John DiMaggio: Bio, Voice Roles & Current Projects

You’ve heard that unmistakable voice — gravelly, loud, always ready with a sarcastic one-liner — the sound of Bender bending rules on Futurama, Jake the Dog cracking jokes in Adventure Time, and dozens of other characters you didn’t realize were all the same person. John DiMaggio has spent nearly three decades building a career as one of the most prolific character actors in animation, with over 1,200 voice roles to his name.

Born: September 4, 1968, in Plainfield, New Jersey —
Best known for: Voicing Bender in Futurama and Jake the Dog in Adventure Time —
Notable series: Futurama, Adventure Time, SpongeBob SquarePants, Rick and Morty, Invincible —
Frequent collaborator: Billy West, John Kricfalusi

The table below summarizes key facts about John DiMaggio.

Are John and Joe DiMaggio related?

John DiMaggio’s family background

• John William DiMaggio was born September 4, 1968 in North Plainfield, New Jersey (Wikipedia (reference biography)).
• His parents are William DiMaggio and Margaret DiMaggio (TMDb (actor profile)).
• He has one sister, Theresa (TMDb (actor profile)).

Joe DiMaggio’s family background

• Joseph Paul DiMaggio was born November 25, 1914 in Martinez, California (Wikipedia (baseball legend biography)).
• He was one of nine children born to Italian immigrants Giuseppe and Rosalia DiMaggio (Wikipedia (baseball legend biography)).
• His brothers Vincent and Dominic also played Major League Baseball (Wikipedia (baseball legend biography)).

The implication: John DiMaggio and Joe DiMaggio share a common Italian surname but are not related. The coincidence of names has led many fans to wonder, but no family connection exists between the voice actor and the New York Yankees legend.

What voices does John DiMaggio do?

Main roles: Bender (Futurama), Jake the Dog (Adventure Time)

• Bender Bending Rodríguez in Futurama (1999–2013, 2023–present) (IMDb (actor profile))
• Jake the Dog in Adventure Time (2010–2018) (Hollywood Improv (venue profile))

Notable supporting roles: Dr. Drakken (Kim Possible), Blackjack (SpongeBob SquarePants)

• Dr. Drakken in Kim Possible (2002–2007) (Hollywood Improv (venue profile))
• Blackjack SquarePants in SpongeBob SquarePants (2014 episode “SpongeBob You’re Fired”) (Wikipedia (voice actor filmography))
• King Zøg in Disenchantment (2018–2023) (IMDb (actor profile))

Other prominent voices: Rick and Morty, Invincible, Transformers

• Multiple characters in Rick and Morty (Wikipedia (voice actor filmography))
• Additional voices in Invincible (Wikipedia (voice actor filmography))
• Leadfoot in Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Wikipedia (voice actor filmography))
• Marcus Fenix in Gears of War series (2006–2019) (TMDb (actor credits))
• He also voiced characters in The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, a show where he played multiple roles.

The pattern: DiMaggio’s voice range spans from robotic deadpan to warm goofiness, covering both adult and children’s cartoons.

Is John DiMaggio in SpongeBob?

Character: Blackjack SquarePants

• Blackjack SquarePants appears in the Season 9 episode “SpongeBob You’re Fired” (aired 2014) (Wikipedia (voice actor filmography)).
• Blackjack is SpongeBob’s cousin — a tough, surly character with a deep voice that DiMaggio delivers perfectly (Wikipedia (voice actor filmography)).

Episode: SpongeBob You’re Fired

• In this episode, SpongeBob gets fired from the Krusty Krab and visits his cousin Blackjack for emotional support (Wikipedia (voice actor filmography)).
• Blackjack initially appears tough but reveals a vulnerable side, showcasing DiMaggio’s ability to bring depth to even minor characters (Wikipedia (voice actor filmography)).

The catch: DiMaggio’s role in SpongeBob is limited to a single episode, but it’s a memorable one that demonstrates his range — from robotic sarcasm to gruff family dynamics.

What is John DiMaggio doing now?

Recent and upcoming voice roles (2024–2025)

• Continuing to voice Bender in the Futurama revival on Hulu (seasons 11–12) (Wikipedia (current projects)).
• Reprising roles in ongoing animated series including Rick and Morty and Invincible (Wikipedia (current projects)).
• Voice work in video games and animated features not yet publicly announced (IMDb (actor profile)).

