# Lori Alan
**Lori Alan** (birth name Lori Alan Denniberg; born 1966) is an American actress and voice actress known for voicing Pearl Krabs on *SpongeBob SquarePants*, news anchor Diane Simmons on *Family Guy*, Sue Storm in the 1990s *Fantastic Four* animated series, and The Boss in the *Metal Gear Solid* video game series[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/lori_allen) • [2](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/lori-alan/credits/3030216304/). She also holds a long-running place in Pixar films as Bonnie's Mom in the *Toy Story* sequels and as the Sadness character of Riley's mom in the *Inside Out* films[3](https://www.lorialan.com/about).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1966, Potomac, Maryland; birth name Lori Alan Denniberg[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/lori_allen) • [2](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/lori-alan/credits/3030216304/) |
| Signature roles | Pearl Krabs on *SpongeBob SquarePants* (1999–present), Diane Simmons on *Family Guy* (1999–2010), The Boss in *Metal Gear Solid*[4](https://film.one/person/lori-alan) • [5](https://www.mobygames.com/person/156831/lori-alan/) |
| Early voice work | Sue Storm / the Invisible Woman on *Fantastic Four* (1994–1996)[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/lori_allen) |
| Pixar roles | Bonnie's Mom in *Toy Story 3* (2010), *Toy Story 4* (2019), and *Toy Story 5* (2026); Mom's Sadness in *Inside Out* and *Inside Out 2*; additional voices in *WALL·E* and *Monsters University*[3](https://www.lorialan.com/about) • [4](https://film.one/person/lori-alan) |
| Training | Graduated with honors from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts; longtime member of New York's Gotham City Improv (Groundlings East)[6](https://voicetraxsf.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/WEB_VT_2021Spring_Full-Catalog.pdf) |
| Awards | First place in two categories at the First Annual Voice Arts Awards, including Outstanding Body of Work[6](https://voicetraxsf.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/WEB_VT_2021Spring_Full-Catalog.pdf) • [7](https://www.lorialan.com/coaching) |
| Other work | Voice-over coach, demo producer, and recurring live-action TV roles on *Grey's Anatomy*, *Shameless*, *Curb Your Enthusiasm*, and Netflix's *Nobody Wants This*[3](https://www.lorialan.com/about) |
## Early life and training
Alan grew up in the Washington, DC, area, and her parents, performers themselves, encouraged her interest in the arts[3](https://www.lorialan.com/about) • [8](https://citylifestyle.com/articles/the-animated-lori-alan). She made her television debut at age five as the star of a [Shakey's Pizza](https://www.edgepedia.org/shakeys-pizza) commercial[3](https://www.lorialan.com/about). After graduating with honors from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, she worked the comedy circuit as a longtime member of New York's Gotham City Improv, the East Coast branch of the Groundlings[6](https://voicetraxsf.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/WEB_VT_2021Spring_Full-Catalog.pdf).
Her onscreen debut came in a first-season episode of *Law & Order*, and she moved into voice performance with the cartoon [Invisible Woman](https://www.edgepedia.org/invisible-woman) on *[Fantastic Four](https://www.edgepedia.org/fantastic-four-1994-tv-series)* from 1994 to 1996[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/lori_allen).
## Animation and voice career
**SpongeBob and Family Guy.** While working on [Cartoon Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/cartoon-network)'s *Johnny Bravo*, Alan met writer [Seth MacFarlane](https://www.edgepedia.org/seth-macfarlane), and the connection led to her recurring role as the anchorwoman Diane Simmons on *Family Guy*, beginning with the show's 1999 debut[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/lori_allen). That same year she began voicing Pearl Krabs, the teenage sperm whale daughter of [Mr. Krabs](https://www.edgepedia.org/mr-krabs), on Nickelodeon's *SpongeBob SquarePants*, a role she has continued across the series, its spin-offs *Kamp Koral* and *The Patrick Star Show*, and the theatrical films[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/lori_allen) • [9](https://ezcritic.com/people/lori-alan). One account of her technique notes that she lowers her pitch for Pearl to match the character's size[4](https://film.one/person/lori-alan).
