Spike

Lore & Background

Spike's character was voiced by Billy Bletcher from 1944 to 1949, then by Patrick McGeehan, Jerry Mann, Bob Shamrock, John Brown, Stan Freberg, and Daws Butler, who gave him a thick New Yorker accent similar to Jimmy Durante's. His son Tyke was introduced in 1949 in Love That Pup. Spike spends much of his free time taking Tyke on father-son outings, teaching him the facts of life for dogs, and guarding him diligently when they sleep. In The Truce Hurts (1948), Pet Peeve (1954), and Hic-Cup Pup (1954), Spike actually cares about and shows affection for Tom, though these relationships usually end in fighting. Spike's weaknesses include his possessiveness about his bone and his ticklishness. In Dog Trouble, Spike as an unnamed Bulldog is the main antagonist, chasing both Tom and Jerry. In The Bodyguard, after Jerry saved him from being poached, he became Jerry's protector. In most subsequent shorts, Spike is typecast as a dumb brute duped into protecting Jerry from Tom. Only in The Bodyguard and Fit to Be Tied does Jerry get Spike out of a jam and the dog willingly protects him in gratitude. In The Invisible Mouse, Spike blames Tom even when it's obvious Tom is not responsible. In Hic-Cup Pup, Tom unintentionally cures Spike and Tyke's hiccups, and Spike shakes Tom's hand. In Pet Peeve, after believing Tom is willing to leave the house in his favor, Spike feels sorry and offers to leave instead, until he realizes Tom is using reverse psychology. In The Truce Hurts, Spike is portrayed as intelligent and balanced, convincing Tom and Jerry to sign a Peace Treaty, but their friendship ends when they argue over a steak. A short-lived Spike and Tyke cartoon series was produced by MGM in 1957; only two entries were completed. Hanna and Barbera later retooled Spike and Tyke to create Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy for television. Spike appeared in The Tom and Jerry Show (1970s), The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show (1980s), Tom & Jerry Kids (1990s), and the 2021 film Tom & Jerry, where he was voiced by Bobby Cannavale.

Reader's Guide

Spike is a recurring character in the Tom and Jerry series, first appearing as an unnamed Bulldog in Dog Trouble (1942). His first speaking role was in The Bodyguard (1944), voiced by Billy Bletcher. He has been voiced by multiple actors, including Daws Butler, who styled his voice after Jimmy Durante. Spike's name varies in different shorts: he is called Killer in Puttin' on the Dog, Solid Serenade, and Cat Fishin'; Butch in The Truce Hurts; and Bulldog in Dog Trouble. He is also a Devil Dog in Heavenly Puss. Spike's son Tyke was introduced in Love That Pup (1949). Tyke is a sweet, happy, and innocent puppy who remains silent in most earlier cartoons, but has a speaking role in Tom & Jerry Kids. Spike and Tyke appeared in comic book stories in Dell Publishing's Tom and Jerry Comics starting with #79 (Feb 1951) until #215 (May 1963), and in their own title M.G.M.'s Spike and Tyke which ran until issue #24. Unlike the cartoons, both characters spoke in the comic book stories. Key cartoons featuring Spike include Dog Trouble, The Bodyguard, Puttin' on the Dog, Quiet Please!, Solid Serenade, Cat Fishin', The Invisible Mouse, The Truce Hurts, Love That Pup, Hic-cup Pup, Pet Peeve, and the Spike and Tyke shorts Give and Tyke (1957) and Tops with Pops (1957).

Did You Know?

• Spike's voice was styled after Jimmy Durante, starting with Daws Butler's portrayal.
• In The Truce Hurts (1948), Spike signs his name 'Butch' on the peace treaty paper.