Stephen Hillenburg

Born

August 21, 1961

Died

November 26, 2018 (57 years old)

Known For

Writing

Place of Birth

Fort Sill, Oklahoma, USA

Stephen McDannell Hillenburg (August 21, 1961 – November 26, 2018) was an American animator, cartoonist, and marine-biology teacher. He was the creator of the Nickelodeon animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants (1999–), which he also directed, produced, and wrote. It has gone on to become the fifth longest-running American animated series.