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Thomas James "Tom" Kenny (born July 13, 1962) is an American actor and comedian. He is known for voicing the eponymous character in SpongeBob SquarePants and associated media. Kenny has voiced many other characters including Heffer Wolfe in Rocko's Modern Life; the Ice King in Adventure Time; the Narrator and Mayor in The Powerpuff Girls; Carl Chryniszzswics in Johnny Bravo; Dog and Cliff in CatDog; Hank and Jeremy in Talking Tom and Friends; and Spyro from the Spyro the Dragon video game series. His live-action work includes the comedy variety shows The Edge and Mr. Show. Kenny has won two Daytime Emmy Awards and two Annie Awards for his voice work as SpongeBob SquarePants and the Ice King. He often collaborates with his wife and fellow voice artist Jill Talley, who plays Karen on SpongeBob SquarePants.
Early life[]
Kenny was born and raised in Syracuse, New York.
Musical career[]
He was the lead vocalist for the Syracuse, New York-based band The Tearjerkers since the early 1980s, when he replaced the original vocalist Buddy Love. Other members of The Tearjerkers included Charlie Robbins, Dave DeCirce, and Dave Soule, who is still active in the central New York music scene. "Syracuse Summer" is the group's best-known song, and is included on The History of Syracuse Music, Volume XII and XIII. While the Tearjerkers did not become a national act, one Tearjerkers roadie would go on to achieve fame: comedian Bobcat Goldthwait. Goldthwait's film Shakes the Clown features Kenny as Shakes' bitter archrival. In 1980, Kenny was briefly a member of Syracuse-based pop punk band The Trend along with Goldthwait. Kenny appeared regularly on NBC's music video show Friday Night Videos, in a recurring comedic Music News segment. In 1991, he took over as the show's regular host until being replaced later that year by Frankie Crocker. In 1996, Kenny appeared along with his wife, Jill Talley, in the music video for "Tonight, Tonight" by The Smashing Pumpkins, playing a young couple taking their honeymoon on the moon. The video was very popular, winning six MTV Video Music Awards. Kenny also appeared in the music video for "Sing" by the band Travis. Kenny also sung in Teen Titans. the song was called "Master Of Your Fate" the episode was "Bunny Raven or How To Make a Titan animal disappear. In 2006, Kenny co-wrote and recorded SpongeBob SquarePants: The Best Day Ever with producer Andy Paley. Kenny's singing on the CD is done in the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants and other characters from the show. Other musical artists on the CD include: Brian Wilson, Tommy Ramone, and Flaco Jiménez. The music pays homage to The Beach Boys, The Archies, The Lovin' Spoonful, and The Troggs, among others.
Kenny makes a vocal cameo in the track "TMZ" on Weird Al Yankovic's 2011 album Alpocalypse.
Acting career[]
Kenny has acted in many films and TV shows, debuting in How I Got Into College (1989) and later he appeared in films such as Shakes The Clown and Comic Book: The Movie. He appeared in sketch comedies The Edge and Mr. Show. He also appeared in the live-action segments of SpongeBob SquarePants as Patchy the Pirate.
Voice acting career[]
Although most famous for being the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants since the series premiere in 1999, in "Help Wanted", Tom Kenny has voiced many characters in over 200 productions. It was revealed by Kenny that his favorite character to voice for was Slinkman in Camp Lazlo. Kenny said that he voices "a lot of sweet yellow characters for some reason." He described his perspective on SpongeBob's voice in an interview: "He’s not quite an adult, he’s not quite a kid. Think a Stan Laurel, Jerry Lewis kind of child-man. Kind of like a Munchkin but not quite, kind of like a kid, but not in a Charlie Brown child’s voice on the TV shows." He is known to provide the voice of the various meows of Gary the Snail in SpongeBob, but he played his first set of voice actor roles for Rocko's Modern Life, primarily as Heffer Wolfe. Joe Murray auditioned Kenny for voice acting roles for the series in a casting call in Los Angeles, California. On one occasion, the producers required Kenny to fill the role of Charlie Adler, who was absent on that occasion. In addition, Kenny had to perform one song and learn how to play another song within ten minutes due to time constraints. He said that this