SpongeBob SquarePants creator Stephen Hillenburg has died at the age of 57 after a battle with ALS.

[protoplasm]

https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/11/27/spongebob-squarepants-creator-stephen-hillenburg-dies

 

Creator of the ever-popular SpongeBob SquarePants cartoon series, Stephen Hillenburg, died on Monday at the age of 57, according to a tweet from Nickelodeon.

 

The cause of Hillenburg's death was ALS, which he announced he had been diagnosed with last year.

 

Nickelodeon released a statement about Hillenburg's passing, saying, "We are incredibly saddened by the news that Steve Hillenburg has passed away following a battle with ALS."

 

"He was a beloved friend and long-time creative partner to everyone at Nickelodeon, and our hearts go out to his entire family. Steve imbued ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ with a unique sense of humor and innocence that has brought joy to generations of kids and families everywhere. His utterly original characters and the world of Bikini Bottom will long stand as a reminder of the value of optimism, friendship and the limitless power of imagination."

 

According to Variety, Hillenburg began his animation career in 1987 and went on to win an award for Best Animated Concept at the Ottawa International Animation Festival in 1992, for his animated short, Wormholes. He then worked as a writer and director on Nickelodeon's popular series, Rocko's Modern Life from 1993-1996.

 

After that, Hillenburg began working full-time on the series that would eventually be known as SpongeBob SquarePants, with the first episode airing on May 1, 1999 on Nickelodeon.

SpongeBob SquarePants has aired almost 250 episodes  to date and has been loved by both children and adult viewers.

 

 

RIP.

[Misa]

RIP

[Rolling Thunder]

rip

[Ego ista]

May he Rest In Peace

[Ddeona Oneul Bame]

That's so sad, I didn't know he was sick. Rest in peace 

[in the galaxy]

sad day :(

[WenSuelRene]

Oh my gosh, I'm so shocked reading this. I had no idea he had ALS.   Rest in Peace, Mr. Hillenburg. Thank you for creating my favorite cartoon series growing up   

[demasta]

RIP

[BeTaS]

oh man, rip.

[Charlize:)]

RIP

[blank_stare]

Rip! Wonder if they’re gonna make an episode dedicated to him somehow.

[PARADISE.MP3]

Thank you for creating one of the cartoons that made my childhood, Rest In Peace

[Moon Jellyfish]

RIP

[Hormones.]

Why are all these cartoon/comic people dying omg rip 

[My Everything]

RIP and thank you for creating such an iconic cartoon

[honeyhoney]

My WHOLE childhood AND adulthood. RIP to an icon.

[-seokseol]

[emoji24] an amazing and talented person [emoji17]

 

 

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[polygon]

i knew he was sick but wow... very sad to hear and he was still young. rest in peace to the man who created an amazing cartoon that defined a whole generation and changed the face of an entire network too. he will be missed.

[PrincessRoxi_02]

RIP Stephen :( thank you for an awesome childhood<3

[fishysone]

spongebob squarepants is my favorite cartoon ever,

rest in peace, stephen.

[French Rose]

Awww this is so sad. May he rest in peace.

[Kairi HoHo]

Wow Spongebob Squarepants still one of those Cartoons that the whole family can enjoy. I remember watching the very first Episode as a kid, with me liking Pokemon and Dragon Ball Z at that point and falling in love with this Show.