Bob Belcher
{{Fan POV|date=February 2024}}{{Short description|Character from the animated sitcom Bob's Burgers}}
{{Infobox character
| name = Bob Belcher
| series = Bob's Burgers
| image = 150px
| first = "Human Flesh" (2011)
| creator = Loren Bouchard
| designer = Dave Creek{{Cite magazine|last=Blistein|first=Jon|date=2021-01-08|title={{'}}Bob's Burgers{{'}} Character Designer Dave Creek Dead at 42 After Skydiving Accident|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/bobs-burgers-character-designer-dave-creek-dead-skydiving-accident-1111760|access-date=2022-09-18|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}
Jay Howell
| voice = H. Jon Benjamin{{Cite web|last=Murphy|first=Eryn|date=2020-06-17|title=Who Voices Bob on {{'}}Bob's Burgers{{'}}?|url=https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/who-voices-bob-on-bobs-burgers.html|access-date=2022-09-18|website=Showbiz Cheat Sheet|language=en-US}}
Jose Padilla (Spanish){{Cite web|title=Bob Belcher Voices (Bob's Burgers)|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Bobs-Burgers/Bob-Belcher|access-date=2022-09-18|website=Behind The Voice Actors|language=en-US}}
Rene Sagastume (Spanish){{Cite web|title=Bob Belcher Voices (Bob's Burgers)|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Bobs-Burgers/Bob-Belcher|access-date=2022-09-18|website=Behind The Voice Actors|language=en-US}}
| occupation = Chef and owner of Bob's Burgers
| last =
| full_name = Robert Belcher Jr.
| gender = Male
| lbl21 = Age
| family = Lily Belcher (mother, deceased)
Robert "Bob" Belcher Sr. (father)
| spouse = Linda Belcher (wife)
| children = Louise Belcher (younger daughter)
Gene Belcher (first son)
Tina Belcher (eldest daughter)
| significant_other = Barbara Bunkley (ex-partner)
| home = Seymour's Bay, New Jersey
| relatives = Al Genarro (father-in-law)
Gloria Genarro (mother-in-law)
Gayle Genarro (sister-in-law)
}}
Robert "Bob" Belcher Jr. is the main protagonist of the adult-animated sitcom Bob's Burgers created by Loren Bouchard for Fox. He is the often stressed, anxious patriarch{{Cite web |date=2022-07-16 |title=Bob's Burgers Movie Cast Guide: What the Characters Are Like in Real Life {{!}} Pretty Reel - Father Son TV |url=https://fathersontv.one/actors-psychopath/bobs-burgers-movie-cast-guide-what-the-characters-are-like-in-real-life-pretty-reel/ |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=fathersontv.one |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-09-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922054151/https://fathersontv.one/actors-psychopath/bobs-burgers-movie-cast-guide-what-the-characters-are-like-in-real-life-pretty-reel/ |url-status=dead}} of the Belcher family and owner of his restaurant Bob's Burgers. He is known for being mild-mannered and pessimistic{{Cite web |date=2022-05-18 |title='The Bob's Burgers Movie:' A Delicious Movie Guide |url=https://www.hollywood.com/movies/the-bobs-burgers-movie-everything-we-know-61015228 |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=Hollywood.com |language=en-US}} businessman, often having financial struggles in keeping the restaurant running and paying rent. He has a rivalry with the Italian restaurant owner across the street, Jimmy Pesto, and quarrels with local health inspector Hugo. Bob is a third-generation restaurant owner, and by nature, loves his business and has ideas for his burgers (in particular, having a new "burger of the day" for multiple years).{{Cite web |title=Bob Belcher - Bob's Burgers Characters - ShareTV |url=https://sharetv.com/shows/bobs_burgers/cast/bob_belcher |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=sharetv.com |archive-date=2022-09-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921192630/https://sharetv.com/shows/bobs_burgers/cast/bob_belcher |url-status=dead}} He has a strong love for his family, including his wife Linda, and his children Louise, Gene, and Tina Belcher.{{Cite web |title=Bob Belcher - Bob's Burgers Wiki Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/bobs-burgers/Bob_Belcher |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=IGN |date=22 May 2013 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=I'm a match to Bob Belcher from Bob's Burgers |url=https://www.charactour.com/hub/characters/view/Bob-Belcher.Bobs-Burgers |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=www.charactour.com |language=en}}
Background
In 1967, Bob was born to Robert Belcher Sr. (nicknamed "Big Bob") and Lily Belcher.{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Nicole |date=2022-06-04 |title=Bob's Burgers Movie Just Made Louise's Pink Hat Way More Significant |url=https://screenrant.com/bobs-burgers-movie-louise-pink-hat-ears-bob-mother/ |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=ScreenRant |language=en-US}} Bob didn't have a good childhood, losing his mother at age 13, having to work at his father's restaurant "Big Bob's Diner", and envying children that had real toys and playtime.{{Cite episode |title=Bob Fires the Kids |episode-link=Bob Fires the Kids |series=Bob's Burgers |series-link=Bob's Burgers |network=The Fox Broadcasting Company |date=November 4, 2012 |season=3 |number=3}} On Christmas of 1984, Bob was kicked out of the duplex after serving the "Baby you can chive my car burger" to Henry instead of his "normal" and, refusing to officially partner with Big Bob.{{Cite episode |title=Father of the Bob |episode-link=Father of the Bob |series=Bob's Burgers |series-link=Bob's Burgers |network=The Fox Broadcasting Company |date=November 30, 2014 |season=3 |number=6}}
On September 3, 1993,{{Cite episode |title=Human Flesh |episode-link=Human Flesh |series=Bob's Burgers |series-link=Bob's Burgers |network=The Fox Broadcasting Company |date=January 9, 2011 |season=1 |number=1}} Bob meets, falls in love with and marries Linda Belcher (née Genarro) at the City Hall.{{Efn|Shown in a photo hanging on the wall in Bob and Linda's room in "Slumber Party".}} At some point, they buy the restaurant and have Tina, followed by Gene, then Louise two years later. The restaurant has its' grand re-re-re opening after a utility pole falls into the glass window of the building, as evidenced in the series' intro and in the series' premiere.
