Mary Jo Catlett

Mary Jo Catlett, born on September 2, 1938, in Denver, Colorado, established a diverse career spanning theatre, television, film, and voice acting. Her early career saw her performing in local Denver productions, including summer stock plays at Elitch Theatre like “What Every Woman Knows” and “Say, Darling” in the 1960s, followed by “Jenny Kissed Me,” “Auntie Mame,” and “The Best Man” in 1962. She garnered critical acclaim for her stage work, originating the role of Ernestina in the 1964 Broadway production of “Hello, Dolly!” and later earning Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards in 1978 for “Come Back, Little Sheba” and in 1980 for “Philadelphia, Here I Come!” Catlett often described herself as a character actress, focusing on lighthearted and humorous roles, a path she found offered more opportunities than those typically available for ingenues.

Her television career includes a notable role as Pearl Gallagher, the third housekeeper on “Diff’rent Strokes” from 1982 to 1986. She also made appearances on “M*A*S*H” between 1976 and 1978 and received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 1990 for her work on “General Hospital.” In 1995, she was nominated for a Best Featured Actress in a Musical at the Ovation Awards for her performance as Madame de la Grande Bouche in “Beauty and the Beast.” Catlett also directed a production of “Nunsense” in 1987, where she also played the character of Sister Mary, aiming to create a democratic and supportive environment for her cast. Her film credits include “Semi-Tough” (1977), John Waters’ “Serial Mom” (1994), “The Benchwarmers” (2006), and “Let’s Be Cops” (2014).

Since 1998, Catlett has been widely recognized as the voice of Mrs. Puff, the driving school teacher in Nickelodeon’s “SpongeBob SquarePants.” The show’s creator, Stephen Hillenburg, specifically sought her out for the role after seeing her stage performances. She has voiced Mrs. Puff in every season of the animated series, as well as in all the theatrical “SpongeBob” films and video games, making it her longest-running and most iconic role. Her voice-over work earned her an Annie Award nomination in 2001 and a Behind the Voice Actor’s Award nomination in 2013 for Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series – Children’s/Educational. She continues to voice Mrs. Puff in spin-off series such as “Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years” and “The Patrick Star Show.” Catlett views her role as Mrs. Puff as a semi-retirement, appreciating the collaborative and friendly atmosphere of the recording sessions.