Stephen Hillenburg, creator of SpongeBob SquarePants, dies at 57

Stephen Hillenburg, the marine biologist turned animator who created the globally beloved cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants, died on November 26, 2018, at his home in California due to complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He was 57. Diagnosed in March 2017, Hillenburg continued working on the series, including a third SpongeBob film scheduled for 2020. Nickelodeon, the network that aired the show, announced his death on Twitter, calling for a moment of silence. Hillenburg's background in marine biology and teaching at the Orange County Marine Institute in Dana Point, California, inspired the character, which debuted in 1999 as an evolution of his educational comic "Bob the Sponge." The series ran for 12 seasons, spawned two feature films grossing nearly $500 million worldwide, and generated over $13 billion in merchandise and licensing revenue. Nickelodeon praised Hillenburg for infusing the show with "unique humor and innocence" that brought joy to generations.