In popular culture
Bob Belcher has appeared numerous times outside of Bob's Burgers in other shows most notably The Simpsons, Family Guy, Archer, and Robot Chicken. In the fourth season episode "Fugue and Riffs", Bob's Burgers crosses over with Archer.
Bob Belcher appears in Fortnite as a Father's Day celebration, being released in June 2025. {{cite web|url=https://gamerant.com/fortnite-bobs-burgers-bob-belcher-skin-emotes-prices/|title=Fortnite x Bob's Burgers: Bob Belcher Skin Showcase|date=June 13, 2025|access-date=June 13, 2025|website=Gamerant.com|publisher=Valnet|last=Fillery|first=Jake}}
Reception
Bob has been a generally well-received character, but not to a high degree. Following its release, multiple critics have given their opinions on Bob in The Bob's Burgers Movie. Hollywood in Toto stated that Bob is pushed to the sidelines too much, and not given enough screentime.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-26 |title='Bob's Burgers Movie' Brings Belcher Clan Back from Creative Abyss |url=https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/bobs-burgers-movie-brings-belcher-clan-back-from-creative-abyss/ |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=Hollywood in Toto |language=en-US}} Scott Tobias of The Guardian liked Bob's on-screen chemistry with Linda, which he believes is well established at the beginning of the show.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-26 |title='Bob's Burgers Movie' Brings Belcher Clan Back from Creative Abyss |url=https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/bobs-burgers-movie-brings-belcher-clan-back-from-creative-abyss/ |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=Hollywood in Toto |language=en-US}} Glenn Kenny of The New York Times appreciated the "relatively grounded in reality" plot of Bob trying to pay back the bank, as he is a provider for his family and it makes thematic sense.{{Cite news |last=Kenny |first=Glenn |date=2022-05-26 |title='The Bob's Burgers Movie' Review: A Breezy, Engaging Summer Refreshment |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/26/movies/the-bobs-burgers-movie-review.html |access-date=2022-09-18 |issn=0362-4331}}
In her review of the entire franchise, Rebecca Shaw of The Sydney Morning Herald goes into detail about how Bob is not working towards a greater goal, or hoping for wealth no matter how hard he tries. He is simply trying to provide for his family and make sure his kids will have better opportunities as adults.{{Cite web |last=Shaw |first=Rebecca |date=2022-05-26 |title=Think adult cartoons are silly? Let me change your mind |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/movies/think-adult-cartoons-are-silly-let-me-change-your-mind-20220523-p5anti.html |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}} Lenny Burnham of Hardwood and Hollywood{{'s}} review on season nine, episode seventeen ("What About Blob?") comments on the "fantastic scene" where Linda and Teddy insult Bob.{{Cite web |last=Burnham |first=Lenny |date=2019-03-18 |title=Bob's Burgers Season 9 Review: 9.17: What About Blob? |url=https://www.hardwoodandhollywood.com/2019/03/18/bobs-burgers-season-9-review-9-17-what-about-blob/ |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=Hardwood and Hollywood |language=en-US}} In Chris Cabin's review of season two, he remarks that Bob's straight-man role, small-business-owner status, and melancholy relationship with his wife provides an original outlook.{{Cite web |last=Cabin |first=Chris |date=2012-03-11 |title=Review: Bob's Burgers: Season Two |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/bobs-burgers-season-two/ |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=Slant Magazine |language=en-US}}
Notes
{{Notelist}}