Death of Stephen Hillenburg, creator of SpongeBob SquarePants, at the age of 57

The creator of SpongeBob SquarePants died at the age of 57.

Stephen Hillenburg was diagnosed with a motor neuron degenerative disease (ALS) last March.

In a statement to Variety, Nickelodeon network executives who are highly regarded as "highly saddened by the news of Steve Hillenburg's death after a battle with ALS".

"He was a beloved friend and a long-time creative partner for everyone at Nickelodeon, and our heart goes out to all his family." Steve imbued SpongeBob SquarePants with a sense of humor and unique innocence that has brought joy to generations of children and families all over the world. His completely original characters and the universe of Bikini Bottom will long remember the value of optimism, friendship and unlimited power of the imagination. "

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A former professor of marine biology, Hillenburg used his artistic skills to create the characters that eventually become the inhabitants of Bikini Bottom as educational tools. After deciding to pursue a career in animation, he became a director and screenwriter in the Nickelodeon series dating back to the mid-1990s. The modern life of Rocko.

The first episode of his next project SpongeBob SquarePants debuted in May 1999. Since then, more than 250 episodes have been screened and the program has proved very popular with children and students.

The series has won the American and British Emmy Awards and has been dubbed or subtitled in more than 60 languages, including Urdu, Azerbaijani and Maori.

Hillenburg also wrote, produced and directed 2004 The SpongeBob SquarePants movie and wrote and executive produced his 2015 sequel The Bob movie sponge: a sponge out of the water.

He will be sadly missed by his wife Karen Hillenburg, his son Clay, his mother Nancy Hillenburg (née Dufour) and his brother Brian Kelly Hillenburg, his wife Isabel and nieces Emma and Hazel.