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In addition to the show's regular cast of voice actors, guest stars have been featured on SpongeBob SquarePants, an American animated television series created by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon. SpongeBob SquarePants chronicles the adventures and endeavors of the title character and his various friends in the fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom. Many of the ideas for the show originated in an unpublished, educational comic book titled The Intertidal Zone, which Hillenburg created in the mid-1980s. He began developing SpongeBob SquarePants into a television series in 1996 upon the cancellation of Rocko's Modern Life, which Hillenburg directed.[1][2] The pilot episode first aired on Nickelodeon in the United States on May 1, 1999.[3] The show's thirteenth and current season premiered in 2020, and 276 episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants have aired. A series of theatrical films based on the show began in 2004 with The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.

Thumb
McHale's Navy actors Ernest Borgnine (right) and Tim Conway (left), shown here in 1962, were the first credited guest stars. Borgnine made the most guest appearances on the show, appearing in 16 episodes before his death.

Guest voices have come from many ranges of professions, including actors, athletes, authors, musicians, and artists. The first credited guest stars were McHale's Navy actors Ernest Borgnine and Tim Conway, who appeared in "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy (I)", the show's sixth episode. Borgnine and Conway have since been featured as recurring characters on the show until 2012. Rock band Ghastly Ones were the first guest stars to appear as themselves, appearing for a special musical performance in the first-season episode "Scaredy Pants". Aside from the aforementioned actors, actress Marion Ross has a recurring role as Grandma SquarePants, SpongeBob's grandmother. Borgnine has made the most appearances, guest starring 16 times. Conway has made 15 guest appearances, while Ross has appeared four times, John O'Hurley appeared three times, and John Rhys-Davies has appeared twice. Michael McKean has also appeared twice, voicing different characters.

Hillenburg "deliberately avoided" inviting guest stars onto the show, saying that "we only would cast someone if they came right out of the story."[4] A number of guest stars agreed to appear on the show after being convinced by their children who are SpongeBob SquarePants fans, while others accept because they are fans of the show themselves. Casting associate Sarah Noonan, who is responsible for casting guest stars on the show, has received three Artios Award nominations (with one win) from the Casting Society of America. As of May 4, 2016, there have been 78 guest stars on the show,[A] with this figure rising to 84 if The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie and its sequels are included.

Overview and history

Guest stars have appeared on SpongeBob SquarePants since its first season, in addition to the main cast, consisting of Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Rodger Bumpass, Clancy Brown, Mr. Lawrence, Jill Talley, Carolyn Lawrence, Mary Jo Catlett and Lori Alan. Series creator Stephen Hillenburg in point of fact eschewed appearances by celebrities on the show, stating in an early interview, "Honestly, I deliberately avoided that. The Simpsons is a tough act to follow, so I thought it was best not to do what they do," referring to the copious number of The Simpsons guest stars. He added, "But we've had a few exceptions."[5] According to Tom Kenny, main character SpongeBob's voice actor, "One of the things networks always try to push is getting celebrities." He said, "But Steve [Hillenburg] had no interest in that and let them know that in no uncertain terms."[6]

The first guest stars to appear on the show were actors Ernest Borgnine and Tim Conway,[7] reuniting for their first joint TV project in 33 years since the 1960s sitcom McHale's Navy.[8] They appeared as SpongeBob's favorite superheroes, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, respectively.[8] Hillenburg and Derek Drymon, the show's creative director, enjoyed the actors' roles in McHale's Navy, and they already wanted the two to provide the voices of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy when they were voice casting. Hillenburg and Drymon directly approached Borgnine and Conway, and the actors both accepted.[9] When coming up for the right voice of Mermaid Man, Borgnine cracked his voice by mistake when he was saying "evil!" He said, "By golly! We started something... and we kept [the voice] in."[10] Rock band Ghastly Ones were the first guest stars to appear as themselves, appearing to perform the song "SpongeBob ScaredyPants" in the first-season episode "Scaredy Pants."[11] Their song was then released in the album SpongeBob SquarePants: Original Theme Highlights in 2001.[12] Actors Jim Jarmusch and John Lurie were the first guest stars to appear in live-action.[13] They appeared as themselves in the first-season episode "Hooky" via stock footage from the television program Fishing with John.[14] According to episode writer Vincent Waller, "Someone made us aware of the footage, and they graciously let us use it." The crew planned to film live-action scenes; however, "the Jarmusch and Lurie addition was a very nice surprise."[15]

