'SpongeBob SquarePants' Cast

Tom Kenny's voice is hard to hide from. He's everywhere. Listen closely to anynasal, high-pitched cartoon character and you may discover you're listening to Tom Kenny. However, SpongeBob SquarePants is his most famous character. Whether SpongeBob is laughing or crying or singing, his performance is always about more than just the sound of SpongeBob; it's about the inflection, the intonation and the phrasing. Tom Kenny is the reason I laugh so hard at SpongeBob SquarePants. (He is also Patchy the Pirate!)

Where You're Heard Him: Powerpuffl Girls as The Mayor, Winnie the Pooh as Rabbit, Adventure Time as Ice King, The Fairly OddParents as Cupid, The Batman as Penguin

In the 10th anniversary documentary about SpongeBob SquarePants, creator Stephen Hillenburg said Bill Fagerbakke was the smartest dumb guy on TV. It's true because in order to play Patrick's stupidity to full comedic effect, Bill Fagerbakke must be brilliant. His low, throaty sound is perfect for Patrick's foolish diatribes and occasional cries of anguish. Bill Fagerbakke is most famous for the loveable lughead Dauber he played on Coach.

Where You've Heard Him: Transformers Animated as Bulkhead, Batman: The Brave and the Bold as Ronnie Raymond

What a life Rodger Bumpass must have in order to bring out Squidward's bitter bile so well. He seems to draw from a deep pool of ennui. Plus, he's just dang talented. His nasal tone perfectly matches Squidward's giant shnoz.

Where You've Heard Him: Invader Zim as Professor Membrane, Teen Titans as Dr. Light

I was surprised when I first learned that Clancy Brown was the voice behind Mr. Krabs. How could that very large actor who always plays such evil villains be the voice behind one of the characters on SpongeBob SquarePants, a cartoon revered by kids? I remembered Clancy Brown from Highlander, when he was tormenting that nice lady and chasing down Connor. I also remembered him as the über bad preacher from Carnivàle. I suppose Krabs does have an evil side to him, when it comes to money.

Where You've Heard Him: Justice League as Lex Luthor, Avatar: The Last Airbender as Long Feng, The Batman as Mr. Freeze

Mr. Lawrence is a writer on SpongeBob SquarePants who also does the voices of Plankton and Larry the Lobster (I once saw an interview when he said he puffs out his chest while he's recording to get the right sound for Larry). Mr. Lawrence is not necessarily a career voice actor but takes roles in cartoons he's writing. For instance, he wrote for Rocko's Modern Life and also voiced the character of jealous Filburt Turtle.

Where You've Heard Him: Camp Lazlo as Dave and Edward 

Carolyn Lawrence is the voice of Sandy Cheeks, SpongeBob's squirrel-friend who lives in an underwater tree dome. For Sandy, she provides just enough drawl to play the Texan squirrel and puts the twang in her annunciation to good comedic use.

Where You've Heard Her: The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius as Cindy, Moral Orel as Orel

Jill Talley began her career in improv with Second City in Chicago. Later she was a regular on HBO's Mr. Show with Bob and David, a sketch comedy that also relied heavily on improv. So it's no surpise she plays Plankton's computer wife Karen so well, with a smug, mid-western flat accent.

Where You've Heard Her: The Boondocks as Sarah Dubois, Camp Lazlo as Gretchen and Miss Mucus, Striperella as Giselle

Mary Jo Catlett is not a name you would recognize easily, but her voice is. Her rich, low tones as teacher Mrs. Puff recall other roles she has had, such as Nurse Walsh on M*A*S*H and Pearl (really!) Gallagher on Diff'rent Strokes.

Where You've Heard Her: Guest Voices on The Smurfs, DuckTales, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy

Lori Alan plays Pearl, Mr. Krabs teenage whale of a daughter. She is spot on with Pearl's tantrums and slight Valley Girl accent. She pops up frequently as a guest star on live action TV shows.

Where You've Heard Her: Family Guy as Diane Simmons, Toy Story 3 as Bonnie's Mom, Hey Arnold! as Brooke Lloyd

Ernest Borgnine plays the leader of the superhero team of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy. His wavering baritone is perfect for Mermaid Man, who is now a senior citizen living at Shady Shoals Rest Home. With so many roles to his credit, it's easy to recognize him. He played Sgt. 'Fatso' Judson in From Here to Eternity, Lt. Commander Quinton McHale in McHale's Navy and Det. Lt. Mike Rogo in The Poseidon Adventure. Now he can be seen frequently as a guest star on live action TV shows.

Where You've Heard Him: All Dogs Go to Heaven as Carface

Tim Conway plays Barnacle Boy, one half of the less-than-dynamic duo. Tim Conway is one of the most famous recurring guest stars on SpongeBob SquarePants, having started his acting career in variety TV shows. From early years, he is most famous for playing Ensign Charles Parker in McHale's Navy, where he first worked with Ernest Borgnine. He was also part of one of the funniest comedies of all time, The Carol Burnett Show, which ran from 1967 to 1978. Since then he's popped up in countless TV shows and movies, and his signature character, Dorf, is still going strong.

Where You've Heard Him: Santa Buddies as Sniffer, Hermie & Friends as Hermie