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LOS ANGELES (REUTERS) – The creator of the animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants, Stephen Hillenburg, has died at the age of 57, the Nickelodeon television channel announced on Tuesday.
Hillenburg had said last year that he was suffering from the neurodegenerative disease called ALS, also called Lou Gehrig's disease.
"We are extremely saddened by the announcement of the death of Steve Hillenburg as a result of a battle against ALS," said the network in a statement.
"He was a beloved friend and long-time creative partner for everyone at Nickelodeon, and our heart goes out to all his family."
Hillenburg was a professor of marine biology in southern California when he started creating marine creatures as educational tools.
The first episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, featuring the yellow sea sponge and his friends who live in the fictional underwater town of Bikini Bottom, was aired on television in May 1999.
The series won numerous awards and produced a series of derivative books, two Hollywood films and a Broadway musical.
"Steve has given SpongeBob SquarePants a unique sense of humor and innocence that has brought joy to generations of children and families around the world," Nickelodeon said.
"His completely original characters and Bikini Bottom's universe will long recall the value of optimism, friendship and unlimited power of imagination."
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