Stephen Hillenburg, best known as the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants, has died at 57, Nickelodeon confirmed in a tweet.
“We are sad to share the news of the passing of Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants,” Nickelodeon wrote. “Today, we are observing a moment of silence to honor his life and work.”
💛 We are sad to share the news of the passing of Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants. Today, we are observing a moment of silence to honor his life and work. 💛
— Nickelodeon (@Nickelodeon) November 27, 2018
Last year, he revealed he had been diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease ALS.
“I wanted people to hear directly from me that I have been diagnosed with ALS,” he said at the time. “Anyone who knows me knows that I will continue to work on SpongeBob SquarePants and my other passions for as long as I am able. My family and I are grateful for the outpouring of love and support.”
Before Spongebob aired in 1999, Hillenburg was a marine biology teacher at the Orange County Marine Institute.
“Obviously, SpongeBob is a comedy, but it really was inspired by me liking marine science,” he said during an interview in 2015 about how he came up with the hit show. “I focused on that, and I never thought the two would come together.”
While most people know him as the creator of SpongeBob, he actually got his start directing another popular Nickelodeon show, Rocko’s Modern Life, which Hillenburg said was a really important experience. He also wrote and directed for Rugrats.
“We have him to thank for the production of this staple of 90s Nickelodeon as well,” someone said on Twitter.
let's not forget, Stephen Hillenburg got his start on Rocko's Modern life as a director, producer, writer, and storyboarder
— ✨CHELLE D☯GGO✨ (ART ONLY; SEE PINNED) (@ChelleDoggo) November 27, 2018
so we have him to thank for the production of this staple of 90s Nickelodeon as well ❤ pic.twitter.com/kmgbRucdyO
Other expressed their condolences and shared the ways SpongeBob shaped their childhood and animation as a whole.
“A giant of cartoons has left us. A kind, brilliant and hilarious genius who will forever be remembered for his creations. Animation was changed for the better thanks to him,” director Jorge R. Gutierrez wrote. “And millions of kids grew up with a character that championed innocence. Gracias for everything, Steve.”
A giant of cartoons has left us. A kind, brilliant and hilarious genius who will forever be remembered for his creations. Animation was changed for the better thanks to him. And millions of kids grew up with a character that championed innocence. Gracias for everything, Steve. https://t.co/Nn0DCnabJS
— Jorge R. Gutierrez (@mexopolis) November 27, 2018
“This year has just absolutely shattered my heart. Lost two creative, imaginative individuals in both Stan Lee and Stephen Hillenburg, who both shaped so much of my own childhood and my childhood wonder,” one person said.
https://twitter.com/Noravity/status/1067479821628907525
“R.I.P. Stephen Hillenburg. He made one of the greatest shows of the 2000’s something I didn’t think we can even think of pop culture in this era without Spongebob. Also, don’t forget his time on Rocko. One of the great creators in entertainment. This is a sad day,” another person wrote.
R.I.P. Stephen Hillenburg He made one of the greatest shows of the 2000’s something I didn’t think we can even think of pop culture in this era without Spongebob. Also don’t forget his time on Rocko. One of the great creators in entertainment. This is a sad day
— Jim Rot Video (@JimRotVideo) November 27, 2018
And let us not forget the countless memes SpongeBob has inspired.