Stephen Hillenburg, 57

[johnhoftb]

https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/spo...rg-1203037362/

Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of the megahit Nickelodeon cartoon series “SpongeBob SquarePants,” died on Monday. He was 57.

The cause of death was ALS, which Hillenburg revealed he had been diagnosed with in March of last year.

“We are incredibly saddened by the news that Steve Hillenburg has passed away following a battle with ALS,” Nickelodeon said in a statement. “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.”

Hillenburg graduated from Humboldt State University in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Planning and Interpretation, with an emphasis on marine resources. He then became a marine biology teacher at the Orange County Marine Institute (now the Ocean Institute) in Dana Point, California. This interest, combined with his artistic talent and love of the sea and its creatures, led him to write and illustrate stories as teaching tools with characters that would later become the denizens of SpongeBob’s home, Bikini Bottom.

He began his animation career in 1987, pursuing a degree in Experimental Animation at the California Institute of Arts in Valencia and earning his Master of Fine Arts in 1992.

That same year he won an award for Best Animated Concept at the Ottawa International Animation Festival for his animated short “Wormholes”, which went on to be shown at various international animation festivals. From 1993 to 1996 he would pursue work in television as a director and writer on Nickelodeon’s series “Rocko’s Modern Life.”

From there, he began to work full-time on writing producing, and directing on the animated series that would eventually become “SpongeBob SquarePants.” The first episode aired on Nickelodeon on May 1, 1999 and the series commenced its full run on July 17 of that year. The series has aired nearly 250 episodes to date. It appealed not only to children but older viewers as well, with college students even organizing viewing parties for the show.

The series has won both U.S. and British Emmy Awards, Annie Awards, and ASACP Awards and has been dubbed or subtitled in more than 60 languages, including Urdu, Azerbaijani and Maori.

Hillenburg also wrote, produced, and directed “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie,” which was released in 2004 and went on to gross over $140 million worldwide. Hillenburg then wrote the story for and was the executive producer of the sequel, “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water,” in 2015.

Hillenburg — or Steve as he was known to family, friends, and fans — was born August 21, 1961, at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma. After leaving the military, his father, Kelly N. Hillenburg, Jr., became a draftsman and designer for aerospace companies. His mother Nancy taught visually impaired students.

He is survived by his wife of 20 years Karen Hillenburg, son Clay, mother Nancy Hillenburg (nee Dufour) and brother Brian Kelly Hillenburg, his wife Isabel, and nieces Emma and Hazel.

[Trassk]

Sad. But need to remember, he created Patrick star, one of the most cancerous cartoons characters ever made, worse then Peter Griffin.

[TheramoreIsTheBomb]

His legend will live on through Spongebob, the greatest cartoon in history.

[Puupi]

His legend will live on through Spongebob, the greatest cartoon in history.

That's a bit of a stretch.

[Ooid]

I just saw. I didn’t even know he had been diagnosed with als.

[johnhoftb]

His legend will live on through Spongebob, the greatest cartoon in history.

Personally I prefer Rocko's Modern Life.

[Trassk]

His legend will live on through Spongebob, the greatest cartoon in history.

I

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Must

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Disagree

https://i2.wp.com/respectfulinsolenc...00%2C844&ssl=1

With

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You.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...py_Peanuts.png

[Slowpoke is a Gamer]

His legend will live on through Spongebob, the greatest cartoon in history.

Greatest money maker and fastest growing maybe. But greatest? Come back in 90 years and see who's still around at that point; Spongebob or Mickey Mouse.



Still not to discount a show that basically built internet meme culture whether forums like it or not.

[Boricha]

One of the defining shows of my pre-teens. He will be missed.

[Yunru]

Hm...i realy havent watched spongebob episodes. At least new ones.

[korijenkins]

Greatest money maker and fastest growing maybe. But greatest? Come back in 90 years and see who's still around at that point; Spongebob or Mickey Mouse.



Still not to discount a show that basically built internet meme culture whether forums like it or not.

Mickey Mouse would not be relevant at all today if he wasn't constantly promoted by Disney.

[Piglord]

Mickey Mouse would not be relevant at all today if he wasn't constantly promoted by Disney.

Nothing would be relevant without promotion.

[derpkitteh]

His legend will live on through Spongebob, the greatest cartoon in history.

spongebob is only great up to 2004. after that, it's nothing but fetid garbage.

rocko's modern life was also much better.

that said, it's a shame he died. hopefully he didn't feel too much pain before the end.

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Sad. But need to remember, he created Patrick star, one of the most cancerous cartoons characters ever made, worse then Peter Griffin.

[video=youtube;QETLK7qg0tM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QETLK7qg0tM&app=desktop&persist_app=1[video]

patrick wasn't -that- bad pre-2004, but even in 2002 - 2004 he got much more stupid.

post-2004 though, he is absolutely virulent, vicious cancer.

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[IMG]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DtBy6AvVAAAWlak.jpg[IMG]

Hm...i realy havent watched spongebob episodes. At least new ones.

do yourself a favor and don't start.

watch the old ones and keep your memories.

[Chinese Bootlickers]

Well shit, that's 2 childhood-shaping icons dead in 2 weeks. RIP

[AeneasBK]

Nothing would be relevant without promotion.

I think the point is no one remembers Mickey mouse *cartoons* anymore. Because while they may have been groundbreaking 80 years ago or w/e they were, they're kinda shit.

OT: Bummer. Wasted a lot of afternoons in my early 20s getting high with Songebob on.

Guy seemed like a fun person to be around. RIP

[Lochton]

I

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ckey_Mouse.png

Must

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped..._Bunny.svg.png

Disagree

https://i2.wp.com/respectfulinsolenc...00%2C844&ssl=1

With

https://d1ejxu6vysztl5.cloudfront.ne...5046_1024x.jpg

You.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...py_Peanuts.png

Yeah, I have to agree on this.. Meh, could've kept the list running.

[Rossuk]

Well shit, that's 2 childhood-shaping icons dead in 2 weeks. RIP

Might be an idiot question, but who is the guy on the right? I recognise the others!

[AeneasBK]

Might be an idiot question, but who is the guy on the right? I recognise the others!

Jim Henson I'm guessing...

NO wait, glasses. My bad.

[Vash The Stampede]

I wonder what Bill Maher thinks?

[Moralgy]

Sad the guy died pretty early. Never really was a big fan of the show though. I think I watched it for a few weeks when I was a kid and that was it.