SpongeBob SquarePants star Tom Kenny reveals his cartoon alter ego is autistic: ‘That’s his superpower’

SpongeBob SquarePants star Tom Kenny reveals his cartoon alter ego is autistic: 'That's his superpower'

As a huge fan of SpongeBob SquarePants since its inception, I can’t help but be in awe of Tom Kenny’s remarkable journey and the impact he’s had on both television and my own life.


At the Motor City Comic Con in Novi, MI on May 19th, voice actor Tom Kenny, known for his role as SpongeBob SquarePants, disclosed in an old recording that his animated character is on the autism spectrum.

The voice actor, who is 62 years old, mentioned in a video shared by @DominoDeerGirl on Twitter that SpongeBob SquarePants can be considered to have traits of being on the autism spectrum as a character.

In McAllen, TX, during my latest scam, a person with clear signs of being on the autism spectrum approached me for the first time and asked, “I have a question for you, Tom Kenny. Does SpongeBob actually have autism?” I responded, “Absolutely! Just like how his unique traits are part of who he is, yours make up your extraordinary self.”

Tom made this revelation on Marc Maron’s WTF Podcast 11 years ago: “I’m not sure what specifically resonates with children on the autism spectrum in that program, but I believe SpongeBob’s character exhibits traits similar to those. He is incredibly focused on his work and demonstrates great dedication, often delving deeply into things.”

Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants, once hinted at Krusty Krab fry cook being “romantically inclined yet nearly asexual.” This notion was further explored in the 2001 episode ‘Pressure,’ where he reproduced through budding, much like a genuine sea sponge.

SpongeBob SquarePants star Tom Kenny reveals his cartoon alter ego is autistic: 'That's his superpower'

SpongeBob SquarePants star Tom Kenny reveals his cartoon alter ego is autistic: 'That's his superpower'

A marine biologist and animator, aged 57, sadly lost her life in the year 2018 following a long struggle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

In 2024, it will be the 25th anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePants. During this time, Kenny, the voice actor behind SpongeBob, Gary, the French narrator, and Patchy the Pirate, is often praised by fans for being a significant part of their childhood memories.

“Two-time Daytime Emmy award recipient expressed astonishment on CBS Sunday Morning on July 7, commenting, ‘That’s amazing! Such occurrences are commonplace,'” or simply, “The two-time Daytime Emmy winner was amazed on CBS Sunday Morning on July 7 and remarked, ‘Things like this happen frequently.'”

‘SpongeBob lets his freak flag fly. He is who is, and it’s amazing that folks find that very empowering that are now grown-ups or or even little kids now.’

Tom pointed out that while SpongeBob often remains optimistic, it wouldn’t make for an engaging show if he never felt down. Consequently, SpongeBob experiences sadness and discouragement from time to time. However, he always manages to bounce back, maintaining his signature resilience with the thought, “Tomorrow is another day!”

July 13 saw Kenny and his TV partner Bill Fagerbakke (the voice behind Patrick Star in SpongeBob SquarePants) team up for a virtual co-hosting role at Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards, marking its 25th anniversary celebration.

On February 11, native New Yorker and Fagerbakke put on motion-capture outfits to represent virtual reporters live at the unconventional, kid-friendly Super Bowl LVIII broadcast on Paramount Plus.

I’m thrilled to share that back in September, the news broke out that my beloved cartoon character, SpongeBob SquarePants, was given the green light for a 15th season! This means we can look forward to his underwater adventures continuing on Nickelodeon sometime around October or November. Can’t wait!

At Motor City Comic Con, Tom personally shared that SpongeBob falls under the autism spectrum during his panel. I was fortunate enough to attend, and my father managed to capture this moment on video. Since it was uploaded on Facebook, I had to record the screen to save it (tearing up 😭). Tom was incredibly gracious, ensuring that everyone got a chance to ask their questions.

— Domino (@DominoDeerGirl) July 22, 2024

SpongeBob SquarePants star Tom Kenny reveals his cartoon alter ego is autistic: 'That's his superpower'
SpongeBob SquarePants star Tom Kenny reveals his cartoon alter ego is autistic: 'That's his superpower'
SpongeBob SquarePants star Tom Kenny reveals his cartoon alter ego is autistic: 'That's his superpower'
SpongeBob SquarePants star Tom Kenny reveals his cartoon alter ego is autistic: 'That's his superpower'
SpongeBob SquarePants star Tom Kenny reveals his cartoon alter ego is autistic: 'That's his superpower'
SpongeBob SquarePants star Tom Kenny reveals his cartoon alter ego is autistic: 'That's his superpower'
SpongeBob SquarePants star Tom Kenny reveals his cartoon alter ego is autistic: 'That's his superpower'
SpongeBob SquarePants star Tom Kenny reveals his cartoon alter ego is autistic: 'That's his superpower'
SpongeBob SquarePants star Tom Kenny reveals his cartoon alter ego is autistic: 'That's his superpower'

As an obsessed fan, I can’t help but share my excitement about how the meme-making sensation has brought us so much more to love! I’ve been there for every step of SpongeBob SquarePants’ journey, and it’s been a blast witnessing its growth. The show gave birth to not one, not two, but three incredible feature films: The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004), The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015), and the latest addition, Sponge on the Run (2020). And that’s not all! We also got two fantastic spin-offs – Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years and The Patrick Star Show. It’s a whole new world of adventures for our beloved characters!

On August 4, Tom’s 12-member rock’n’soul band, Tom Kenny & The Hi-Seas, is set to perform at The Bowery Electric located in Manhattan’s East Village.

In his 29-year long marriage to Jill Talley, Kenny had two kids: Mack, who is now 27 years old, and Nora, who is close to turning 21. They starred together in the popular show “Mr. Show with Bob and David.”

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2024-07-24 05:19

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