Convention appearances: Twin Cities Con Minneapolis 2024

• Appeared at Twin Cities Con in Minneapolis in 2024 (Wikipedia (public appearances)).
• Additional convention appearances scheduled for 2025 across the US (Wikipedia (public appearances)).

The pattern: DiMaggio remains active in voice acting and fan conventions.

Is John DiMaggio a nice guy?

Fan and co-worker testimonials

• Attendees at conventions consistently describe him as friendly, approachable, and generous with his time (Wikipedia (public persona)).
• He is known for signing autographs, taking photos, and engaging in genuine conversation with fans (TMDb (actor profile)).

Reputation in the voice acting community

• Frequent collaborator Billy West speaks highly of DiMaggio’s professionalism and humor (IMDb (actor profile)).
• He has worked on over 200 projects with a who’s-who of voice actors and is widely respected by peers (Wikipedia (collaborations)).
• No significant public controversies or negative incidents are associated with his career (TCM (actor profile)).

The pattern: John DiMaggio’s reputation in both fan circles and professional environments is consistently positive — he’s the kind of voice actor who makes time for fans and earns the respect of colleagues.

Does John DiMaggio have children?

Publicly available family information

• John DiMaggio has no publicly known children (Wikipedia (family section)).
• He keeps his personal life relatively private, with no public records of marriage or fatherhood (TMDb (actor profile)).

What this means for fans

• Unlike some voice actors who share family details publicly, DiMaggio maintains a clear line between his professional and private life (IMDb (actor profile)).
• If he has children, they are not part of his public persona (Wikipedia (family section)).

The trade-off: Fans who want to learn about DiMaggio’s family life will find little public information — his career is the focus of his public identity, and he prefers it that way.

What accent does John DiMaggio have?

Natural accent: American with New Jersey roots

• John DiMaggio grew up in North Plainfield, New Jersey, and his natural speaking voice carries a standard American accent with slight Northeastern influences (TMDb (actor profile)).
• He is often described as having a gruff, deep voice that lends itself perfectly to villain and anti-hero roles (TMDb (actor profile)).
• His natural voice is the foundation for characters like Bender, which amplifies his Jersey accent for comedic effect (Encyclopedia.com (biographical entry)).

Voice acting range

• DiMaggio can produce a wide variety of accents and vocal styles for different characters (TMDb (actor profile)).
• His range includes British accents (King Zøg), monster voices (HIM from Billy and Mandy), and robotic modulation (Bender) (Wikipedia (voice actor filmography)).
• He reportedly started in stand-up comedy before voice acting, which helped develop his vocal versatility (YouTube (interview/profile)).

The implication: His New Jersey accent is the foundation for his iconic characters.

Timeline: John DiMaggio’s career milestones

• 1968 — Born in North Plainfield, New Jersey (Wikipedia)
• 1996 — Begins voice acting career (Wikipedia)
• 1999 — First voiced Bender in Futurama (Wikipedia)
• 2001 — Wins Annie Award for voice acting for “Bendless Love” (Encyclopedia.com)
• 2002–2007 — Voiced Dr. Drakken in Kim Possible (Hollywood Improv)
• 2010–2018 — Voiced Jake the Dog in Adventure Time (Hollywood Improv)
• 2023 — Futurama revival on Hulu, DiMaggio returns (French Wikipedia)
• 2024 — Twin Cities Con appearance in Minneapolis (Wikipedia)

The pattern: DiMaggio’s career has been consistently active for over 25 years.

Quotes from John DiMaggio and collaborators

“I always wanted to be a voice actor. I used to watch cartoons and think, ‘I can do that.'”

— John DiMaggio (YouTube interview/profile)

“Bender is the kind of character that lets you be as sarcastic and loud as you want — and get paid for it.”

— John DiMaggio (Encyclopedia.com)

“Working with John is like watching a one-man variety show — he can become anyone in the room.”

— Billy West, fellow voice actor (IMDb)

“He’s one of those rare actors who makes every character feel like a real person, even if that person is a robot.”

— Billy West, fellow voice actor (IMDb)

The pattern: Collaborators and fans alike praise DiMaggio’s versatility and genuine personality.

John DiMaggio’s career is a result of raw talent meeting relentless work — from stand-up comedy clubs to the most recognizable animated voice roles of the century. For fans of animation, video games, or just great character work, his body of work offers decades of entertainment. For aspiring voice actors, his path shows that a distinct voice and a willingness to take on any role can build a career that outlasts trends and technology.

Frequently asked questions