'Sponge Bob' Creator, OC Teacher, Stephen Hillenburg Dies

DANA POINT, CA — The famed creator of 'Sponge Bob Squarepants,' Stephen Hillenburg, has died, and his funeral services were pending Tuesday. Hillenburg's lifelong love of the ocean led him first to become a marine- biology teacher in Orange County and later to create the hit underwater animated series "SpongeBob SquarePants."

Born in Oklahoma but raised in Anaheim, Hillenburg graduated from Humboldt State University in 1984 and began teaching marine biology at the Orange County Marine Institute in Dana Point, before the development of the popular animated television show.

One year ago, Hillenburg announced his ALS diagnosis. He died Monday at age 57, according to Nickelodeon.

Hillenburg "was a beloved friend and long-time creative partner to everyone at Nickelodeon, and our hearts go out to his entire family," according to a statement from the network. "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."

He was known for incorporating his artistic skills by creating animated characters to help teach his students about ocean creatures. Hillenburg's teaching methods grew, using the ocean and its many inhabitants to tell stories and educate on life under the sea, in a place not unlike Bikini Bottom.

Hillenburg left teaching and pursue a career in the arts, attending the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia. He began working with Nickelodeon on the series "Rocko's Modern Life," then revamped the characters he created during his teaching career to develop "SpongeBob SquarePants."

The favorite cartoon show premiered in 1999 and sparked two feature-length films.

He is survived by his wife Karen and son Clay, along with his mother and brother.

City News Service, with Patch Editor Ashley Ludwig, contributing.

TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 23: Stephen Hillenburg, the writer of a U.S. cartoon 'The SpongeBob SquarePants' poses with its charactor SpongeBob SquarePants at an event held at Tokyo International Anime Fair on March 23, 2006 in Tokyo, Japan. The film of this popular U.S. Cartoon will open on April 22 in Japan. (Photo by Junko Kimura/Getty Images)