Several guest stars have made multiple appearances on the show. Borgnine guest starred in 16 episodes, more than anybody else. He voiced Mermaid Man, until his death in 2012.[16] Following his death, Nickelodeon honored him with a two-hour SpongeBob SquarePants marathon featuring his character.[17] Borgnine had found a renewed fanbase among children through his work on the show.[18] Borgnine's former McHale's Navy co-star Conway has made over 15 guest appearances as Barnacle Boy, Mermaid Man's sidekick. Actress Marion Ross first appeared as Grandma SquarePants in the season two episode "Grandma's Kisses,"[19] and has since appeared in three other episodes. Actor John O'Hurley provides the voice of King Neptune, who first appeared in the first-season episode "Neptune's Spatula,"[20] while John Rhys-Davies made his first appearance as Man Ray, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy's nemesis, in the second-season episode "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy III."[21] The two have each reappeared in "The Clash of Triton" and "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy V," respectively.[22][23] Other repeat guest stars include Brad Abrell, Steve Kehela and Frank Welker.

Hillenburg said that "We only would cast someone if they came right out of the story,"[4] while Sarah Noonan, vice president of talent and casting for Nickelodeon, said that guest star choices come from the writing staff and executive producer.[24] Writer Steven Banks said, "It's not just stunt casting to get publicity," and that the reasoning is "[we] do want to meet them [...]"[25] A number of guest stars have accepted to appear on the show after being persuaded by their children who are SpongeBob SquarePants fans. Some of them include Victoria Beckham, Amy Poehler and David Hasselhoff.[24] Others accept to guest appear because they are fans of the show themselves.[24] Actor Johnny Depp, who appeared as Jack Kahuna Laguna in the sixth-season episode "SpongeBob SquarePants vs. The Big One," accepted the guest role on the show because he and his children are fans.[24] Hillenburg described the process, "In the beginning, it was hard to get people. Most of the people that allow themselves to be on have kids who like the show. Often, their kids are fans. They're doing it because they want to please the family."[4] SpongeBob SquarePants has a "dream list" of celebrities that the crew would like to appear on the show, which includes actors Michael Caine and Jerry Lewis. Noonan said, "Let us know if you can help us out with them."[24]

Many guest stars record their parts in the show's recording studio, although some are recorded over the telephone.[6] Kenny joked, "With movie stars, sometimes they have to phone it in from their villa in France."[6] When recording over the phone, some guest stars would do their parts in real time with the show's cast who are in the recording studio.[6] Noonan received three Artios Award nominations from the Casting Society of America for her work on casting actors on the show. She was honored in 2011 in the Outstanding Achievement in Casting—Television Animation category.[26] As of May 4, 2016, there have been 78 guest stars, totaling 117 guest spots.[A] These figures rise to 84 and 123 respectively if The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water are included.

Guest stars

Seasons: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • Movie • Movie 2 • Movie 3

