Curiosidades

As a child he loved the films of Jacques Cousteau, so Stephen Hillenburg earned a degree in natural-resource planning and interpretation, with an emphasis in marine resources from Humboldt State University (Arcata, Calif.) in 1984. For three years he taught marine biology at the Orange County Marine Institute (now known as the Orange County Ocean Institute), in Dana Point, California. He had always enjoyed drawing and painting, so he pursued a master's-degree program in experimental animation at the California Institute of the Arts, in Valencia. All these experiences came together to create SpongeBob SquarePants.

In March 2017, Hillenburg disclosed to Variety magazine that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a terminal illness that affects and causes the death of neurons that control the brain and the spinal cord. He released a statement to the publication, in which he said that he would continue to work on Bob Esponja Calça Quadrada (1999) "for as long as [he is] able." He added, "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." At the time, Hillenburg was in the early stages of the disease, according to a source close to him. Hillenburg died on November 26, 2018, from complications from ALS.

Before becoming an animator, Hillenburg worked a number of odd jobs, including, most notably, a fry cook- just like SpongeBob.

His remains were cremated and his ashes were sprinkled off the coast of Los Angeles County, California.

Owns a production company called United Plankton Pictures.

Had one son, Clay Hillenburg (b. circa 1998), with his wife Karen Hillenburg.