Steve Hillenburg has lost his battle against ALS on November 26, and the children's cable channel remembers him as 'a beloved friend and long-time creative partner.'
- Nov 28, 2018
AceShowbiz - "SpongeBob Squarepants" creator Stephen Hillenburg has died, aged 57.
Hillenburg, who revealed he was battling ALS last year, passed away on Monday, November 26.
"We are incredibly saddened by the news that Steve Hillenburg has passed away following a battle with ALS," a statement from Nickelodeon network bosses reads. "He was a beloved friend and long-time creative partner to everyone at Nickelodeon, and our hearts go out to his entire family.
💛 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
"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."