Key
  • A double dagger (‡) denotes recurring guest stars.
  • The color of the season number in the first column corresponds to the color of that season's DVD boxset.
  • In the No. column:
    • The first number refers to the order it aired during the entire series.
    • The second number refers to the episode number within its season.
More information Season, Guest star ...
Season Guest star Role(s) No. Episode title Ref.
1 Ernest Borgnine ‡ Mermaid Man 006a–06a "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy" [8]
Tim Conway ‡ Barnacle Boy [8]
Don Newhouse Himself
Brian Doyle-Murray ‡ Flying Dutchman 013a−13a "Scaredy Pants"
Ghastly Ones Themselves
(special musical guest)		 [11]
Brian Doyle-Murray ‡ Flying Dutchman 017a−017a "Arrgh!"
Junior Brown Himself
(special musical guest)		 018a–18a "Texas" [34]
John O'Hurley ‡ King Neptune 019b–19b "Neptune's Spatula" [20]
Jim Jarmusch Himself
Fisherman		 020a–20a "Hooky" [13]
John Lurie Himself
Fisherman		 [13]
Ernest Borgnine ‡ Mermaid Man 020b–20b "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy II" [35]
Tim Conway ‡ Barnacle Boy [35]
Charles Nelson Reilly Dirty Bubble [36]
2
Brian Doyle-Murray ‡ Flying Dutchman 021a-01a "Your Shoe's Untied"
Ween Themselves
(special musical guest)		 021a-01a [37]
The Capsules Themselves
(special musical guest)		 022b–02b "Bossy Boots" [38]
Brad Abrell ‡ Bubble Buddy 023b–03b "Bubble Buddy" [39]
Corky Carroll Grubby Grouper [40]
Marion Ross ‡ Grandma SquarePants 026a–06a "Grandma's Kisses" [19]
Pantera Themselves
(special musical guest)		 027a–07a "Prehibernation Week" [41]
Ernest Borgnine ‡ Mermaid Man 031a–11a "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy III" [21]
Tim Conway ‡ Barnacle Boy [21]
John Rhys-Davies ‡ Man Ray [21]
Frank Welker ‡ Clamu
Baby Oyster		 032b–12b "The Smoking Peanut" [42]
Brian Doyle-Murray ‡ Flying Dutchman 033a−013a "Shanghaied"
Brad Abrell ‡ Announcer 035b–15b "Band Geeks" [43]
3 Frank Welker ‡ Mystery 042b–02b "My Pretty Seahorse" [44]
Steve Kehela ‡ TV Announcer 044b–04b "Idiot Box" [45]
Ernest Borgnine ‡ Mermaid Man 045a–05a "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy IV" [46]
Tim Conway ‡ Barnacle Boy [46]
Rodney Bingenheimer The DJ 049a–09a "Krab Borg" [47]
Steve Kehela ‡ Narrator 050b–10b "Krusty Krab Training Video" [48]
Lux Interior Lead singer of the Bird Brains 051–11 "Party Pooper Pants" [49]
Kevin Michael Richardson ‡ King Neptune [50]
Ernest Borgnine ‡ Mermaid Man 052b–12b "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy V" [23]
Tim Conway ‡ Barnacle Boy [23]
Martin Olson ‡ The Chief [23]
John Rhys-Davies ‡ Man Ray [23]
Brian Doyle-Murray ‡ Flying Dutchman 056a−016a "Born Again Krabs"
Frank Welker ‡ Gorilla 056b–16b "I Had an Accident" [51]
4 Amy Poehler Grandma 063–03 "Have You Seen This Snail?" [52]
Stew Himself
(special musical guest)		 [53]
C.H. Greenblatt Carl 065a–05a "Selling Out" [54]
