The SpongeBob “Gal Pals” Reflected On Their Incredible 25-Year Friendship

Jill (Karen): I said we were like friends, but really, I think more like sisters. Like you said, Lori, we’ve been working together for so long, and we’ve been through all this life stuff. We lost Steve Hillenburg, who was like a family member, and we all went through that together. We have lost parents, we’ve had babies born, we’ve had weddings. I mean Bill Fagerbakke’s [voice of Patrick] daughter, who was a little kid at the beginning of SpongeBob, is now a mother. We’ve watched all these things happen, which makes us feel even more like family. 

Mary Jo (Mrs. Puff): Jill also brought me the most magnificent pea soup. We just do things like that. Jill, I have your ramekins, by the way.

Jill (Karen): Oh, you can keep them! I have all kinds of containers, and they’re the perfect little size for soups.

(We all laugh).

Lori (Pearl): Being females in the business, we hold each other up. This business is kind of crazy and can be competitive, and this and that, but we are always so genuinely excited to see each other. It’s like we’re family from another lifetime or something. We crack each other up, but we really do keep an eye on each other. I know if I had something non-related to SpongeBob, whether it was a sick dog, a sick parent, or something happened, and my husband wasn’t home, I could call these three in the middle of the night, and I know you guys would be there. That’s very special.

Carolyn (Sandy): Speaking of what you were saying about women in the industry —  I can’t remember what happened, but I do remember having a record that wasn’t going well. I was taking a break and going to the restroom and sobbing. [Points to Mary Jo] I don’t know if you remember, but you were in the restroom, and in that moment, you gave me a hug, and I regrouped and went back to work. I think that’s pretty amazing.

Mary Jo (Mrs. Puff): We are sisters under the skin.