**Video games.** In the *Metal Gear Solid* series Alan voices The Boss, the mentor figure at the center of *Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater* (2004); she reprised the role in *Subsistence*, *Peace Walker*, *Snake Eater 3D*, *Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain*, and the 2025 remake *Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater*[5](https://www.mobygames.com/person/156831/lori-alan/). Her game credits also include the *Family Guy* video game, *Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2*, and *CSI: NY – The Game*[5](https://www.mobygames.com/person/156831/lori-alan/).
**Pixar.** Alan's Pixar association began with background and additional-voice work, including *WALL·E* (2008) and *Monsters University* (2013)[3](https://www.lorialan.com/about) • [4](https://film.one/person/lori-alan). Her named role as Bonnie's Mom in *Toy Story 3* (2010) came out of that loop-group work, where voice actors audition for breakout parts in front of one another[10](https://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewfirriolo/toy-story-5-lori-alan-interview). She has carried the role through *Toy Story 4* (2019) and *Toy Story 5* (2026), and she voices the Sadness character of Riley's mom in *Inside Out* (2015) and *Inside Out 2* (2024)[3](https://www.lorialan.com/about). Pixar's chief creative officer [Pete Docter](https://www.edgepedia.org/pete-docter) introduced her at the *Toy Story 5* premiere as the studio's "good luck charm," and she has described herself as "everybody's Pixar mom"[10](https://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewfirriolo/toy-story-5-lori-alan-interview). She also voices Mabel's mom in Pixar's 2026 film *Hoppers*[11](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/one-voice-actor-hoppers-lori-alan-deep-cut-og-pixar-fans-toy-story-5).
## Live-action television and stage
Alan's on-camera work includes recurring roles on *Grey's Anatomy*, *Law & Order*, *Shameless*, *Will & Grace*, *Workaholics*, *Curb Your Enthusiasm*, and a 2024 appearance as Deborah on the Netflix series *Nobody Wants This*[3](https://www.lorialan.com/about). On stage she appeared in *The Pee-wee Herman Show* and played Mae in the original Los Angeles production of *Reefer Madness*, later reprising the role for the 25th-anniversary show[3](https://www.lorialan.com/about). She has also written and performed her own solo show, *Lori Alan: The Musical*[12](https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/21-20questions.html).
## Coaching and recognition
Alan works as a voice-over coach and demo producer, teaching commercial and animation technique in private and group sessions[7](https://www.lorialan.com/coaching). At the First Annual Voice Arts Awards she took first place in two categories, Outstanding Body of Work and Outstanding National Television Commercial[6](https://voicetraxsf.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/WEB_VT_2021Spring_Full-Catalog.pdf). She is represented for voice-over by DPN Talent[13](https://www.weaudition.com/lorialan).
Outside the studio she advocates for animal rescue organizations including Best Friends LA, Animal Hope and Wellness, the Pasadena Humane Society, and Marley's Mutts[3](https://www.lorialan.com/about).
## References
1. [Lori Alan – Rotten Tomatoes celebrity page](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/lori_allen)
2. [Lori Alan – TV Guide credits](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/lori-alan/credits/3030216304/)
3. [Bio – lorialan.com](https://www.lorialan.com/about)
4. [Lori Alan – Fi1m](https://film.one/person/lori-alan)
5. [Lori Alan – MobyGames](https://www.mobygames.com/person/156831/lori-alan/)
6. [Voicetrax 2021 Spring Catalog – Guest Director biographies](https://voicetraxsf.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/WEB_VT_2021Spring_Full-Catalog.pdf)
7. [Coach with Me – lorialan.com](https://www.lorialan.com/coaching)
8. [The Animated Lori Alan – Potomac Lifestyle](https://citylifestyle.com/articles/the-animated-lori-alan)
9. [Lori Alan – EZ Critic filmography](https://ezcritic.com/people/lori-alan)
10. [Inside 'Toy Story 5' With Voice Actor Lori Alan: Interview – BuzzFeed](https://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewfirriolo/toy-story-5-lori-alan-interview)
11. [One Of The Voice Actors In Hoppers Is A Deep Cut – CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/one-voice-actor-hoppers-lori-alan-deep-cut-og-pixar-fans-toy-story-5)
12. [20 Questions Interview with Lori Alan – WOW! Women on Writing](https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/21-20questions.html)
13. [Lori Alan – WeAudition](https://www.weaudition.com/lorialan)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Voice performers › American voice performers › Animation and cartoon voice actors › Contemporary animation voice actors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license