Ernest Borgnine ‡ Mermaid Man 067b–07b "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy VI: The Motion Picture" [55]
Tim Conway ‡ Barnacle Boy [55]
Robin Sachs Sam Roderick 069b–09b "Mrs. Puff, You're Fired" [56]
Rik Mayall Lord Reginald 070a–10a "Chimps Ahoy" [57]
Nigel Planer Dr. Marmalade [57]
Christopher Ryan Professor Percy [57]
Brian Doyle-Murray ‡ Flying Dutchman 070b−10b "Ghost Host"
Pat Morita Master Udon 071b–11b "Karate Island" [56]
5 Patton Oswalt Jim 082a–02a "The Original Fry Cook" [58]
Ernest Borgnine ‡ Mermaid Man 082b–02b "Night Light" [59]
Tim Conway ‡ Barnacle Boy [59]
Mark Hamill The Moth [59]
Brian Doyle-Murray ‡ Flying Dutchman 088a−08a "Money Talks"
Gene Shalit Gene Scallop 089a–09a "The Krusty Sponge" [27]
David Bowie Lord Royal Highness 092–12 "Atlantis SquarePantis" [28]
John DiMaggio BlackJack SquarePants 093c–13c "BlackJack" [60]
Marion Ross ‡ Grandma SquarePants [60]
Garnett Sailor Uncle Cap’n Blue [60]
Ernest Borgnine ‡ Mermaid Man 094b–14b "Mermaid Man vs. SpongeBob" [61]
Tim Conway ‡ Barnacle Boy [61]
R. Lee Ermey Prison Warden 095a–15a "The Inmates of Summer" [62]
Gene Simmons Sea monster 097a–17a "20,000 Patties Under the Sea" [29]
Shannon Tweed Mother [29]
Ray Liotta Trevor 098–18 "What Ever Happened to SpongeBob?" [63]
Andrea Martin Ms. Gristlepuss 100a–20a "Banned in Bikini Bottom" [64]
Christopher Guest Stanley S. SquarePants 100b–20b "Stanley S. SquarePants" [64]
6 Alton Brown Nicholas Withers 101a–01a "House Fancy" [58]
Bruce Brown Narrator 111–11 "SpongeBob SquarePants vs. The Big One" [65]
Johnny Depp Jack Kahuna Laguna [66]
Brian Doyle-Murray ‡ Flying Dutchman
Davy Jones Himself [67]
Ernest Borgnine ‡ Mermaid Man 113b–13b "The Card" [68]
Ian McShane Gordon 114a–14a "Dear Vikings" [69]
Ernest Borgnine ‡ Mermaid Man 114b–14b "Ditchin'" [70]
Tim Conway ‡ Barnacle Boy [70]
Dennis Quaid Grandpa Redbeard 115a–15a "Grandpappy the Pirate" [71]
Ernest Borgnine ‡ Mermaid Man 117a–17a "Shuffleboarding" [70]
Tim Conway ‡ Barnacle Boy [70]
Dee Snider Angry Jack 121b–21b "Shell Shocked" [72]
Rosario Dawson Herself 123/124–23/24 "Truth or Square" [30]
Eddie Deezen Himself [73]
Craig Ferguson Himself [30]
Will Ferrell Himself [30]
Tina Fey Herself [30]
Ricky Gervais Himself
Narrator		 [30]
LeBron James Himself [30]
Pink Herself [74]
Robert Smigel[B] Triumph the Insult Comic Dog [30]
Robin Williams Himself [30]
Gregg Turkington Camera Operator [30]
Sebastian Bach Triton 126–26 "The Clash of Triton" [22]
Victoria Beckham Queen Amphitrite [22]
John O'Hurley ‡ King Neptune [22]
7 Ernest Borgnine ‡ Mermaid Man 135a–09a "Back to the Past" [31]
Tim Conway ‡ Barnacle Boy [31]
Burt Ward Young Barnacle Boy [31]
Adam West Young Mermaid Man [31]
Ernest Borgnine ‡ Mermaid Man 135b–09b "The Bad Guy Club for Villains" [75]
Tim Conway ‡ Barnacle Boy [75]
Brian Doyle-Murray ‡ Flying Dutchman 133a−07a "The Curse of Bikini Bottom"
Laraine Newman ‡ Grandma Plankton 139a–13a "Gramma's Secret Recipe" [76]