helped him believe that he could stand "toe to toe" with other voice actors. He also voices Cupid for the Nick show Fairly Odd Parents. Joe Murray chose Kenny for a voice acting position in Camp Lazlo as Lumpus and Slinkman, because Murray, after seeing Kenny's previous work for Rocko's Modern Life, felt that Kenny "adds writing to his roles" and "brings so much". He was the voice of Dog in CatDog, as well as the voice of Cliff. He also had a few roles in The Powerpuff Girls TV show. He was the Mayor, the Narrator, Mitch Mitchelson, Snake and Little Arturo from the Gangrene Gang, Rainbow the Clown, etc. He voices Eduardo, and various other characters in Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends. He plays a number of roles in the Transformers Animated TV show. A few of the characters he voices in this series are Starscream and his clones, Isaac Sumdac, and Waspinator. He is also the voice of the Autobots Skids and Wheelie in the live-action Transformers film series. He has voiced the Penguin on the The Batman. On Dilbert, Kenny voiced Ratbert, Asok and other one-time characters. He played Mr. Hal Gibson in the animated kids show Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force GO! He is also Yancy Fry and various minor characters on Futurama. He is the voice of The Ice King on Adventure Time. In 2009, Kenny became a regular cast voice in the Fox comedy series Sit Down, Shut Up. He voices Muhammad Sabeeh "Happy" Fa-ach Nuabar, the secretive custodian who is plotting a terrorist attack, as well as Happy's interpreter. The series premiered on April 19, 2009. Kenan Thompson, Kristin Chenoweth, Jason Bateman, Nick Kroll, Cheri Oteri, Henry Winkler, Will Arnett and Will Forte are the other main cast members. He is also the voice of Rin in the English versions of video games Final Fantasy X and its sequel, Final Fantasy X-2. He also voiced the Best Buy elf from the retail stores' Christmas TV commercials. He replaced Ken Sansom as the voice of Rabbit in Winnie the Pooh (2011). He currently plays Woody Johnson on Comedy Central's Brickleberry.
In 2007, he hosted the TV show Funday Night at the Movies on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) which encourages children to watch old movies.
Photo Gallery[]
To view the photo gallery for the cast member Tom Kenny click here ...
Filmography[]
Films[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1989 | How I Got into College | B | Film debut |
1992 | Shakes the Clown | Binky the Clown | Live action |
1994 | Plughead Rewired: Circuitry Man II | Guru | |
2000 | Buiness Tom 4: Killvol Naknifinhome | Himself (playing Tom Jake in a film) | Live action |
2001 | Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (film) | Additional voices | Voice only |
2001 | Dr. Dolittle 2 | Male Tortoise | voice only
Live action |
2002 | Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire | Lightning Strikes, Stormy Weathers, Barry, Harry, Lifeguard 2 | Voice only |
2002 | The Powerpuff Girls Movie | The Mayor
The Narrator Cha-Ching Cha-Ching Mitch Mitchelson Snake Arturo |
voices only |
2002 | Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights | Sharper Image Chair | Voice only |
2002 | Run Ronnie Run | TV News Reporter
Cult Leader Gleh'n |
Live action |
2003 | Windy City Heat | Gay Costume Designer | Live action |
2003 | My Life with Morrissey | Clerk | Cameo
Live action |
2003 | Animatrix | Various | voice only |
2003 | Scary Movie 3 | Aliens (uncredited) | voice only
Live action |
2004 | The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie | SpongeBob SquarePants
Gary the Snail French Narrator Clay Tough Fish #2 Twin #2 Houston Voice |
voices only |
2004 | Comic Book: The Movie | Derek Sprang | Live action |
2004 | Surviving Christmas | Man Wrapping Gift | Cameo
Live action |
2005 | Lil Pimp | Hans Dribbler Announcer | Voice only
Direct-to-video |
2005 | Hoodwinked | Tommy | Voice only |
2005 | Tom and Jerry: Blast Off to Mars | Grob, Martian Guard #2 | Voice only
Direct-to-video |
2005 | Tom and Jerry: The Fast and the Furry | Gorthan | voice only
Direct-to-video |
2005 | Sky High | Mr. Timmerman | Cameo
Live-action |
2005 | Aloha, Scooby-Doo! | Ruben Laluna
California Surfer Tiny Tiki |
voices only |
2006 | Tom Goes to the Mayor | Saxman | Voice only |
2006 | Ant Bully | Ant #2, Drone Ant, Ant #6 | Voice only |
2006 | Korgoth of Barbaria | Hargon
various others |
voices only |
