Meet Tom Kenny, Who Voices Spongebob on ‘Spongebob Squarepants’

While it has been decided by the internet that Spongebob’s real age is undetermined and up for interpretation, this fact makes it hard for viewers to match the character’s voice with a face. 

Luckily, a quick search will reveal that the actor who voices the Krusty Krab employee is Tom Kenny, a 58-year-old comedian from New York who has also been featured on Adventure Time, Rocko’s Modern Life, CatDog, The Powerpuff Girls, and dozens of other animated projects. 

In an interview, Tom, who, according to his Instagram, is also the lead singer in a rock and soul band, expressed his appreciation for his on-screen character and showed his respect for the voice actors who came before him, most specifically Mel Blanc, who was best known for his roles as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig. 

He told Esquire, “I was a kid who grew up loving cartoons and thinking the people that did the voices of them all the time. Other guys would fantasize about meeting whatever sports stars or whatever, and I would fantasize about hanging out with Mel Blanc.” 

Anyone born from the ‘90s to the 2000s can tell you that Spongebob was probably the most lovable cartoon character to ever grace our television screens and according to Tom, when he gets the opportunity to connect with the Spongebob Squarepants fanbase, the feeling is totally mutual.

He added, “[The fondness] is tied up with their childhood, you know what I mean? Like they remember, you know, old times, people that are gone, how their lives are changed. Whatever it is, people get really emotional, you know, and I’m an emotional Irish guy, so next thing you know I’m sobbing along with them.”