Ginnifer Goodwin Teenage Mermaid 140b–14b "Welcome to the Bikini Bottom Triangle" [77]
Kristen Wiig Madame Hagfish 141a–15a "The Curse of the Hex" [78]
Amy Sedaris Ma Angler 142a–16b "Trenchbillies" [77]
Marion Ross ‡ Grandma SquarePants 146a–20a "The Abrasive Side" [79]
8 Brian Doyle-Murray ‡ Flying Dutchman, Atomic Dutchman 162–10 "Ghoul Fools"
Chris Elliott Lord Poltergeist 162–10 [80]
Ernest Borgnine ‡ Mermaid Man 163a–11a "Mermaid Man Begins" [81]
Tim Conway ‡ Barnacle Boy [81]
Marion Ross ‡ Grandma SquarePants 164b–12b "Pet Sitter Pat" [82]
Rich Fulcher Fuzzy Acorns 166b–14b "The Way of the Sponge" [83]
John Goodman Santa Claus 175–23 "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!" [84]
Ernest Borgnine ‡ Mermaid Man 176a–24a "Super Evil Aquatic Villain Team Up is Go!" [85]
Tim Conway ‡ Barnacle Boy [85]
Andy Samberg Colonel Carper 178–26 "Hello Bikini Bottom" [86]
9 Johnny Knoxville Johnny Krill 179a–01a "Extreme Spots" [87]
Ernest Borgnine ‡ Mermaid Man 180a–02a "Patrick-Man!" [88]
Tim Conway ‡ Barnacle Boy [89]
Michael McKean ‡ Captain Frostymug 181a–03a "License to Milkshake" [90]
Biz Markie Kenny the Cat 188a–10a "Kenny the Cat" [91]
Frank Ferrante Stockholder Eel 191b–13b "The Executive Treatment"
Bob Barker Bob Barnacle 193a–15a "Sanctuary!" [92]
Aubrey Plaza Nocturna 197a–19a "Mall Girl Pearl" [93]
Betty White Beatrice [93]
Henry Winkler Sharkface 198a–20a "Sharks vs. Pods" [94]
Michael McKean ‡ Lonnie [94]
David Lander Donnie [94]
James Arnold Taylor Nick Fishkins, the isopod 199a–21a "Sold!" [94]
Jon Hamm Don Grouper 200–22 "Goodbye, Krabby Patty?" [95]
10 Ed Asner Angry Old Man 205a–01a "Whirly Brains"
J. K. Simmons Maestro Mackerel 208a–04a "Snooze You Lose" [96]
John O'Hurley ‡ King Neptune 211b–11b "Trident Trouble"
Steve Buscemi Dorsal Dan 213a–11a "The Getaway" [97]
Joe Pantoliano Stickyfins Whiting [97]
Peter Browngardt ‡ The Ice Cream King 214a–10a "Patrick's Coupon"
11 Brian Doyle-Murray ‡ Flying Dutchman 220−05 "The Legend of Boo-Kini Bottom"
Jeff Garlin Cuddle E. Hugs 225a–10a "Cuddle E. Hugs"
Keith David Gary's collar 226a–11a "Chatterbox Gary"
Brian George Coupe 227a–12a "Drive Happy"
Laraine Newman ‡ Grandma Plankton 228b–13b "Grandmum's the Word"
Kevin Michael Richardson ‡ Nurse Bazooka 231a–16a "My Leg!"
Laraine Newman ‡ Crab Lady 231b–16b "Ink Lemonade"
Brian Doyle-Murray ‡ Flying Dutchman 232b−17b "Shopping List"
Kevin Michael Richardson ‡ Sir Urchin 235b–20b "Library Cards"
Lewis Black Santa Claus 237–22 "Goons on the Moon"
12 Peter Browngardt ‡ The Ice Cream King 243a–02a "The Nitwitting"
Fred Tatasciore Singing Tennessee Ernie Flounder 243a–02a
Martin Olson ‡ The Chief 247a–06a "Swamp Mates"
Maurice LaMarche ‡ Bus Driver 248b–07b "Squid's on a Bus"
Maria Bamford Macadamia, Hazelnut and Pistachio 249a–08a "Sandy's Nutty Nieces"
Bobby Cannavale Tony 251a–10a "Shell Games"
Charlie Adler Manager, Jelly Fisher Gal, and Fan Boy 253a–12a "Jolly Lodgers"