2006 | Re-Animated | voice and cast | |
2007 | Here Comes Peter Cottontail: The Movie | Peter Cottontail, Junior, Antoine | voice only
Direct-to-video |
2007 | Futurama: Bender's Big Score | Additional voices | Animated film
Direct-to-video |
2007 | Elf Bowling the Movie: The Great North Pole Elf Strike | Dingle Kringle | Voice only
Direct-to-video |
2007 | Superman: Doomsday | The Robot | Voice only
Direct-to-video |
2007 | Meet the Robinsons | Mr. Willerstein | voice only |
2007 | Happily N'Ever After | Amigos #1/Dwarves #2/Wolf #1 | Voice only
Animated film |
2007 | Tekkonkinkreet | Sawada | Voice only
English dub |
2007 | Atlantis SquarePantis | SpongeBob SquarePants, Gary the Snail | TV Movie
voice only |
2008 | Unstable Fables: 3 Pigs and a Baby | Dr. Wolfowitz, Musical Comedy Wolf | voice only
Animated film |
2008 | Immigrants (L.A. Dolce Vita) | Additional voices | Animated movie |
2009 | Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen | Wheelie, Skids | voice only
Live action |
2009 | The Haunted World of El Superbeasto | Otto, Rover, Old Man | Voice only
Direct-to-video |
2009 | World's Greatest Dad | Jerry Klein (talk show producer) | cameo
Live-action |
2009 | SpongeBob's Truth or Square | SpongeBob SquarePants
Gary The Snail French Narrator Patchy The Pirate (live-action) Jellyfish various voices |
TV Movie |
2010 | Space Chimps 2: Zartog Strikes Back | Ham III | Voice only
3D Animated film |
2010 | Kung Fu Magoo | Dr. Malicio | Voice only
Direct-to-video |
2010 | Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 | Sebastian | Voice only
Direct-to-video Live-action |
2010 | Tangled | Guard | voice only |
2011 | Winnie the Pooh | Rabbit | voice only |
2011 | Big Time Beach Party | Patchy the Pirate | Guest Star
TV movie Big Time Rush episode Live action |
2011 | Transformers: Dark of the Moon | Wheelie | voice only
Live action |
2011 | God Bless America (film) | Office Staff (uncredited) | Cameo
Live-action |
2011 | Twinkle Toes | Dad, Mr. Koslovsky, Judge #2, Mr. Saperstein, Politician | Voice only
Direct-to-video |
2012 | Frankenweenie | Fire chief/soldier | Voice only
Stop-motion animated film |
2012 | Hotel Transylvania | Additional voices | Voice only |
2012 | Delhi Safari | Alex the Parrot | Voice only
English dub Indian animated film |
2012 | Zambezia | Marabou #1 | Voice only
South African animated film |
2012 | Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva La Fiesta! | Sebastian | Voice only
Direct-to-video Live-action |
2012 | Back to the Sea | Ben | Voice only
Direct-to-video |
2014 | Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return | Munchkin Suitor | Voice-only
Post-production |
2014 | The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie 2[12] | SpongeBob SquarePants
Gary Addiditonal voices |
Voice only |
TV[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1990 | Kashi no ki Mokku | Pinocchio | TV series |
1990 | MTV's Half Hour Comedy | Himself | Live action |
1992 | Medusa: Dare to Be Truthful | Bobo Kaufman | TV film |
1992 | The Edge | Himself, various characters | Sketch comedy series
Live action |
1993 | Rocko's Modern Life | Heffer Wolfe
Additional characters |
Animated series
Voice only |
1994 | Attack of the 5 Ft. 2 In. Women | Director | TV film |
1995 | Dumb and Dumber | Weenie | Voice
TV series |
1995 | The Shnookums and Meat Funny Cartoon Show | New Jersey Bug | Animated series
Voice only |
1995 | Dead Weekend | Joe Blow | TV movie |
1995 | Out There | Man in Lobby | TV movie |
1995 | Mr. Show with Bob and David | Himself
various characters |
HBO TV series
Live action |
1996 | Mr. Show with Bob and David: Fantastic Newness | Carlin McCree | HBO TV movie
Live action |
1996 | Malibu Shores | Debate Moderator | TV series |
1996 | Dexter's Laboratory | Val Hallen
Douglas E. Mordecai III additional voices |
Voice only
Animated series |
1996 | Brotherly Love | Doug
Lucien |
TV series |
1997 | The Online Adventures Of Ozzie The Elf | Additional voices | TV short |
1997 | Cow and Chicken | Additional voices | Animated series |
1997 | I Am Weasel | Additional voices | Animated series |
1998 | Toonsylvania | Additional voices | Animated series |
1998 | CatDog | Dog
Cliff Additional voices |
Animated series |
1998 | Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain | Additional voices | Animated series |
1998 | The Powerpuff Girls | The Mayor of Townsville
Narrator Mitchel "Mitch" Mitchelson Snake Little Arturo (replacing Carlos Alazraqui) Rainbow the Clown Additional voices |
