Since 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has delighted audiences with ever-increasing degrees of ridiculousness. While the usual cast of SpongeBob is amusing enough, the show’s celebrity guests elevate it to a higher level. Numerous well-known people have provided their voices for one-off or recurring SpongeBob characters, and some of these cameos are quite unexpected.
The Moth, for example, is portrayed by Mark Hamill of Star Wars fame. Does this imply that the Moth is a Jedi in disguise? It’s a fun fan theory, but likely not true. Other significant celebrity appearances in SpongeBob include Master Udon, played by former Happy Days actor Pat Morita, and Beatrice, portrayed by the late great Betty White of The Golden Girls.
There are numerous guest voices on SpongeBob from a variety of backgrounds who lend their voices to fascinating cameos. Perhaps a favorite celebrity of yours made a surprise appearance on the program. Here are some of the most memorable legendary voices to guest star on SpongeBob SquarePants.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
12 Ernest Borgnine as Mermaid Man
Nickelodeon
American actor Ernest Borgnine had a career that lasted for more than six decades. He was known for his grin and rugged yet laid-back tone. He was not only a well-known performer, but also a frequent guest on talk shows and a panelist on game shows. In addition to his roles in the movies The Vikings, The Wild Bunch, The Poseidon Adventure, and Emperor of the North Pole, Borgnine has also starred in the television series Airwolf, The Single Guy, and, obviously, SpongeBob SquarePants. The actor played Mermaid Man in the Nickelodeon show, a superhero who resides in Bikini Bottom and is semi-retired. He and his sidekick Barnacle Boy star in a show inside the series called The Adventures of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, but in the SpongeBob SquarePants reality, they are also actual superheroes. Although Borgnine tragically passed away in 2012 at the age of 95, his legacy will endure as new generations come to adore and value his acting abilities.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
11 Tim Conway as Barnacle Boy
Tim Conway was an American actor, comic, author, and filmmaker. He completed more than 100 TV shows and movies between 1966 and 2012. He appeared in McHale’s Navy, The Carol Burnett Show, various films from 1975 through 1980 co-starring Don Knotts, and the Dorf series. Additionally, Conway provides the voice of Barnacle Boy in SpongeBob SquarePants. He is a hero and spoof of Robin and Aqualad. He is more rational and self-aware than Mermaid Man because he is the youngest of the two, but Barnacle Boy is also more grumpy. Often, he refers to Mermaid Man as an old coot. Conway, who tragically passed in 2019 at the age of 85, will be remembered for his long list of professional accomplishments.
10 John O’Hurley as King Neptune
John O’Hurley is best known for his roles in the film Swing Away and the television series Seinfeld, in which he starred from 1989 to 1998. In addition, he is praised for his work as a Family Feud and National Dog Show host. In an interview with Pet Age, when asked about his dog show hosting, O’Hurley even admitted he “side[s] with the audience. They watch the show and can’t help but predispose themselves to look for cuteness.” On SpongeBob SquarePants, he voiced King Neptune, a recurring character who is married to Queen Amphitrite. They are the supreme rulers of the ocean, essentially, the gods within the show.
9 Marion Ross as Grandma SquarePants
American actress Marion Ross is now retired. She featured in the ABC television show Happy Days from 1974 until 1984, as Marion Cunningham, for which she was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards. Prior to her popularity on Happy Days, Ross had roles in The Glenn Miller Story, Teacher’s Pet, and Operation Petticoat. She also made appearances in other films such as Sabrina, Lust for Life, Some Came Running, and Honky. On SpongeBob SquarePants, Ross voiced SpongeBob’s ‘Dear Grandmama,’ as he called her, a sweet old lady who loves SpongeBob more than anything and bakes the best cookies.
8 John Rhys-Davies as Man Ray
Welsh actor John Rhys-Davies is primarily known for his roles as Gimli in the Lord of the Rings films and Sallah in the Indiana Jones movies, which he might be set to reprise in Indiana Jones 5 if all goes well, but he’s had over 270 roles in film and television. In SpongeBob SquarePants, Rhys-Davies voices the villainous Man Ray, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy’s biggest adversary. He is a spoof of Black Manta, Aquaman’s main antagonist. Man Ray is an anthropomorphic figure with a red bodysuit and a blue helmet with the head of a manta ray on it. He wears a deep blue Speedo, gloves, and boots. Man Ray has no head under his helmet, which is unexpected.
7 Pat Morita as Master Udon
Actor and comedian Pat Morita was of Japanese descent. He was well-known for his work on Happy Days, MAS*H, Sanford and Son, The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo, and Mulan and Mulan II, where he provided the voice of The Emperor of China. He appeared in two television programs that made history for having Asian-American series leads, Mr. T and Tina and Ohara. As Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid, Morita was nominated for an Academy Award in 1984 for Best Supporting Actor, and Den of Geek reported that director Kevin Derek will be producing a documentary honoring the life of Morita. In SpongeBob SquarePants, Mortia voiced Master Udon, a real estate scam artist who serves as the primary adversary throughout the episode “Karate Island.” In the episode, Master Udon invites SpongeBob to Karate Island, kidnaps him, and tries to force him to buy property. Morita, who was 73 years old, passed away in 2005.
