You’ve heard the laugh. That deep, gravelly "Ack-ack-ack-ack!" followed by a frantic demand for more money. It’s arguably the most recognizable sound in Bikini Bottom, right next to SpongeBob’s own manic giggle. But honestly, most people have no idea that the voice actor for Mr. Krabs is actually one of Hollywood’s most terrifying "tough guys."
His name is Clancy Brown.
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If you grew up in the 90s or 2000s, you probably know him best as Eugene H. Krabs. However, if you're a fan of gritty cinema, you know him as the sadistic Captain Byron Hadley from The Shawshank Redemption or the nightmare-inducing Kurgan in Highlander. It’s a wild career pivot. One day he’s beating inmates in a prison yard, and the next, he’s in a sound booth arguing with a talking starfish about a missing nickel.
Who is the voice actor for Mr. Krabs?
Clancy Brown has been voicing the penny-pinching crustacean since the very first episode, "Help Wanted," aired back in 1999. Born Clarence J. Brown III in Urbana, Ohio, he didn’t exactly set out to become a cartoon icon. He comes from a political family—his father and grandfather were both U.S. Congressmen—but Clancy took a sharp left turn into acting after a track scholarship at Northwestern University.
The story of how he landed the role is surprisingly low-key. According to Brown, it was basically a "lark." The show's creator, the late Stephen Hillenburg, was putting together a weird little pilot about a sea sponge. Brown walked in, threw out a "pirate-y" voice with a hint of a Scottish brogue, and Hillenburg immediately told him, "You're the guy."
Twenty-seven years later, he’s still the guy.
He once joked in an interview that the role "put my kid through college," and he isn't exaggerating. SpongeBob SquarePants has become a multi-billion-dollar franchise. While many voice actors get swapped out over long-running series, Brown has remained the steady, salty heart of the Krusty Krab.
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The Man of a Thousand (Mostly Evil) Voices
It is kinda funny to look at Brown’s resume. He has this massive, 6'3" frame and a natural bass voice that sounds like grinding stones. This usually gets him cast as the villain in live-action movies. But in the world of animation, he’s everywhere.
Besides Mr. Krabs, he’s the definitive voice of Lex Luthor in the DC Animated Universe. If you watched Justice League or Superman: The Animated Series, that’s him. He’s also:
- Long Feng in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
- Savage Opress in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
- Dr. Neo Cortex in the Crash Bandicoot video games (at least the early ones).
- Hank Anderson in the game Detroit: Become Human.
Basically, the voice actor for Mr. Krabs is the secret backbone of your entire childhood.
Why Mr. Krabs isn't just a villain
There’s a popular trend online where fans try to frame Mr. Krabs as the true antagonist of the show. They point to the time he sold SpongeBob’s soul for 62 cents or the numerous labor law violations at the Krusty Krab. Brown, however, doesn't really buy into the "Krabs is a monster" theory.
In a 2024 interview with Cracked, Brown defended his character, saying he often pushes back against writers who try to make Krabs too mean. He sees Eugene as a "misunderstood" small business owner who genuinely loves his daughter, Pearl, and even his employees—in his own warped, cheapskate way. He’s not a jerk; he’s just a crab.
The Secret Ingredient of the Voice
Where did the voice actually come from? Hillenburg actually based the character of Mr. Krabs on a real person—his former manager at a seafood restaurant. That manager was a red-headed, muscular ex-army cook who spoke like a pirate. When Brown auditioned, he tapped into that nautical, gravelly energy.
Interestingly, while the voice sounds like it would shred your vocal cords, Brown says it’s not that hard for him to do. He can slip in and out of it instantly. The "laugh" is the most taxing part, but after two decades, it’s muscle memory.
Real Talk: Is he ever leaving the show?
Fans get worried whenever a veteran voice actor hits their 60s or 70s. Brown turned 67 in January 2026, but he shows zero signs of slowing down. He’s even voiced the character in the recent Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie and the upcoming Plankton: The Movie.
He has famously said he’d be happy to play the role "until the end of time." In a world where reboots and recasts are the norm, that kind of loyalty is rare.
What you should do next
If you're a fan of the voice actor for Mr. Krabs, you're doing yourself a disservice if you only know him from cartoons. Here is how to actually appreciate the range of Clancy Brown:
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- Watch The Shawshank Redemption: See him play Captain Hadley. It is the polar opposite of Eugene Krabs, and it will make you realize just how good of an actor he is.
- Play Detroit: Become Human: He provides the voice and motion capture for Lieutenant Hank Anderson. It’s a deep, emotional performance that shows he’s more than just a "tough guy" or a "funny crab."
- Check out the "Fresh Air" interview: Listen to his 2023 conversation with Terry Gross on NPR. He goes deep into his philosophy on playing "bad guys" and why they never think they’re the villain.
The next time you hear Mr. Krabs obsessing over a penny, just remember: that same voice once challenged the immortals in Highlander. Diversity is the spice of life, even under the sea.