[1] Catlett was born in Denver, Colorado, where she performed in a variety of plays and eventually directed a company of Pirates of Penzance.

[7] Catlett was born in Denver, Colorado, on September 2, 1938, the daughter of Cornelia M. (née Callaghan) and Robert J.

Her performance was well-received; The New York Times' theater critic Clive Barnes called Catlett and co-star Henrietta Valor "exceptional ... both particular delights,"[10] and Jerry Tallmer of the New York Post said that the play's casting was "top-notch, with particular praise from this quarter for Mary Jo Catlett.

"[9] In 1976 and 1980, Catlett received Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards for her roles in Come Back, Little Sheba and Philadelphia, Here I Come!, respectively.

[2][3] In 1995, Catlett's role as Madame de la Grande Bouche in Beauty and the Beast earned her a nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical at the Ovation Awards.

[4] Catlett became a main cast member on Diff'rent Strokes in its fifth season, playing the third housekeeper, Pearl Gallagher.

Catlett decided to play Sister Mary as well, taking on a dual role as both director and performer.

She was partially inspired to direct the show after witnessing directors' unfair treatment of her castmates in previous productions.

She is one of the show's nine main cast members and has performed in every season, as well as in all of the theatrical SpongeBob films and video games.

Puff took place on August 24, 1998;[14] she recorded dialogue with Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants and Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick Star in a single booth at Nickelodeon Animation Studio for the episode "Boating School".

[16] The About Group's Nancy Basille noted in 2016 that Catlett's "rich, low tones as teacher Mrs.