Rodger Bumpass, also known as the voice of Squidward Tentacles on 'SpongeBob SquarePants', can breathe a sigh of relief as he will not be fired on the show for his DUI arrest.
According to TMZ, The 'SpongeBob SquarePants' management has not terminated the voice actor for the DUI incident last January 15, 2016.
Although the 64 year-old actor's contract with comes with a 'morality clause', management has decided that, from a legal standpoint, getting a DUI is not an immoral act.
At around 11 p.m. on January 15 police noticed a blue PT Cruiser stopped in the middle of the road with a man leaning against it. When the police approached the vehicle, the man started walking away and almost fell.
Upon reaching the vehicle, the driver was identified as one Rodger Bumpass. Police reported that he was very upfront about his situation and confessed to driving drunk. The responding officers then proceeded to give him a sobriety test, which he failed and was immediately arrested.
The actor's blood alcohol level was reportedly more than twice the legal limit.
The Daily Mail reports that Bumpass, an Arkansas native, has been featured as a voice actor in countless animated productions. He began his voice work in the 1984 animated series, 'Alvin and the Chipmunks'.
He can aslo be heard on notable animated feature films such as Monsters Inc. (2001), Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001), Lilo and Stitch (2002) and Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006).
His most famous role is that of Squidward Tentacles on Nickolodeon's 'SpongeBob Squarepants'. He has been the voice of Squidward since the show's debut in 1999 and also in two SpongeBob SquarePants theatrical releases.
A follow-up report by the LA Times has identified the arresting officer as Burbank Police Sgt. Claudio Losaco.
Sgt. Losaco told the Times that Mr. Bumpass was released the following morning with a citation. He will, however, have to appear in court next month.
