Rodger Albert Bumpass (born November 20, 1951) is an American character actor and voice actor. He is best known for his long-running role as Squidward Tentacles on the American animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants. He voices many other characters on the show, including Dr. Gill Gilliam and various anchovies. He also voiced The Chief in the animated series Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, 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.
Early life
Bumpass was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas on November 20, 1951. He attended Little Rock Central High School where he received his first training in theater. He attended Arkansas State University where he majored in radioâ€"TV and minored in theater. He worked at the campus radio station and also at Jonesboro's Raycom Media owned ABC-affiliated television station, KAIT-TV, where he had multiple duties as announcer, film processor, cameraman, audio technician, and technical director.
While at KAIT, he also wrote, produced, and performed in a late-night comedy program called Mid-Century Nonsense Festival Featuring Kumquat Theater. He graduated from ASU in 1976, and when encouraged by an ASU professor to consider professional theater, he went to New York in June 1977.
Career
In 1977 he won a role in the National Lampoon's music and comedy road show That's Not Funny, That's Sick and toured with them until 1978. That same year, he appeared in the TV special Disco Beaver from Outer Space for HBO. In 1979, Bumpass was awarded 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. 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.
Bumpass is best known to present-day viewers as the voice of Squidward Tentacles, Dr. Gill Gilliam and the anchovies on the Nickelodeon animated comedy series SpongeBob SquarePants. He is also known for voicing The Chief from Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, Dr. Light on Teen Titans, and Professor Membrane on Invader Zim. Though he has been voicing and acting in films since the 60s, and had also appeared on stage through the mid 70s until the late 80s. Bumpass has over 693 film credits, according to IMDb. In 2012, Bumpass received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for his role as Squidward on Spongebob Squarepants.
Death hoax
During August 2006, rumors were circulated that Bumpass died during heart surgery. His death was noted on IMDb and in the Arkansas State University alumni newsletter. Bumpass confirmed that reports of his death were untrue.
Filmography
Voice roles
- The Jetsons (1962) (TV)
- Heavy Metal (film) (1981) (Film) - Hannover Fiste
- Alvin & the Chipmunks (13 episodes, 1984) (TV) - Additional Voices
- Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures (1987) (TV)
- Ring Raiders (1989) (TV)
- The Real Ghostbusters (12 episodes, 1989â€"1991) (TV) - Louis Tully
- TaleSpin (1990) (TV)
- Tiny Toon Adventures (1991) (TV)
- The Toxic Crusaders (1991) (TV)
- Petal to the Metal (1992)
- Kurenai no buta (1992)
- Raw Toonage (12 episodes, 1992) (TV)
- Problem Child (1993) (TV)
- Batman: The Animated Series (1993) (TV)
- Bonkers (3 episodes, 1993) (TV)
- Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? (1994) (TV)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1994)
- Timon and Pumbaa (1995) (TV) - Savage Lion
- Theodore Rex (1995)
- Quack Pack (1996) (TV)
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) - Additional Voices
- Hercules (1997) - Man pointing at Young Hercules
- 101 Dalmatians: The Series (1997) (TV)
- Quest for Camelot (1998) - Additional Voices
- A Bug's Life (1998)- Drunk Mosquito
- Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998) - Additional Voices
- The Angry Beavers (1998) (TV)
- Antz (1998) - Additional voices (uncredited)
- Toy Story 2 (1999) - Additional Voices
- The Kids from Room 402 (1999) (TV)
- The Iron Giant (1999) - Additional Voices
- Tarzan (1999) - Elephant #2
- SpongeBob SquarePants (238 episodes, 1999â€"present) - Squidward, Various
- Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost (1999) - Perkins
- The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man (1999) Dr. Octopus
- The Emperor's New Groove (2000) - Additional Voices
- Batman Beyond (2000) (TV)
- Sacrifice (2000) - Gammel
- Spirited Away (2001) - Additional Voices
- Monsters, Inc. (2001) (voice) - Additional Voices
- Osmosis Jones (2001) - Announcer for Nerve News Network
- Time Squad (2001) (TV)
- Invader ZIM (17 episodes, 2001â€"2006) - Professor Membrane
- Treasure Planet (2002) (voice) - Additional Voices
- Lilo & Stitch (2002) (voice) - Additional Voices
- Brother Bear (2003) - Additional Voices
- ChalkZone (9 episodes, 2003â€"2004) - Biclops
- Teen Titans (3 episodes, 2003â€"2005) - Doctor Light
- The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004) - Squidward
- What's New, Scooby-Doo? (2005) - Steve
- Cars (2006) - Wide Chick Pity
- Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006) - Additional Voices
- Yin Yang Yo! (2 episodes, 2007â€"2008) - The Lesson
- Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer (2007)
- Random! Cartoons (2008)
- Kung Fu Magoo (2010) - General Smith, Driver
- Chuggington (2010)
- Gravity Falls (2012) - Various
- Monsters University (2013) - Additional Voices
- Teen Titans Go! (2013) - Doctor Light
- The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015) - Squidward
- Mixels (2015) - Flamzer, Naut, Major NIxel
Live-action roles
- Disco Beaver from Outer Space (1978) (TV)
- Two Reelers (1981) (TV)
- Escape from New York (1981)
- Wizards and Warriors (1983) (TV)
- Hot Flashes (1984) (TV)
- Footlight Frenzy (1984)
- National Lampoon's Class of '86 (1986)
- The Running Man (1987)
- What Price Victory (1988) (TV)
- Silk Stalkings (1992) (TV)
- Shadow of Obsession (1994) (TV)
- Hart to Hart: Secrets of the Hart (1995) (TV)
- Bio-Dome (1996)
- Santa, Jr. (2002) (TV)
- 3-South (2002) (TV)
- Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure (2003) (TV)
- A Boyfriend for Christmas (2004) (TV)
- Murder Without Conviction (2004) (TV)
- Just Desserts (2004) (TV)
- Marco Polo (2007) (TV)
Awards and Nominations
- 2012 - Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program - Nominated
References
External links
- Rodger Bumpass at the Internet Movie Database