6 Mark Hamill as The Moth
The iconic Mark Hamill is most recognized for his portrayal of Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars film series, for which he received three Saturn Awards. Corvette Summer and The Big Red One are two of his further significant cinematic roles. Hamill has also performed on stage, mostly in plays from the 80s. Most recently, Hamill provided the voice of a character in the Netflix drama The Sandman. In SpongeBob SquarePants, Hamill voices The Moth, one of Mermaid Man’s arch-enemies that he’s been hunting for 57 years. The Moth is an underwater, minuscule insect that, despite wearing a regular superhero suit, is a truly evil bug.
5 David Bowie as Lord Royal Highness
David Bowie, an English singer-songwriter and actor, is recognized as one of the 20th Century’s most notable musicians. He received high praise from writers and artists, especially for his avant-garde work in the 70s. Bowie, who was always primarily a musician, also took on acting roles throughout his career, making appearances in more than 30 movies, television series, and stage productions. The Man Who Fell to Earth, Labyrinth, Zoolander, and The Prestige are among Bowie’s best-known acting roles. David Bowie plays Lord Royal Highness, the Emperor of the legendary city of Atlantis, in the SpongeBob SquarePants episode “Atlantis SquarePantis.” In the episode, Lord Royal Highness becomes the main antagonist after SpongeBob and his companions accidentally smash the most revered object in Atlantis, prompting the locals to attack them. Although David Bowie passed away in 2016 at the age of 69, his contributions to entertainment will endure for a very long time.
4 Johnny Depp as Jack Kahuna Laguna
Johnny Depp is an American actor, producer, and musician. He has appeared in more than 100 films and television shows, including Black Mass, Edward Scissorhands, Finding Neverland, Nightmare on Elm Street, and two Fantastic Beasts movies. However, Depp is most recognized for his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, which helped him become one of the most financially successful movie stars. In addition, he, Alice Cooper, and Joe Perry established the rock band Hollywood Vampires. In the SpongeBob SquarePants episode “SpongeBob SquarePants vs. The Big One,” Depp voices Jack Kahuna Laguna, a.k.a. JKL, a legendary surfer who resides on a deserted island distant from Bikini Bottom. He looks like a person even though he is technically a water creature. In the episode, SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward are learning how to surf from Jack. Jack eventually rescues Mr. Krabs, giving his life to save Cashy (Mr. Krabs’ treasured cash register), but he survives, and a dance celebration concludes the episode.
3 John Goodman as Santa Claus
John Goodman earned a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of the family patriarch Dan Conner in the ABC comedy series Roseanne, for which he attained widespread popularity. He gained notoriety as a dramatic actor by starring in movies like Speed Racer, Inside Llewyn Davis, The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and many more. Additionally, he provided the voices for many characters, including roles in The Emperor’s New Groove series, the Monsters Inc. series, The Jungle Book 2, and The Bee Movie. Goodman performs the voice of Santa Claus in the SpongeBob SquarePants episode “It’s a SpongeBob Christmas!” This spectacular holiday episode was the series’ first full-length episode produced in stop-motion animation.
2 Bob Barker as Bob Barnacle
Bob Barker is a retired television game show host. The Price is Right on CBS was hosted by him from 1972 to 2007, making it the longest-running midday game program in the history of US television. From 1956 through 1975, he was also the host of Truth or Consequences. Barker also guest-starred on many television shows, game shows, and even a few soap operas. Bob Barnacle, a light-green fish with a dark-blue outfit, whom Barker voices in SpongeBob SquarePants, is a parody of Barker himself. In the episode “Sanctuary!,” Bob Barnacle informs SpongeBob that the snails at his rescue facility have escaped through a hole in the fence and that he is on the way to assist both SpongeBob and the snails. He mistakenly captures Patrick, who had claimed to be a snail, when he returns the snails to his sanctuary at the end of the episode.
1 Betty White as Beatrice
The real legend, Betty White, had a career spanning more than eight decades and was a television pioneer. White was one of the first women in the US to develop a sitcom, Life with Elizabeth. She is frequently referred to as the “First Lady of Television,” a moniker that was applied to a 2018 documentary, available on Peacock Premium, that profiled her life and career. White established herself as a main panelist on American game shows, inspiring contestants to compete, typically in order to win cash or prizes. She was renowned for her roles in The Golden Girls, Boston Legal, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Carol Burnett Show, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She also had a hilarious part in the 2009 romantic comedy The Proposal, alongside Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. In SpongeBob SquarePants, White voices Beatrice, an elderly fish who runs the store Grandma’s Apron at the Bikini Bottom Mall in the episode “Mall Girl Pearl.” After Pearl gets a job in her store, Beatrice teaches her how to be a grandmother and comforts her when she is teased by her friends Nocturna, Marina, and Nixie. Beatrice then knits a scarf and ties the trio together, telling them about when she saw her first picture show, much to Pearl’s amusement.