Lana Condor Herself 254/255−13/14 "SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout"
Lilli Cooper Herself
Vernon Davis Himself
Gilbert Gottfried ‡ Himself
Jack Griffo Himself
Rob Gronkowski Himself
Tiffany Haddish Herself
David Hasselhoff Himself
Heidi Klum Herself
Kel Mitchell Himself
Kal Penn Himself
Daniella Perkins Herself
RuPaul Himself
Jojo Siwa Herself
Danny Skinner Himself
Ethan Slater Himself
Jason Sudeikis Himself
Sigourney Weaver Herself
Brian Doyle-Murray ‡ Flying Dutchman 259a−18a "The Ghost of Plankton"
Gilbert Gottfried ‡ Sal 262b–21b "The Hankering"
Rob Paulsen ‡ Glove World Officer 266–25 "Escape from Beneath Glove World"
Nyasha Hatendi Hieronymus Glove
Maurice LaMarche ‡ Paul Frees
13 Christopher Guest ‡ Clem Clam 270a−03a "Goofy Scoopers"
Ed Begley Jr. Rock T. Puss
Lewis Black ‡ Santa Claus 272−05 "SpongeBob's Road to Christmas"
Brian George ‡ Guru 273a−06a "Potato Puff"
Brad Garrett Wise Kraken 280a−13a "Abandon Twits"
Jeffrey Combs Wally 280b−13b "Wallhalla"
Kevin Michael Richardson ‡ Sir Urchin 282a−15a "Arbor Day Disarray"
Steve Buscemi ‡ Dorsal Dan 282b-15b "Ain't That the Tooth"
Jennifer Tilly Petunia 284a−17a "The Flower Plot"
Peter Browngardt ‡ The Ice Cream King 284b−17b "SpongeBob on Parade"
Kevin Michael Richardson ‡ Sir Urchin 286b–19b "Sir Urchin and Snail Fail"
Rhys Darby Krabby Patty 289a–22a "My Friend Patty"
Mark Dacascos Guru Greasetrap 290a–23a "Spatula of the Heavens"
Peter Browngardt ‡ The Ice Cream King 291b-24b "The Goobfather"
Brian Doyle-Murray ‡ Flying Dutchman 293b−26b "Sandy, Help Us!"
Movie Alec Baldwin Dennis M1 The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie [98]
David Hasselhoff Himself [98]
Scarlett Johansson Princess Mindy [98]
Jeffrey Tambor King Neptune [98]
Movie 2 Antonio Banderas Burger-Beard the Pirate M2 The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water [99]
Matt Berry Bubbles [100]
Peter Shukoff Seagull, and Surfer
Lloyd Ahlquist Seagull, and Surfer
Eric Bauza ‡ Seagull
Tim Conway ‡ Seagull
Eddie Deezen ‡ Seagull
Nolan North Seagull
Rob Paulsen Seagull
Kevin Michael Richardson ‡ Seagull
April Stewart Seagull
Cree Summer Seagull
Billy West Seagull
Movie 3 Matt Berry King Poseidon M3 The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run
Awkwafina Otto
Tiffany Haddish Master of Ceremonies
Reggie Watts Chancellor
Aaron Smith De Niro Security Guard
Tyler Peterson Poseidon Concierge
Keanu Reeves Sage [101]
Snoop Dogg The Gambler [102]
Danny Trejo El Diablo
Rick Pasqualone Dealer
Antonio Raul Corbo Young SpongeBob
Jack Gore Young Patrick
Jason Maybaum Young Squidward
Presley Williams Young Sandy
Close

Notes

  • ^ A. Bands are counted as a single unit as there is no confirmation of which of the band's members performed in their appearances.
  • ^ B. The character puppet was puppeteered and voiced by Robert Smigel.

References

External links

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