Animated series
Voice only |
1998 | A Little Curious | Mr. String ("Slippery When Wet" & "Hot and Sticky") | Voice only |
1998 | Histeria! | Bill Straitman
Additional characters |
Voices only |
1998 | Godzilla: The Series | Nigel | Voice only |
1999-present | SpongeBob SquarePants | SpongeBob SquarePants
Gary the Snail French Narrator Mr. SquarePants Jellyfish Patchy the Pirate (live action segments) Additional characters |
Longest-running role
Voices Animated series |
1999 | Futurama | Yancy Fry
Additional characters |
Voice only |
1999 | Mission Hill | Wally Langford
additional Voices |
Voice only
Animated series |
1999 | Johnny Bravo | Carl Chryniszzswics | Voice only
Animated series |
1999 | Dilbert | Asok
Ratbert Additional voices |
Voice only
Animated series |
1999 | The Brothers Flub | Additional voices | Voice only
Animated series |
1999 | Family Guy | Additional voices | Animated series |
2001 | Samurai Jack | Additional voices | Animated series |
2001 | The Mummy: The Animated Series | Jonathan Carnaghan | Animated series
Voice only |
2001 | The Fairly OddParents | Cupid
Additional voices |
Animated series |
2001 | The Cramp Twins | Wayne Cramp (U.S. version only) | Animated series |
2001 | Time Squad | Abraham Lincoln | Animated series |
2002 | Codename: Kids Next Door | Mr. Wink
The Common Cold Knightbrace Various |
Animated series |
2002 | Kim Possible | Dr. Phen
Joe Additional Voices |
Animated series |
2002 | The Paz Show | Additional voices | Animated series |
2002 | 3 South | Various | Animated series |
2002 | What's New Scooby-Doo | Natlas
Harry Harrison Sam the Safety Engineer |
Animated series |
2002 | ¡Mucha Lucha! | Additional voices | Animated series |
2002 | Home Movies | Doctor | Animated series |
2003 | Xiaolin Showdown | Raimundo Pedrosa
Grand Master Dashi Vlad Hannibal Roy Bean |
Voices only |
2003 | Teen Titans | Mumbo
Fixit |
Voice only |
2004 | Saturday Night Live | SpongeBob SquarePants (uncredited) | Cameo
guest star |
2004 | The Batman | Oswald "Ozzie" Chesterfield Cobblepot (the Penguin) | Voice only |
2004 | Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! | Gibson | Voice only |
2004 | Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends | Eduardo
Additional voices |
Voice only
Animated series |
2004 | Brandy & Mr. Whiskers | Ed | Voice only |
2004 | Rave Master | Griff | Voice only |
2005 | American Dad! | Additional Voices | Animated series |
2005 | My Gym Partner's a Monkey | Jake Spidermonkey
Henry the Armadillo |
Voice only |
2005 | Firehouse Tales | Spinner
Additional characters |
Voice only |
2005 | IGPX: Immortal Grand Prix | Benjamin Bright | Voice only |
2006 | Camp Lazlo | ScoutMaster Lumpus | Voices only |
2006 | Class of 3000 | Edward "Eddie" Phillip James Lawrence III, Ms. Squatenchowder. | Voice only |
2006 | Handy Manny | Mr. Lopart
Pat |
Voice only |
2006 | Shorty McShorts' Shorts' | Additional voices | Voice only |
2006 | Squirrel Boy | Leon | Voice only
Animated series |
2006 | Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! | Additional voices | Animated series |
2007 | Transformers: Animated | Starscream, Scrapper, Isaac Sumdac, Waspinator, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Ramjet, Sunstorm, Jetfire and Rattletrap | Voice only
Animated Series |
2007 | Family Guy | SpongeBob SquarePants (uncredited; archive footage) | Episode: Road to Rupert
Voice only Animated series |
2007-present | Word Girl | Tony James "T.J." Botsford/Dr. Two-Brains/Phil/Additional Voices | Voice only
PBS Kids animated series |
2007 | Out Of Jimmy's Head | Tux The Penguin | Voice only
Animated/live-action series |
2007 | 2007 Kids' Choice Awards | Announcer | Award ceremony |
2007 | Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! | Pat Dudley, Grum | Live action |
2008 | 2008 Kids' Choice Awards | Announcer | Live-action
Award ceremony |
2008 | Star Wars: The Clone Wars | Nute Gunray
Nahdarr Vebb Various voices |
Voice only |
2008-present | Phineas and Ferb | Additional Voices | Animated series |
2008 | The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack | Various voices | Voices only |
2008 | Back at the Barnyard: Cowman: The Uddered Avenger | Professor Twinny Vines
Martin Fargleman |
Voice only
TV special |
2008 | Batman: The Brave and the Bold | Plastic Man
Baby Face Ray Deadshot Mirror Master 'Mazing Man |
Voices only |
