| Rodger Bumpass | |
| Birth Date: | 20 November 1951 |
| Birth Place: | Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Other Names: | Roger Bumpass |
| Alma Mater: | Arkansas State University (BA) |
| Years Active: | 1977–present |
Rodger Bumpass (born November 20, 1951)[1] is an American actor. He is known for his role as Squidward Tentacles on the American animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants. He voices several other characters on the show as well, including the purple doctor fish and various anchovies.
He also voiced The Chief in the animated series Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, Professor Membrane from Invader Zim and Mr. Besser, the school principal in the animated series The Kids from Room 402. Bumpass has many other credits in animated films, animated television series, and video games.
Rodger Bumpass was born on November 20, 1951, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Carroll C. (1924–2009) and Virginia Cathey Bumpass (1921–2004).[2] [3] He had two siblings, one of whom was stillborn. His parents ran a dry cleaning business. He described his mother as “the life of the family” and his father “a typical Southern male with Southern male disgust“ but added that he was loving and giving. As a child, Bumpass idolized Mel Blanc and would do impressions of Looney Tunes characters as well as other cartoon characters. He memorized the comedy albums of Jonathan Winters and Bill Cosby and was inspired by Tim Conway’s physical comedy.[4] [5]
Bumpass attended Little Rock Central High School, where he received his first training in theater. He then majored in radio–TV and minored in theater at Arkansas State University. He worked at the campus radio station and also at Jonesboro's ABC affiliated television station, KAIT-TV, where he had multiple duties as announcer, film processor, cameraman, audio technician, and technical director.[6] While at KAIT, Bumpass also wrote, produced, and performed in a late-night comedy program called Mid-Century Nonsense Festival Featuring Kumquat Theater.[7] He graduated from A-State in 1976, and when encouraged by an A-State professor to consider professional theater, he moved to New York in June 1977.[6]
Bumpass has been voicing and acting in films since the 1960s and has also appeared on stage through the mid-1970s until the late 1980s.[6] [8] [9] He is also known for voicing The Chief from Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, Doctor Light on Teen Titans, and Professor Membrane on Invader Zim.[6]
In the late 1970s, Bumpass was involved with a number of National Lampoon productions. In 1977, he won a role in the National Lampoon music and comedy road show That's Not Funny, That's Sick[10] [11] and toured with them until 1978. That same year, he appeared in the National Lampoon TV special Disco Beaver from Outer Space for HBO. In 1979, Bumpass was cast as the leading role in a National Lampoon film to be called Jaws 3, People 0 in which he would have a love scene with Bo Derek. However, the film was canceled due to objections by the creators of the movie Jaws.[6] In 1980, Bumpass created the character of 'Fartman' to appear on the National Lampoon LP The White Album, which later inspired the Howard Stern character by the same name.[12]
Bumpass is best known to present-day viewers as the voice of Squidward Tentacles and various incidental characters on the Nickelodeon animated comedy series SpongeBob SquarePants.[13] [14]
In 2012, Bumpass received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for his role as Squidward.[15]
On July 27, 2019, Bumpass married Angela VanZandt, with whom he attended high school fifty years prior.[16]
On January 15, 2016, Bumpass was arrested for alleged DUI in Burbank, California. A police report of the incident alleged that officers of the Burbank Police Department found Bumpass in his car in the middle of the road. He was said to have been leaning against the vehicle, and when officers approached him for questioning, he attempted to walk away and lost his balance (nearly falling to the ground). Bumpass admitted to drinking and driving after leaving a Burbank bar before the police spotted him, and he was soon handcuffed after failing a sobriety test. His blood alcohol levels were said to be more than twice the legal limit. He was later released on a $15,000 bail shortly the next morning.[17] [18] [19]
