting , Grimes is a professional singer and songwriter . He released a self - titled pop album in 1989 and released a second album , " Livin ' on the Run " , in 2005 . A song from this latter album , entitled " Sunset Blvd . " , became a Top 20 hit in Billboard magazine ' s adult contemporary charts . He also performed songs for the series " ER " , on which he was a regular . Early career . Grimes began acting in 1984 , appearing in three made - for - television movies in that year . Among these was " The Night They Saved Christmas " , which also featured Albert Hall , Anne Haney , Paul Williams , and R . J . Williams . The following year , he appeared in a segment of " The Twilight Zone " with Nicolas Surovy . Grimes starred in the hit 1986 horror film " Critters " and its 1988 sequel , " Critters 2 : The Main Course " ; future performer Ethan Phillips co - starred with Grimes in the first film , while fellow " TNG " guest performers Sam Anderson and Herta Ware appeared in the second . In addition , Grimes voiced Pinocchio in the Hal Sutherland - directed 1987 Filmation production " Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night " , which also featured the voices of Frank Welker and William Windom . In 1986 , Grimes made the first of two appearances as Chad McCann on the hit comedy series " Who ' s the Boss ? " ; he returned to the show the following year . Also during the 1986 - 1987 television season , Grimes was a regular on the short - lived CBS comedy series " Together We Stand " . In 1987 , Grimes again worked with Paul Williams in the TV movie " Frog " . Grimes reprised his role from this movie for 1991 ' s " Frogs ! " , which featured Paul Dooley . In 1988 , Grimes appeared in the TV special " Bring Me the Head of Dobie Gillis " with William Schallert . He guest - starred on the sitcom " Charles in Charge " that same year , and was subsequently seen on the television shows " 21 Jump Street " and " Wings " . Steven Weber was a regular on the latter series . Grimes then worked with John Savage in the pilot episode of the short - lived series " Birdland " . " Party of Five " and beyond . In 1994 , Grimes began starring as Will McCorkle on the hit FOX television series " Party of Five " . He left this series in 1996 to become a regular on the UPN series " Goode Behavior " , although he continued making recurring appearances on " Party of Five " . " Good Behavior " ended in 1997 , lasting only one season , and in 1999 , Grimes returned to " Party of Five " as a regular for the show ' s sixth and final season . After " Party of Five " ended , Grimes starred as TSgt . Donald Malarkey in the acclaimed HBO mini - series " Band of Brothers " , which also featured David Andrews , Neal McDonough , and Simon Pegg . Grimes also appeared on the short - lived NBC drama " First Years . . . " with Dakin Matthews . In 2002 , he worked with Cress Williams in a sitcom pilot for ABC entitled " Couples " , but it was not picked up by the network . The project was directed by Marc Buckland , who , like Grimes , made a brief acting appearance on " Star Trek : The Next Generation " . In addition to his television work , Grimes has acted in such major feature films as " Crimson Tide " ( 1995 ) , " Mystery , Alaska " ( 1999 , co - starring Colm Meaney and Michael McKean ) , and 2010 ' s " Robin Hood " , in which he played Will Scarlet ( a role previously played by Christian Slater in the 1991 film " Robin Hood : Prince of Thieves " ) . Grimes also acted with George Murdock in the 2006 direct - to - video release " To Kill a Mockumentary " and starred in the 2007 independent film " Throwing Stars " . From 2003 through 2009 , Grimes portrayed Dr . Archie Morris on the long - running NBC series " ER " . He joined the series as a recurring player and became a series regular in 2005 , remaining with the show until it ended . Currently , Grimes voices teenager Steve Smith ( who happens to be a Trekkie ) on Seth MacFarlane ' s animated FOX series , " American Dad ! " McFarlane voices Steve ' s father , Stan , while guest actress Wendy Schaal voices his mother , Francine . TNG star Patrick Stewart has a recurring role on the show as Stan Smith ' s boss , CIA Director Bullock . Grimes is also currently co - starring with Seth MacFarlane on the FOX series " The Orville " , which also features Penny Johnson Jerald .