SpongeBob SquarePants Creator Stephen Hillenburg Dead at 57

Stephen Hillenburg, creator of the iconic animated series Spongebob Squarepants, died Monday after a battle with ALS, which he had been diagnosed with in March 2017, Varietyreports. He was 57 years old.

A former marine biology teacher, Hillenburg's love of the ocean and all things in it manifested spectacularly in his creative career change to animation as SpongeBob SquarePants. On its surface, the Nickelodeon show is a charmingly funny cartoon starring a yellow sponge -- the eponymous SpongeBob -- and the other ocean dwellers who live in the pleasant underwater suburb of Bikini Bottom. But SpongeBob's cultural legacy goes far beyond what even Hillenburg intended. The show, which has been on for 19 years and is still running, is beloved by practically all ages. Children adore SpongeBob's charming naiveté, teens and young adults love the winking jokes for stoners hidden not-so-subtly in the background, and adults thrive on its meme culture which redefined the way we talk on social media.

Nickelodeon observed a moment of silence to honor the legendary animator.

Many fans, including those that had gone on to work in animation themselves, also mourned Hillenburg's loss.

Hillenburg's gifts will never be forgotten.