The incident was first reported by celebrity gossip website TMZ several days after it occurred, on January 19. A day later, Bumpass alleged to the website that the police had lied about the DUI report, claiming that he was not leaning against his car when officers spotted him, and that he was being tailed and pulled over by the officers before his arrest, though he did confess again to the DUI charge. Nickelodeon representatives were notified of the incident by Bumpass, but did not release any immediate comments or actions regarding the matter.[20]
On January 25, 2016, ten days after the incident, Nickelodeon representatives confirmed to TMZ that Bumpass would remain on SpongeBob SquarePants for the foreseeable future. The representatives alleged that the network did not consider DUI charges to be an immoral act, and thus Bumpass was not legally subject to termination.[21]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Escape from New York | Dancer | Credited as Roger Bumpass | |
| 1986 | National Lampoon's Class of '86 | [22] | ||
| 1987 | The Running Man | Phil Hilton | ||
| 1996 | Bio-Dome | Narrator | ||
| 1999 | Baby Huey's Great Easter Adventure | Baby Huey (in-suit performer), Irv | Direct-to-video |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Disco Beaver from Outer Space | Television film | |
| 1981 | Two Reelers | Roger | Television film[23] |
| 1983 | Wizards and Warriors | Prisoner | Episode: "The Dungeon of Death" |
| 1984 | Footlight Frenzy | Benny the Stage Manager, Johnny Chicago | Television film |
| 1984 | Hot Flashes | Chuck Fodder | 5 episodes[24] |
| 1988 | What Price Victory | Television film | |
| 1992 | Silk Stalkings | Jack Fellman | Episode: "Shock Jock" |
| 1994 | Shadow of Obsession | Custodian | Television film |
| 1995 | Hart to Hart: Secrets of the Hart | Higgins | |
| 2002 | Santa Jr. | Wally Fisk | |
| 2003 | Lab Visitor, Plumber, Air Controller | ||
| 2004 | Just Desserts | Boz Roswell | |
| Murder Without Conviction | Patrick Talley, Jr. | ||
| A Boyfriend for Christmas | Russell Parker | ||
| 2007 | Marco Polo | Rustigielo |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Heavy Metal | Hannover Fiste, Dr. Anrak | Credited as Roger Bumpass |
| 1984 | Robo Force: The Revenge of Nazgar | Mark Fury | |
| 1992 | Porco Rosso | Blond Pirate | English dub |
| 1994 | The Super Dave Superbowl of Knowledge | Additional voices | Television film |
| 1995 | Theodore Rex | Additional voices | |
| 1996 | The Hunchback of Notre Dame | Frollo's Soldiers | |
| 1997 | Hercules | Man pointing at Young Hercules | |
| 1997 | Additional voices | Direct-to-video | |
| 1998 | Quest for Camelot | Additional voices | |
| 1998 | A Bug's Life | Harry Mosquito | |
| 1998 | Additional voices | Direct-to-video | |
| 1999 | Doug's 1st Movie | Additional voices | |
| 1999 | Toy Story 2 | Clerk | |
| 1999 | The Iron Giant | Maine Man, Rick the Soldier | |
| 1999 | Tarzan | Elephant #2, David | credited as Roger Bumpass |
| 1999 | Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost | Perkins | Direct-to-video |
| 1999 | The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man | Dr. Octopus | |
| 2000 | Titan A.E | Additional Vocals | Uncredited |
| 2000 | The Emperor's New Groove | Male Villager #8, Male Villager #1 | |
| 2001 | Mr. Hickenbottom, Chief of the Watch | ADR Group | |
| 2001 | Spirited Away | Foreman | 2002 English dub |
| 2001 | Monsters, Inc. | CDA, News Anchor | |
| 2001 | Osmosis Jones | Announcer for Nerve News Network | |
| 2001 | Additional Voices | Uncredited | |
| 2002 | King's Guards | Direct-to-video | |
| 2002 | The Hunchback of Notre Dame II | Frollo's Soldiers | Direct-to-video Uncredited |
| 2002 | Colonel's Soldiers | ||
| 2002 | Treasure Planet | Turnbuckle, Police Robot #1 | |
| 2002 | Lilo & Stitch | Man | |
| 2003 | Brother Bear | Male Bear #2 | |
| 2004 | The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie | Squidward Tentacles | |
| 2004 | The Incredibles | Mr. Incredible's Lawyer | |
| 2006 | Curious George | Hunter #1 | |
| 2006 | Cars | Claude Scruggs | |
| 2006 | Various Mammals | ||
| 2009 | The Haunted World of El Superbeasto | Screaming Patron | Direct-to-video (credited as Roger Bumpass) |
| 2010 | Kung-Fu Magoo | General Smith, Driver | |
| 2013 | Monsters University | Jerry Jablonski | |
| 2015 | [25] | Squidward Tentacles | |
| 2019 | Professor Membrane | Netflix film | |
| 2020 | Squidward Tentacles | ||
| 2021 | Seal Team | Sharks | |
| 2024 | Squidward Tentacles[26] | Netflix film | |
