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Hillenburg had said last year that he was
suffering from the neurodegenerative disease ALS, also known as
Lou Gehrig's disease. He died on Monday.
"We are incredibly saddened by the news that Steve Hillenburg
has passed away following a battle with ALS," the network 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."
Hillenburg was a marine biology teacher in Southern California
when he started creating sea creatures as teaching tools.
The first episode of "SpongeBob SquarePants," featuring the
cheerful yellow sea sponge, who lived in an underwater
pineapple, and his friends Mr. Krabs, Larry the Lobster,
Patrick, and their Krusty Krab restaurant hangout, aired on U.S.
television in May 1999.
The series went on to win multiple awards, produced a series of
spin-off books, two Hollywood movies and a Broadway musical. The
television series has aired in more than 200 nations and has
been translated into more than 60 languages.
"Steve imbued SpongeBob SquarePants with a unique sense of humor
and innocence that has brought joy to generations of kids and
families everywhere," the Nickelodeon statement said.
"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."
Nickelodeon is a unit of Viacom.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Tom Brown, Bill Trott
and Frances Kerry)
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