2009 | 2009 Kids' Choice Awards | Announcer | Award ceremony |
2009 | The Super Hero Squad Show | Iron Man, Captain America, Colossus, Juggernaut, MODOK, Sentinels, Space Phantom | Voice only
Animated series |
2009 | Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants | Himself | TV Documentary |
2010 | Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil | Kyle Buttowski | Voice only
Animated series |
2010 | True Jackson VP | Bingo | Guest Star
Live action |
2010 | 2010 Kids' Choice Awards | Announcer | Voice only
Award ceremony |
2010-present | Fish Hooks | Additional Voices | Animated series |
2010-present | T.U.F.F. Puppy | Additional Voices | Animated Series |
2010-present | Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated | Various characters | Animated Series |
2010-present | Adventure Time | The Ice King | Voice only |
2010-present | Pound Puppies | Chuckles | Voice only |
2010 | Cosmic Quantum Ray | Quantum Ray | Voice only |
2011-present | Dan Vs. | Crunchy | Voice only |
2011-present | Bubble Guppies | Sam | Voice only |
2011 | LEGO Hero Factory | Jetbug/Nathan Evo/Rocka | Voices only |
2011 | BrainSurge | Himself | Game show
Guest host Episode: 223 Live action |
2012-present | Green Lantern: The Animated Series | Zilius Zox | Voice only
Animated series |
2012-present | Ultimate Spider-Man | Doctor Octopus
Dr. Curt Connors Wizard Whirlwind | Voice only Animated series | |
2012 | 2012 Kids' Choice Awards | Announcer | Voice only
Award ceremony |
2012-present | The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange | Coconut, Princess (Live action guest) | Voice only |
2012-present | Brickleberry | Woody | Voice only |
2012 | It's a SpongeBob Christmas | SpongeBob SquarePants | Voice only
Television special |
2012 | Napoleon Dynamite | Curtis | Voice only
Animated series |
2012 | The Legend of Korra | Refree, Additional voices | Voice only |
2012 | 64th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Himself (presenter for Outstanding Short-format Animation) | Live action
Award ceremony |
2013-present | Wander Over Yonder | Peepers and various voices | Voice only
Animated series |
2014-present | Gravity Falls | Additional voices | Voice only
Animated series |
2014-present | Turbo FAST | Additional voices | Voice only
Animated series |
2014-present | Mixels | Teslo, Flain and Seismo and additional voices | Voice only
Animated series |
Video games[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | Nickelodeon 3D Movie Maker | Heffer Wolfe | voice only
PC game Video game debut |
1999 | Spyro the Dragon (2–4) | Spyro the Dragon
Sergeant James Byrd The Professor Additional characters |
Voice only |
2000 | Escape From Monkey Island | Deadeye Dave
Thrawtle the Lucre Lawyer |
Voice only |
2001 | Final Fantasy X | Bobba
Rin Wantz |
Voice only |
2003 | Final Fantasy X-2 | Rin
Wantz |
Voice only |
2003 | SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom | SpongeBob SquarePants
Gary the Snail |
Voice only |
2007 | Crash of the Titans | Ratnicians | Voice only |
2008 | Line Rider 2: Unbound | Bosh | voice only |
2008 | Crash: Mind over Mutant | Ratnicians | voice only
Video game |
2008 | Lego Batman: The Videogame | The Penguin | vocal effects
Video game |
2012 | Skylanders Giants | Hot Dog | Voice Only |
Other[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1993 | Nickelodeon'Pinchface | Singing face | Network ID |
2005 | The Endless Summer (SpongeBob SquarePants short) | SpongeBob SquarePants | voice only
TV short |
2012 | DC Nation Shorts | Plastic Man | Voice only |
2012 | Really Freaking Embarrassing | The Doorman | Voice only
Internet series |
Awards and Nominations[]
Year | Award | Category | Film/TV Show | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | Annie Award | Best Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting by a Male Performer in an Animated Television Production | Spongebob SquarePants | Nominated |
2008 | Best Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production | Nominated | ||
2010 | Golden Raspberry Awards | Worst Screen Couple (shared with Shia LaBeouf and either Megan Fox or any "Transformer") | Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen | Nominated |
Annie Award | Best Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production | SpongeBob SquarePants | Won | |
2012 | Golden Raspberry Awards | Worst Screen Ensemble (shared with the entire cast) | Transformers: Dark of the Moon | Nominated |