Bill Fagerbakke: Movies & Box Office

Bill Fagerbakke was born on October 4, 1957 in Fontana, California, and spent his formative years in the small town of Rupert, Idaho, where he excelled as a three‑sport athlete at Minico High School. After graduating in 1975 he earned a scholarship to play defensive line for the University of Idaho Vandals, but a knee injury in 1977 forced him to abandon football and redirect his energy toward the performing arts. His first stage experience came in a campus production of Godspell, and he continued to develop his craft while completing a Bachelor of Arts in 1981 and later a Master of Fine Arts at Southern Methodist University. Transitioning to professional work, he broke into television with the role of assistant coach Michael “Dauber” Dybinski on the hit sitcom Coach, a character loosely based on a former Idaho graduate assistant known as “Tuna.” He subsequently appeared in films such as Funny Farm and portrayed Tom Cullen in the 1994 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s The Stand. In 1999 he began what would become his most iconic voice‑over role, providing the lovable, dim‑witted Patrick Star for the long‑running animated series SpongeBob SquarePants, a part he has sustained for over two decades. Additional credits include a recurring turn as Marvin Eriksen Sr. on How I Met Your Mother, a cameo in Heroes, and guest spots on Oz, Weeds, and the revived Dynasty. Outside of acting, he married Canadian actress Catherine McClenahan in 1989, with whom he has two daughters, including actress Carson Fagerbakke. Though the couple separated in 2012, his personal life remains anchored by family, and his career continues to blend comedic timing with heartfelt performances across live‑action and animated media.