Jul 13, 1962
Cancer
Syracuse, NY
62 years old
N/A
N/A
Voice Actor
Full Name, Age & Birthplace
Thomas James “Tom” Kenny, born July 13, 1962, in East Syracuse (Syracuse), New York, USA, is currently 62 years old as of mid‑2025.
Early Life & Creative Beginnings
Growing up in Syracuse, Tom loved comic books, drawing, and collecting vinyl records. He attended Bishop Grimes High School, where he met long‑time friend and fellow comedian Bobcat Goldthwait. As a teen, he performed stand‑up routines, often inspired by figures like Woody Allen .
Stand‑Up Comedy & Early Career
Following college, Kenny toured the U.S. for around eight years as a stand‑up comedian, honing his comedic timing and character voices. His TV break came in sketch shows like The Edge (Fox, 1992–1993) and Mr. Show with Bob and David (HBO, 1995–1998) .
Breakout Role: SpongeBob SquarePants
In 1999, Tom was cast by Stephen Hillenburg as the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, a role he still performs today—including the animated series, films, and the live‑action “Patchy the Pirate.”
He also voices multiple side characters such as Gary the Snail, the French Narrator (likened to Jacques Cousteau), and SpongeBob’s dad, Harold SquarePants, showcasing his vocal versatility .
Expanding Voice‑Acting Legacy
Tom’s rich voice‑acting career includes roles like:
Heffer Wolfe in Rocko’s Modern Life
The Ice King in Adventure Time (earning Annie Awards)
The Mayor and Narrator in The Powerpuff Girls
Dog in CatDog
Spyro in the Spyro the Dragon video games
Guest roles in Johnny Bravo, Rick and Morty, Transformers: Animated, and many others .
Awards & Industry Recognition
Tom’s work has earned him two Daytime Emmy Awards and two Annie Awards, notably for his portrayals of SpongeBob and the Ice King .
Personal Life & Character Insight
Tom married fellow actor Jill Talley in 1995 (who voices Karen on SpongeBob). They have two kids—Mack (b. 1997) and Nora (b. 2003)—and reside in Studio City, California .
In recent public conversations, Tom has shared a touching interpretation: SpongeBob’s traits resonate with neurodivergent audiences. He described him as a “superpower” for those on the spectrum .
Legacy & Cultural Impact
Despite maintaining a relatively private life, Tom’s voice characters are worldwide icons. He’s affectionately dubbed “the voice of a generation” for his lasting contribution to children’s television and animation across multiple decades
