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Mary Jo Catlett

Mary Jo Catlett

Actor · Born September 2, 1938 (88) · Denver, Colorado, USA

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 seriesDiff'rent Strokes, and currently for her role as Mrs. Puff in Spongebob Squarepants, which she has held since the show's debut.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 2, 1938 (88)
From
Denver, Colorado, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
63 on MovieCove · 87 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 15% in 30 days

What are Mary Jo Catlett's films like?

Across their 17 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 29th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Animation4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 18th percentile
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
53%
Self
18%
Survival
10%
Morality
6%
Society
6%
Power
5%
Ideas
1%
Friendship9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 14 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 9 · Serious 3 · Dark 2

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 0 · Heightened 5

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 8 · Charged 5 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 8 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 0

Funny: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their funny movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 8

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 12 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
11
Absurd
8
Warm
7
Tense
3
Hopeful
2
Other
11

How their films linger

Feel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet4
  • Ambiguous3
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Mary Jo Catlett's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 44 of their 63 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Mary Jo Catlett's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

87 credits, 63 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants(2025)

    as Mrs. Puff (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Plankton: The Movie(2025)

    as Mrs. Puff (voice)

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • SpongeBob and Sandy’s Country Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Mrs. Puff (voice)

  • SpongeBob SquarePants: Snow Yellow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Puffy (voice)

  • Kreepaway Kamp(2024)

    as Mrs. Puff (voice)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie(2024)

    as Mrs. Puff (voice)

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • The Patrick Star Show(2021)

    Show 4 episodes · as Mrs. Puff (voice) · as Mrs. Puff (voice) / Puffy (voice)

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all shows

  • Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years(2021)

    Show 75 episodes · as Mrs. Puff (voice)

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all shows

  • The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run(2020)

    as Mrs. Puff (voice)

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Toca Life Stories(2020)

    Show 41 episodes · as Nari

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • SpongeBob’s Big Birthday Blowout (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Mrs. Puff

  • Good Girls(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dorothy

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Great News(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Marie

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Trial & Error(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Brianne

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • SpongeBob LongPants (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Mrs. Puff / Driving Student (voice)

  • Bajillion Dollar Propertie$(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Ethel Simmons

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • The Odd Couple(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Elderly Woman

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water(2015)

    as Mrs. Puff (voice)

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Lucky Stiff(2014)

    as Shoe Store Lady

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Let's Be Cops(2014)

    as Old Lady

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Instant Mom(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Sharp

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • SpongeBob’s Runaway Roadtrip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Mrs. Puff (voice)

  • 2 Broke Girls(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Elaine

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • SpongeBob SquarePants: Heroes of Bikini Bottom(2011)

    as Mrs. Puff

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Shake It Up(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Elderly Woman

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all shows

  • Rizzoli & Isles(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Bunny

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Anderson's Cross(2010)

    as Mrs. Elway

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • SpongeBob SquarePants: Spongebob's Last Stand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Mrs. Puff (voice)

  • Surprise, Surprise(2010)

    as Winnie Blythman

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Modern Family(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Edith

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • How to Be a Serial Killer(2008)

    as Mrs. Wilson

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Glee(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Carlisle

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • SpongeBob SquarePants: Pest of the West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Polene Puff (voice)

  • Red Riding Hood(2006)

    as Shopkeeper Woman

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Benchwarmers(2006)

    as Mrs. Ellwood

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Guest #1 (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie(2004)

    as Mrs. Puff (voice)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Desperate Housewives(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Debi Brown

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • SpongeBob SquarePants: SpongeBob Goes Prehistoric (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Mrs. Puff (voice)

  • Beethoven's 5th(2003)

    as Sweet Grandmother

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Cold Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Betty Joe Henders (2009)

  • SpongeBob SquarePants: The Sponge Who Could Fly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Mrs. Puff (voice)

  • That's So Raven(2003)

    Show 4 episodes · as Mrs. Applebaum

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Ablaze(2001)

    as Nurse Winslow

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Kim Possible(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Aunt June (voice)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Size 'Em Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Florence

  • The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Witch

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • All You Need (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Ruth

  • SpongeBob SquarePants(1999)

    Show 659 episodes · as Mrs. Puff (voice)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Legend of the Mummy(1998)

    as Mrs. Grant

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Extreme Ghostbusters(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Trading Favors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Mrs. Langley

  • Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Hanson (segment "The Motorcycle")

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Beauty and the Beast: A Concert on Ice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • Quack Pack(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as (voice)

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Serial Mom(1994)

    as Rosemary Ackerman

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Saved by the Bell: The New Class(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Bluntley

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all shows

  • Battling for Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Mrs. Capello

  • DuckTales(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Cookie Blurf (voice)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • The Mouse and the Motorcycle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Kindergarten Teacher

  • ALF(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Mary Jo

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Metcalf

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Gone Are the Dayes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Marge

  • Night Court(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Cynthia Dalbey

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas(1982)

    as Rita

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Beach Girls(1982)

    as Mrs. Brinker

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • O'Hara's Wife(1982)

    as Gloria

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Gimme a Break! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Foul Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 10 episodes · as Stella Finkle

  • Blood Beach(1980)

    as Harriett Crabbe

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Semi-Tough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • Where the Ladies Go(1980)

    as Frances

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Out of the Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse

  • The Champ(1979)

    as Josie

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Diff'rent Strokes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 87 episodes · as Pearl Gallagher

  • Fantasy Island(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Carlotta Smith · as Hooligan

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Semi-Tough(1977)

    as Earlene

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The McLean Stevenson Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • How to Break Up a Happy Divorce(1976)

    as Soprano

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Starsky and Hutch(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Terrible Tessie

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Verna

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • M*A*S*H(1972)

    Show 2 episodes · as Nurse Walsh

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Bob Newhart Show(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Englehart

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The Waltons(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Bananas(1971)

    as Woman in Hotel Lobby Cheering Honeymoon (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Littlest Angel(1969)

    as The Scribe I

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • When the Moon Was Twice as Big (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Elsie

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 85 titles, 84 of them dated from 1969 to 2025; peak year 2025.

Biggest box office

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)

$141M worldwide

Highest rated

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)

Midcredits 90th

Most popular right now

Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years (2021)

Film career

19692025

Peak 2025 · their film career is on the way up. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting85 of 85: 85 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score46th

By decade

1960s1 · acting1970s13 · acting1980s14 · acting1990s10 · acting2000s19 · acting2010s17 · acting2020s10 · acting

Billing

usually 11th · top billed in 0% of 16 roles
779212

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Mary Jo Catlett's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 34th percentile, the median of all 29; across their 14 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 31st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

31stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Approval · how many liked their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Reach · how many have seen their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Midcredits score across 63 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th20
  • Below 25th15

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 63 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned1
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive4
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed22

Most divisive · actor

Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years (2021)

97th percentile spread · 54% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)

Midcredits 90th · 75% liked

Reviewers score the acting 57/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 38. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Mary Jo Catlett's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, alcohol & drugs runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles23–41 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles22–44 · median 29 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles21–35 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles16–30 · median 20 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles30–66 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Mary Jo Catlett work with?

People who share at least 2 of Mary Jo Catlett's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Mr. Lawrence shares the most, 6.

Writers

Actors

Producers