Mary Jo Catlett (born September 2, 1938) is an American film, stage and television actress. She is notable for her role as housekeeper Pearl Gallagher on the television sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, and currently for her role as Mrs. Puff in Spongebob Squarepants, which she has held since the show's debut.
Early life and education
Catlett was born in Denver, Colorado, the daughter of Cornelia M. (née Callaghan) and Robert J. Catlett.
Career
Catlett also appeared on the television soap opera series General Hospital (for which she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award) and in several episodes of the television sitcom series M*A*S*H. She provided the voice of Mrs. Puff in the animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants, as well as the related film The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004). In 2002, she was nominated for The Annie Award for Best Voice Acting by a Female Performer in an Animated Production for SpongeBob SquarePants.
She also provided the voice for Cousin Larry's mother on the animated television series Kim Possible. Mary Jo Cattlet has also provided voices for Rugrats, The Smurfs, Quack Pack and Extreme Ghostbusters.
She is also known, prior to her role on Diff'rent Strokes, for the commercials she did for Black Flag and its pest-control products, particularly the Roach Motel brand.
Her many television guest roles include appearances on episodes of That's So Raven, Glee and Desperate Housewives. She played wrestler "Terrible Tessie" in the first season Starsky & Hutch episode "The Omaha Tiger", and "Cousin Alice", the slow-witted but well-meaning relation of an old acquaintance of the Duke family in the first season Dukes of Hazzard episode "Swamp Molly". Catlett had a voice role on the "American Dream Factory" episode of American Dad!. Catlett appeared in feature films including Serial Mom, The Benchwarmers and Beethoven's 5th. She has appeared in an episode of 2 Broke Girls with other veteran character actresses and also guest starred on Shake It Up.
Filmography and television work
- The Littlest Angel (1969) (a part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame anthology series) as Scribe #1
- Bananas (1971) as Woman in Hotel Lobby Cheering Honeymoon (uncredtied)
- The Bob Newhart Show (1975) as Mrs. Engleheart
- The Waltons (1975) as Elvira Roswell
- Kojak (1975) as Verna
- How to Break Up a Happy Divorce (1976) as Soprano
- Police Woman (1976) (television series) as Car Rental Clark
- M*A*S*H (1976-1978; three episodes) as Becky and Nurse Walsh
- Flush (1977) as Bertha
- Semi-Tough (1977) as Earlene Emery
- Fantasy Island (1978; four episodes) as Hooligan Hanreddy and Carlotta Smith
- The Champ (1979) as Josie
- Foul Play (1981) as Stella Finkle
- The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) as Rita
- Diff'rent Strokes (1982-1986) as Pearl Gallagher
- The Smurfs (1981-1989) as Additional voices
- Alf (1986; one episode) as Mary Jo
- General Hospital (1989-1990) as Mary Finnegan
- Serial Mom (1994) as Rosemary Ackerman
- Rugrats (1999; one episode) as Doreen
- SpongeBob SquarePants (1999â€"present) as Mrs. Puff
- The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy (2004; one episode) as Witch
- Lloyd in Space (2004; one episode) as Mrs. Horton
- The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004) as Mrs. Puff
- That's So Raven (2004-2005; four episodes) as Mrs. Applebaum
- The Benchwarmers (2006) as Mrs. Ellwood
- State of Mind (2007: one episode) as Mrs. DelVecchio
- Kim Possible (2007; one episode) as Aunt June
- American Dad (2007; one episode) as a store owner
- Days of Our Lives (2009; one episode) as Bev
- Cold Case (2009; one episode) as Betty Joe Henders '09
- Glee (2010; one episode) as Mrs. Carlisle
- 2 Broke Girls (2011; one episode) as Elaine
- Shake It Up! (2012; one episode) as Elderly Woman
- Desperate Housewives (2012; one episode) as Debi Brown
- Did You Look for Work This Week (2012) as Trixie
- The Mentalist (2013; one episode) as Ruth
- Mr. Box Office (2013; one episode) as Gertrude
- Modern Family (2013; "Goodnight Gracie") as Edith
- Rizzoli & Isles (2013; one episode) as Bunny
- Instant Mom (2014; one episode) as Mrs. Sharp
- The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015) as Mrs. Puff
Stage work
- Hello, Dolly! (1964â€"1970) as Ernestina; Broadway
- Canterbury Tales (1969) as Housewife, Village Girl and Parishioner
- Different Times (1972) as Hazel Hughes and child
- The Pajama Game (1973-1974) as Mabel
- "Beauty and the Beast" as Madame De La Grande Bouche the Wardrobe
References
External links
- Mary Jo Catlett at the Internet Broadway Database
- Mary Jo Catlett at the Internet Movie Database
- Mary Jo Catlett at the Internet Off-Broadway Database