Tom Kenny.

Tom Kenny grew up in East Syracuse, New York, the son of Theresa and Paul Kenny Jr. As a child, he immersed himself in comic books, drawing, and collecting records. He turned to stand-up comedy in Boston and San Francisco, landing television appearances on The Dennis Miller Show 1992 and Late Night with Conan O’Brien 1993.

Kenny’s breakout voice role came as Heffer the cow on Nickelodeon’s Rocko’s Modern Life 1993. In 1999, he created the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants for the series of the same name, a role that has lasted over two decades and earned him Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program in 2018 and 2020. He also voiced characters on Dexter’s Laboratory 1996, Justice League 2001, The Powerpuff Girls 1998, and Johnny Bravo 1997. On the live-action side, he joined the cast of Mr. Show with Bob and David 1995 and appeared on Brotherly Love 1995 and The Preston Episodes 1995.

Kenny met actress Jill Talley while working on Mr. Show with Bob and David in 1995, and they married the same year. The couple has two children: a son, Mack born June 16, 1998, and a daughter, Nora born August 1, 2003. They collaborated on projects such as Comedy Central’s The Mark Thomas Comedy Product 1996 and the stage show The Show With Two Heads.

Tom Kenny’s portrayal of SpongeBob SquarePants has made him one of the most recognizable voice actors in the world. The character has become a cultural phenomenon, spawning multiple films, a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, and merchandise. Kenny’s voice work has influenced a generation of animators and fans. Besides his Emmy wins, he received an Outer Critics Circle Award. He is most remembered for bringing SpongeBob’s optimism to life since 1999.