TV

‘Spongebob Squarepants’ Creator Stephen Hillenburg Has Died

R.I.P to such a big part of our childhoods.

by Rob Stott  28 November 2018
Spongebob Squarepants creator Stephen Hillenburg has died

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The visionary creator of Spongebob Squarepants, Stephen Hillenburg, has died at age 57 after a battle with ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Nickelodeon confirmed the sad news in a tweet overnight.

We are sad to share the news of the passing of Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants,” Nickelodeon said. “Today, we are observing a moment of silence to honour his life and work.”

“Steve imbued ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ with a unique sense of humour 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.”

Hillenburg was also one of the creative forces behind cult cartoon Rocko’s Modern Life, whose unique style was the precursor to Spongebob Squarepants. The show that would define Hillenburg’s legacy debuted in 1999 and immediately became a cultural touchstone for a generation of kids.

The show spawned two movies, a broadway adaptation a huge amount of merchandise, and countless memes. It won four kids Emmy Awards and 15 Kids Choice Awards.

Hillenburg is survived by his wife Karen and their son Clay.