Stephen Hillenburg, ‘Spongebob Squarepants’ Creator Is Dead!

Creator of the ‘Spongebob Squarepants’, Stephen Hillenburg has passed on at the age of 57, Nickelodeon confirms.

He reportedly died on Monday (November 26) after a battle with ALS.

Nickelodeon released a statement to confirm his death, 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.

Photo Credit: Junko Kimura/Getty Images