| 2025 | |||
| 2025 | [27] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Alvin and the Chipmunks | Additional voices | 13 episodes | |
| 1985 | The Jetsons | Additional voices | Episode: "Elroy in Wonderland" | |
| 1987 | Additional voices | 17 episodes | ||
| 1989 | Ring Raiders | Scorch | 5 episodes | |
| 1989–1991 | The Real Ghostbusters | Louis Tully | 12 episodes | |
| 1991 | TaleSpin | Dr. Axolotl | Episode: "Bullethead Baloo" | |
| 1991 | Tiny Toon Adventures | Ronald Grump | Episode: "Pollution Solution" | |
| 1991 | Toxic Crusaders | Toxie, Dr. Killemoff | 13 episodes Credited as Roger Bumpass | |
| 1992 | Petal to the Metal | Grumbles | Short | |
| 1992 | Raw Toonage | Grumbles the Grizzly | 13 episodes | |
| 1993 | Hoffman | Episode: "Paging the Crime Doctor" | ||
| 1993 | Problem Child | Additional voices | Television series short | |
| 1993–1994 | Bonkers | Grumbles Grizzly | 10 episodes | |
| 1994 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Titanus | 3 episodes | |
| 1994–1999 | Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? | Chief | 40 episodes | |
| 1995 | Timon & Pumbaa | Savage Lion | Episode: "You Ghana Join the Club" | |
| 1996 | Quack Pack | Countdown Voice | Episode: "None Like It Hot" | |
| 1997 | Additional voices | Unknown episodes | ||
| 1998 | The Angry Beavers | Elephant, Sentry | Episode: "Zooing Time" | |
| 1998 | CatDog | Pig | Episode: "CatDogPig" | |
| 1998 | Oh Yeah! Cartoons | Ravenrant, Radio DJ, Announcer, Cyclops | 2 episodes | |
| 1998 | Monster Farm | Rex, Frankenswine | ||
| 1999 | Rugrats | Uncle Freddy | Episode: "Brothers Are Monsters" | |
| 1999–present | SpongeBob SquarePants | Squidward Tentacles, various characters | ||
| 1999–2000 | The Kids from Room 402 | Principal Besser | 13 episodes | |
| 2000 | Batman Beyond | Cop | Episode: "Betrayal" | |
| 2001 | Time Squad | Ep. | Episode: "Feud for Thought" | |
| 2001–2003 | Invader Zim | Professor Membrane, others | 18 episodes | |
| 2002 | The Zeta Project | Submarine Captain | Episode: "The Hologram Man" | |
| 2002 | 3-South | Additional voices | Episode: "College Material" | |
| 2003–2005 | Teen Titans | Doctor Light | 3 episodes | |
| 2003–2008 | ChalkZone | Biclops / Man | 10 episodes | |
| 2005 | What's New, Scooby-Doo? | Steve | Episode: "Gentlemen, Start Your Monsters" | |
| 2007–2008 | Yin Yang Yo! | The Lesson | 2 episodes | |
| 2008 | Random! Cartoons | Lemurman | Episode: "Mind the Kitty" | |
| 2010 | Chuggington | Additional voices | ||
| 2012 | Gravity Falls | Various characters | ||
| 2013–present | Teen Titans Go! | Doctor Light | Recurring role | |
| 2014–2020 | Doc McStuffins | Army Al | 10 episodes | |
| 2015 | We Bare Bears | Theater Manager | Episode: "Shush Ninjas" | |
| 2015–2016 | Mixels | Flamzer, Naut, Major Nixel, Gate Keepe, Narrator, others | 2 episodes | |
| 2021–2024 | Squidward Tentacles, Regigilled, various characters | |||
| 2021–present | The Patrick Star Show | Squidward Tentacles, Capt. Doug Quasar, Daddy Dartfish, various characters |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Chief | |||
| 2000 | Sacrifice | Gammel | ||
| 2001 | Squidward Tentacles[28] | |||
| 2002 | Blood Omen 2 | Magnus | ||
| Gen. Gideon Raveshaw | ||||
| Squidward Tentacles | ||||
| Zirrelian Crew, Zirrelian Mayor, Arcturian Commander | ||||
| 2003 | Nickelodeon Toon Twister 3-D | Squidward Tentacles | ||
| The Unknown, Inventor | ||||
| 2004 | X-Men Legends | Sentinel, Scientist | ||
| SpongeBob SquarePants: Typing | Squidward Tentacles | |||
| 2005 | Teen Titans | Doctor Light | ||
| Squidward Tentacles | Credited as Roger Bumpass | |||
| The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie: The Video Game | ||||
| 2006 | ||||
| 2007 | SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis | |||
| Additional voices | ||||
| Greg | ||||
| 2008 | Squidward Tentacles, Professor Membrane | |||
| 2009 | SpongeBob's Truth or Square | Squidward Tentacles | ||
| 2010 | Spongebob's Boating Bash | |||
| Redwater, Cops, Brawlers | [29] | |||
| 2013 | Squidward Tentacles, Captain | |||
| SpongeBob Moves In! | Squidward Tentacles | |||
| 2015 | SpongeBob HeroPants | |||
| 2018 | Lego DC Super-Villains | Doctor Arthur Light | ||
| 2020 | Squidward Tentacles | Archival recordings | ||
| 2022 | ||||
| 2023 | Squidward Tentacles, Anchovies, Kids | |||
| 2023 | Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 | Squidward Tentacles | ||
| 2024 | Squidward Tentacles | [30] |