Tom McGrath
Thomas McGrath is an American voice actor and animator. He is known for the DreamWorks animated film Madagascar, which he co-wrote and directed with Eric Darnell while voicing the character of Skipper the Penguin. The film spawned two direct sequels, along with a spin-off animated series and film based on the penguins, with McGrath reprising his role as Skipper in all cases.
Also recorded as Thomas D. McGrath
Tom McGrath

Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Name
- Tom McGrath
- Birth Name
- Thomas McGrath
- Birthplace
- Lynnwood, Washington, U.S.
- Occupation
- * Voice actor
- Born
- 1964
- Nationality
- United States
- Known for
- Madagascar · Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa · Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted · Penguins of Madagascar · Megamind · The Boss Baby
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Documentary summary
Thomas McGrath is an American voice actor and animator. He is known for the DreamWorks animated film Madagascar, which he co-wrote and directed with Eric Darnell while voicing the character of Skipper the Penguin. The film spawned two direct sequels, along with a spin-off animated series and film based on the penguins, with McGrath reprising his role as Skipper in all cases.
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In this article
Biography
Biography
McGrath also directed the DreamWorks animated films Megamind (2010) and The Boss Baby (2017), the latter of which received an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nomination. McGrath returned as director for its 2021 sequel.

Tom McGrath speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California.
Gage Skidmore
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Tom McGrath • Birth Name — Thomas McGrath • Birthplace — Lynnwood, Washington, U.S. • Occupation — * Voice actor • animator • Years Active — 1988–present • Employer — DreamWorks Animation • Notable Works — * Madagascar • Megamind • The Boss Baby
Life and career
Life and career
McGrath was born and raised in Lynnwood, Washington. He studied Industrial Design at the University of Washington and graduated from the Character Animation program at Cal Arts. McGrath's experience in both television and feature animation includes work as an animator on Cool World and Space Jam, storyboard artist and director for seasons 3-5 of The Ren & Stimpy Show. McGrath made his film directing debut as the co-director and co-writer of Madagascar along with Eric Darnell, where he also voiced the leader of the squad of penguin characters, Skipper. He reprised his role as Skipper and co-directed and co-wrote the sequel, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, and co-directed Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted. He worked on The Penguins of Madagascar, a spin-off TV series, as a creative consultant and as the voice of Skipper. He directed Megamind, released in November 2010. In 2017, he directed The Boss Baby and the 2021 sequel The Boss Baby: Family Business.
Television series
Television series
• Year — Title — Director — Art Animation department — Creative consultant — Actor — Role — Notes • 1993–1996 — The Ren & Stimpy Show — Director (1 episode "I Was a Teenage Stimpy") Layout artist (21 episodes) Background designer (14 episodes) Storyboard artist (10 episodes) • 1996 — KaBlam! — Director storyboard artist (segment "The Louie and Louie Show") • 1998 — Oh Yeah! Cartoons — Background designer (segment "A Cop and His Donut") • 2008–2015 — The Penguins of Madagascar — Skipper (voice) — 88 episodes • 2014 — All Hail King Julien
Video games
Video games
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2005 — Madagascar — Skipper (voice) — Uncredited • Madagascar: Animal Trivia DVD Game • 2007 — Shrek the Third • 2008 — Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa • 2009 — Madagascar Kartz • 2011 — The Penguins of Madagascar: Dr. Blowhole Returns – Again! • Super Star Kartz • 2012 — Madagascar 3: The Video Game
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
Explore 1964–2012
The full dated record · 17 entries
1964
Tom McGrath born at Lynnwood.
2005
Kowalski is dated 2005.
2005
King Julien XIII is dated 2005.
2005
Mason and Phil is dated 2005.
2005
Zoosters is dated 2005.
2005
Private is dated 2005.
2005
Maurice is dated 2005.
2005
Skipper is dated 2005.
2005
Gloria is dated 2005.
2005
Melman is dated 2005.
2005
Marty is dated 2005.
2008
Zuba and Florrie is dated 2008.
2008
Moto Moto is dated 2008.
2008
Makunga is dated 2008.
2012
Chantel DuBois is dated 2012.
2012
Stefano is dated 2012.
2012
Vitaly is dated 2012.
Feature films
Feature films
• Year — Title — Director — Writer — Producer — Art / Animation department — Voice actor — Voice role — Notes • 1992 — Cool World — animation designer animator layout artist • 1996 — Space Jam — animator • 1998 — Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus — key animator layout artist • 2000 — How the Grinch Stole Christmas — storyboard artist • 2001 — Cats & Dogs • 2005 — Madagascar — Skipper Fossa Panicky Man on Subway — co-directed with Eric Darnell co-written with Mark Burton, Billy Frolick and Eric Darnell • 2006 — Flushed Away — Action Figure Artist • 2007 — Shrek the Third — Gary • 2008 — Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa — Skipper Lemur — co-directed with Eric Darnell co-written with Etan Cohen and Eric Darnell • 2009 — Monsters vs. Aliens — Wilson • 2010 — Megamind — Lord Scott Prison Guard • 2011 — Puss in Boots — Bar Thief • 2012 — Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted — Skipper First Policeman — co-directed with Eric Darnell & Conrad Vernon • 2014 — Mr. Peabody & Sherman — Odysseus • 2014 — Penguins of Madagascar — Skipper — executive producer • 2017 — The Boss Baby — TV Chef • 2021 — The Boss Baby: Family Business — Dr. Tiffany Hamilton — executive producer Story co-written with Michael McCullers Writer of Global Warming Song co-written by Hans Zimmer, Steve Mazzaro and Nelson Yokota • 2022 — Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank — Additional Voices • 2024 — Kung Fu Panda 4 — Croc Crime Boss
Short films
Short films
• Year — Title — Director — Writer — Art / Animation department — Actor — Role — Notes • 1988 — The Thing What Lurked in the Tub — monster animator • 1988 — Lea Press on Limbs — (voice) • 1993 — The D.A.R.E. Report: The Land of Decisions and Choices — character layout • 1995 — The Louie N' Louie Show — storyboard artist • 1999 — Herd — Fed No. 5 — live-action role • 2001 — Imp, Inc. — animation layout • 2005 — The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper — Skipper (voice) • 2009 — Merry Madagascar — Skipper (voice) Additional voices • 2013 — Madly Madagascar — Skipper (voice) • 2014 — Almost Home — Jeff (voice)
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
Institutional database
Wikidata, structured authority record Q74227: Tom McGrathWikimedia Foundation
Verified
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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