 Squidward 's voice is provided by actor Rodger Bumpass , who voices several other SpongeBob SquarePants characters , including Squidward 's mother . While creating the show and writing its pilot episode in 1997 , Hillenburg and the show 's then @-@ creative director Derek Drymon were also conducting voice auditions . Mr. Lawrence , who had worked with Hillenburg and Drymon on Rocko 's Modern Life , was Hillenburg 's first choice for the role . Hillenburg had invited Lawrence to audition for all the show 's characters . Instead of Squidward , Hillenburg decided to give Lawrence the part of Plankton , the series ' villain . 
