SpongeBob Squarepants creator Stephen Hillenburg died after a battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) on Monday. He was 57 at the time of his death. Nickelodeon shared the news on its Twitter page Tuesday with a yellow-heart framed tribute for the creator.
"We are sad to share the news of the passing of Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants," the network wrote. "Today, we are observing a moment of silence to honor his life and work."
The network also released a statement, according to Variety, which detailed Hillenburg's connection to his work and colleagues. "We are incredibly saddened by the news that Steve Hillenburg has passed away following a battle with ALS," the statement read.
"He was a beloved friend and long-time creative partner to everyone at Nickelodeon, and our hearts go out to his entire family. 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."
Hillenburg was diagnosed with ALS in March 2017, and revealed his diagnosis publicly in a statement to Variety in the same month.
"I wanted people to hear directly from me that I have been diagnosed with ALS," his statement read. "Anyone who knows me knows that I will continue to work on SpongeBob SquarePants and my other passions for as long as I am able. My family and I are grateful for the outpouring of love and support. We ask that our sincere request for privacy be honored during this time."
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a neurological disease that impacts physical performance by weakening muscles. The weakening of muscles can impact the ability to walk, speak, eat and breathe, and the disease becomes worse over time.
Hillenburg has been honored by fans on Twitter since the announcement of his passing. He leaves behind a wife, Karen Hillenburg and a son, Clay.
SpongeBob premiered on Nickelodeon in 1999 and has aired nearly 250 episodes since it began. In 2017, the show was renewed for 26 new episodes to last through 2019.
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