| “ | Here’s five bucks for each of you. And make sure you spend it. If you come back with money, you’re doing it wrong. | ” |
— Big Bob
| ||
Robert "Big Bob" Belcher, Sr. (also known as Pop Pop or Gramps by his grandchildren) is the father of Bob Belcher and the owner of Big Bob's Diner. He's also the widower of Bob's mother, Lily Belcher, the paternal grandfather of Tina, Gene, and Louise Belcher, and the father-in-law of Linda Belcher. He gets introduced in an off-screen flashback in "Bob Fires the Kids" and gets mentioned in multiple episodes before he makes an actual appearance in "Father of the Bob."
He was originally voiced by H. Jon Benjamin and then Bill Hader, but he is currently voiced by Eric Bauza.
Profile[]
Appearance[]
Big Bob is a heavy elderly man. He is balding with light gray hair and a mustache. He has a lot of body hair.
Personality[]
Big Bob takes his job as a diner owner very seriously, often micromanaging or belittling Bob for trying new ideas. He can be blunt, condescending, and critical, which ultimately caused a rift between him and his son.
Despite his often harsh, judgmental attitude, Big Bob does care deeply for Bob and for his family, although he admits he is poor at showing it. Bob kept tabs on Bob's restaurant and was proud of his son's success in terms of how he raised his family. He also admitted to Bob he was never the same after his wife died and things were tough for him.
Big Bob also has a habit of doomscrolling, and calling his son's family to tell them about the latest articles and videos he has seen, displaying his trademark stubbornness when Bob questions it, but revealing to Bob (while the latter was using the "Clamstradamus" animatronic at Wonder Wharf) that he does have hope that his grandchildren can help make the future a better place.
Story[]
Big Bob used to work with his son at his diner, but years of conflict and tension led him to kick his son out and distance their relationship ("Father of the Bob").
Relationships[]
Big Bob is father to Bob Belcher, father-in-law to Linda Belcher and grandfather to Tina, Gene & Louise Belcher. His wife and Bob's mother, Lily Belcher, died sometime before the flashbacks shown in "Father of the Bob." His brother-in-law was Ernest Lombard. It is not clear if Bob's cousin Vanessa is his niece or was Lily Belcher's niece.
Family[]
Lily Belcher[]
Big Bob has a deep love of his deceased wife Lily, evidenced numerous times. One of the most notable was when he told Bob and Bob's family about an incident during a camping trip, years before Big Bob and Lily were married. During the campout, a storm happened and Lily left the tent to use the restroom. While she was gone, a large tree collapsed on the tent. Realizing that Lily would've been crushed had she been in the tent, Big Bob realized how important she was to him, setting them on the path to their eventual marriage six years later ("Interview with a Pop-pop-pire").
He took her death very hard, drinking and becoming more of a bossy man toward his son while he worked in the diner ("The Kids Run the Restaurant" & "Father of the Bob"). Big Bob also avoided discussing Lily with his son for years due to his belief that it would make him sad until Bob tells his dad that while it would be a little, it would help to talk about her. Big Bob also shows his sense of humor in their conversation, claiming he has another family to shock Bob before clarifying it was a joke. ("Interview with a Pop-pop-pire").
Bob Belcher[]
His son understandably has a difficult and strained relationship with him due to his dismissive, critical, and unsupportive ways and the two never being on the same page with one another. He does however get along quite well with his daughter-in-law Linda and shows a genuine soft side for his grandchildren.
Big Bob essentially kept Bob at the diner at all times whenever he wasn't in school, and as a result, Bob didn't have many friends or particularly enjoy his childhood. Always stubborn, Big Bob wouldn't allow Bob to use his creativity when making new recipes, insisting on sticking to what they already knew and not taking risks. One of these conflicts happened when Bob attempted to give long-time regular Henry a different order than he usually got, causing tension between the father and son. One time, Big Bob took his son to the Cosmic Drive-In, although they didn't bond as Big Bob chose to take a nap in the car ("Saving Favorite Drive-In").
Their relationship essentially fell apart on Christmas Eve decades before. Big Bob announced to Bob and several of his long-time regulars and friends that he wanted him to be a partner at the restaurant. Bob refused as he had grown tired of being unable to grow creatively and always being dismissed by his father. An angry Big Bob kicked Bob out of the diner, furious at him for embarrassing him in front of his friends. Following this, for years Bob had a rule where he would only spend 15 minutes at a time with Big Bob, knowing that his father would often say something critical or offensive to him and knowing he needed to get away before getting angry himself ("Father of the Bob").
While he and Bob often argue, Big Bob did keep the newspaper clipping of when Bob first opened Bob's Burgers, saying he was proud of him and how he raised his children ("Father of the Bob"). Big Bob has explained that he rarely talked about Bob's mother to him since he felt it would make him sad ("Interview with a Pop-pop-pire").
Linda Belcher[]
Unlike his relationship with his son, Big Bob gets along well with his daughter-in-law, Linda. Linda enjoys his company in return. She is enthusiastic and friendly with him and does help his relationship with his son.
The Belcher kids[]
The kids like talking to their grandfather as he often gives them $5 bills when he sees them ("Father of the Bob" & "Wharf, Me Worry?"). Big Bob seems to genuinely like the kids and enjoys talking to them whenever he gets the chance, such as helping Tina with a project at school.
Friends[]
Pete[]
Pete is a long-time friend and customer of Big Bob's. As such, Big Bob values this and will often go to Pete's bar next door to the diner to drink and watch Scandal.
Max[]
Henry[]
Appearances[]
The picture of Big Bob's Diner in the Belchers' living room often appears in episodes without Big Bob, so episodes featuring only the picture do not count as his getting mentioned.
- 0303. "Bob Fires the Kids" (voice only, flashback)
- 0307. "Tinarannosaurus Wrecks" (mentioned)
- 0312. "Broadcast Wagstaff School News" (mentioned)
- 0414. "Uncle Teddy" (mentioned)
- 0506. "Father of the Bob"
- 0520. "Hawk & Chick" (non-speaking cameo)
- 0721. "Paraders of the Lost Float" (mentioned)
- 0810. "The Secret Ceramics Room of Secrets" (mentioned)
- 1216. "Interview with a Pop-pop-pire"
- 1309. "Show Mama from the Grave" (mentioned)
- 1314. "These Boots Are Made for Stalking" (mentioned)
- 1404. "Running Down a Gene" (mentioned)
- 1408. "Wharf, Me Worry?"
- 1502. "Saving Favorite Drive-In" (flashback)
References[]
- ↑ s14e4 "Wharf, Me Worry?" Louise says Tina has the "same taste of fun as a 75-year-old man," referring to Big Bob.