Mary Jo Catlett facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mary Jo Catlett
Catlett with her character, Mrs. Puff (left), at a convention in 2013
Born	(1938-09-02) September 2, 1938 (age 87) Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Other names	Mary Catlett
Occupation	Actress comedian
Years active	1961–present

Mary Jo Catlett, born on September 2, 1938, is a talented American actress and comedian. Many people know her best as the voice of Mrs. Puff from the popular animated series SpongeBob SquarePants. She has also been famous for her roles in Broadway shows like Hello, Dolly! and for playing Pearl Gallagher, a kind housekeeper on the TV show Diff'rent Strokes.

Discovering Mary Jo Catlett

Mary Jo Catlett has had a long and exciting career, bringing many characters to life on stage, screen, and through her voice. She is known for her warm personality and humorous acting style.

Early Life and Beginnings

Mary Jo Catlett was born in Denver, Colorado. From a young age, she loved performing in plays and even directed a show called Pirates of Penzance. She has a sister, Patricia Marie, who is a nun. Mary Jo is a Catholic.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Mary Jo performed in many musicals both Off-Broadway and on Broadway. She often took on fun and funny roles that made audiences laugh. She frequently returned to her hometown of Denver for various productions.

Stage and Screen Adventures

Mary Jo Catlett is known as a "character actress." This means she often plays unique and memorable supporting roles rather than the main hero or heroine. She once shared that being a character actress was a great advantage because there are fewer people who specialize in these kinds of roles. She said she was "always round and funny," which helped her find many interesting parts.

Memorable TV Roles

Mary Jo appeared in many television shows. She was a main cast member on Diff'rent Strokes during its fifth season, playing Pearl Gallagher, the third housekeeper for the Drummond family. She also had roles in General Hospital and several episodes of the classic show M*A*S*H.

She even lent her voice to commercials, with a famous line for Black Flag bug spray: "The roaches check in but they don't check out!"

Directing and More

In 1987, Mary Jo took on a new challenge by directing a play called Nunsense. She also acted in the play, playing the character of Sister Mary. She believed in a democratic approach to directing, where everyone's ideas were valued, unlike some strict directors she had worked with before.

After her time on Diff'rent Strokes, Mary Jo returned to her love for theater. She performed in musicals like The Pajama Game, Lend Me a Tenor, Beauty and the Beast, and The Music Man. In 2011, she played Rosie, a lively grandmother, in a stage version of The Wedding Singer, and critics praised her charming and energetic performance.

She has also appeared or lent her voice to many other popular shows, including Modern Family, American Dad!, Kim Possible, Days of Our Lives, 2 Broke Girls, That's So Raven, Rugrats, Glee and The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy. Mary Jo also acted in films like the comedy The Benchwarmers and Let's Be Cops.

The cast of Diff'rent Strokes with Nancy Reagan in 1983

The Voice of Mrs. Puff

In 1998, Mary Jo Catlett joined the cast of a brand-new cartoon called SpongeBob SquarePants on Nickelodeon. She was chosen to be the voice of Mrs. Puff, SpongeBob's driving school teacher. This role has become her longest and most famous.

The creator of SpongeBob SquarePants, Stephen Hillenburg, specifically wanted Mary Jo to voice Mrs. Puff. He had seen her perform on stage and knew she was perfect for the character. Mary Jo happily accepted the role and began recording with other voice actors like Tom Kenny (SpongeBob) and Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick Star). Her first recording session for Mrs. Puff was on August 24, 1998, for the episode "Boating School."

Mary Jo has voiced Mrs. Puff in every season of SpongeBob SquarePants, as well as in all the SpongeBob movies and video games. In 2001, she was nominated for an Annie Award for her amazing voice work as Mrs. Puff. She was also nominated with the rest of the cast in 2013 for a "Behind the Voice Actors" award for Best Vocal Ensemble in a Children's Television Series.

As of 2017, voicing Mrs. Puff is Mary Jo's main acting job. She has mentioned that she feels "basically retired" because working on SpongeBob is so enjoyable and easy, especially since she is good friends with the other cast members. She also voices Mrs. Puff in the spin-off shows Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years and The Patrick Star Show.

Awards and Recognition

Mary Jo Catlett has received several awards for her acting. She won Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards in 1976 and 1980 for her stage roles. In 1995, her performance as Madame de la Grande Bouche in the musical Beauty and the Beast earned her a nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical at the Ovation Awards. She also received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 1990 for her work on General Hospital.

Helping Others Through Charity

Mary Jo Catlett has a big heart and uses her talents to help others. She has performed at many charity events and musical benefits, especially for organizations that support children facing serious health challenges. She was inspired to help after a close friend passed away due to health complications in 1989.

She has also participated in concerts to support the Entertainment Community Fund, which helps professionals in the performing arts and entertainment industries.

Mary Jo Catlett's Work

Here are some of the films, television shows, and stage productions Mary Jo Catlett has been a part of.

Film Appearances

Television Shows

Stage Performances

Video games

See also

In Spanish: Mary Jo Catlett para niños