Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Biography
  • Awards
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Stephen Hillenburg(1961-2018)

  • Writer
  • Producer
  • Animation Department
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Stephen Hillenburg
Stephen McDannell Hillenburg is the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants (1999), Nickelodeon's highest-rated cartoons for children and a staple of American television. He was born on August 21, 1961 in Fort Sill, a United States Army post in Lawton, Oklahoma, to Nancy (Dufour) Hillenburg and Kelly Neugent Hillenburg Jr.

Raised in Anaheim, California, he became fascinated with marine biology as a child and later developed an interest in art. He started his professional career in 1984 teaching marine biology at the Orange County Marine Institute. He wrote 'The Intertidal Zone', a comic book about tide-pool animals which he used to educate his students.

In 1989, two years after leaving teaching, Hillenburg enrolled at the California Institute of the Arts to pursue a career in animation. He was later offered a job on the Nickelodeon animated television series Rocko's Modern Life (1993), after his success with short films The Green Beret (1992) and Wormholes (1992), which he created while studying animation.

In 1994, Hillenburg began developing The Intertidal Zone characters and concepts for what would become SpongeBob SquarePants. The show premiered in 1999 and has aired since then. He also directed The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004), which he originally intended to be the series finale. However, Nickelodeon wanted to produce more episodes, so Hillenburg resigned as the showrunner. He went back to making short films, with Hollywood Blvd, USA (2014).

In 2015, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015) was released; It marked Hillenburg's return to the franchise, after he co-wrote the story and acted as an executive producer on the project.

Aside from two Emmy Awards and six Annie Awards for SpongeBob SquarePants, Hillenburg also received an accolade from Heal the Bay for his efforts on elevating marine life awareness, as well as the Television Animation Award from the National Cartoonists Society. Despite all this, he was involved in public controversies, including one that centered on speculation over the SpongeBob character's intended sexual orientation.

Hillenburg was diagnosed in 2017 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. He stated that he would continue to work on his show for as long as possible. He died at age 57 on November 26, 2018 in San Marino, California, a year and a half after his diagnosis.
BornAugust 21, 1961
DiedNovember 26, 2018(57)
BornAugust 21, 1961
DiedNovember 26, 2018(57)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Nominated for 10 Primetime Emmys
    • 7 wins & 14 nominations total

Photos1

View Poster

Known for

Clancy Brown, Lori Alan, Rodger Bumpass, Mary Jo Catlett, Bill Fagerbakke, Tom Kenny, Carolyn Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence, and Jill Talley in SpongeBob SquarePants (1999)
SpongeBob SquarePants
8.2
TV Series
  • Writer
Tom Kenny in The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie
7.2
  • Writer
  • 2004
Kristen Stewart in Underwater (2020)
Underwater
5.9
  • Soundtrack("SpongeBob SquarePants Theme")
  • 2020
Carlos Alazraqui in Rocko's Modern Life (1993)
Rocko's Modern Life
7.9
TV Series
  • Writer(part 2)

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Writer



  • Bill Fagerbakke in The Patrick Star Show (2021)
    The Patrick Star Show
    3.6
    TV Series
    • based on characters created by
    • 2021–2025
  • Lori Alan, Mary Jo Catlett, Tom Kenny, Carolyn Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence, and Jill Talley in Plankton: The Movie (2025)
    Plankton: The Movie
    5.3
    • based on the series "SpongeBob SquarePants", created by
    • 2025
  • Clancy Brown, Lori Alan, Rodger Bumpass, Mary Jo Catlett, Bill Fagerbakke, Tom Kenny, Carolyn Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence, and Jill Talley in SpongeBob SquarePants (1999)
    SpongeBob SquarePants
    8.2
    TV Series
    • created by
    • creator
    • story ...
    • 1999–2024
  • Clancy Brown, Lori Alan, Rodger Bumpass, Mary Jo Catlett, Bill Fagerbakke, Tom Kenny, Carolyn Lawrence, and Mr. Lawrence in Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years (2021)
    Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years
    3.6
    TV Series
    • created by
    • based on characters created by
    • 2021–2024
  • Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Tom Kenny, Carolyn Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence, and Jill Talley in Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie (2024)
    Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie
    3.7
    • series "SpongeBob SquarePants"
    • 2024
  • Jim Meskimen, Carlos Alazraqui, Jessica DiCicco, Bill Fagerbakke, Janice Kawaye, Tom Kenny, Rob Paulsen, Frank Welker, Caz Inghram, Janet Varney, Jacqueline Grace Lopez, Davis Pak, and Abby Trott in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 (2023)
    Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2
    6.6
    Video Game
    • based on characters created by
    • 2023
  • Clancy Brown, Tom Kenny, Mr. Lawrence, and Dana Snyder in SpongeBob SquarePants Presents the Tidal Zone (2023)
    SpongeBob SquarePants Presents the Tidal Zone
    5.0
    TV Special
    • created by (creator)
    • 2023
  • Death Battle (2010)
    Death Battle
    7.5
    TV Series
    • Spongebob Squarepants created by
    • 2022
  • Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway (2022)
    Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway
    6.2
    Video Game
    • based on characters created by
    • 2022
  • Noah Heyworth, Sab Nino, Ariana Diaz Caneja, Alexander L. Dyson, Otis Schalin, and Tiff in The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie: Rehydrated (2022)
    The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie: Rehydrated
    7.8
    Video
    • characters
    • story
    • written by
    • 2022
  • Cam Clarke, Bill Fagerbakke, David Kaufman, David Kaye, Tom Kenny, and Bentley Griffin in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl (2021)
    Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl
    5.3
    Video Game
    • created by: SpongeBob SquarePants
    • 2021
  • Bill Fagerbakke and Tom Kenny in The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (2020)
    The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run
    5.9
    • based on the television series "SpongeBob SquarePants" created by
    • 2020
  • Bill Fagerbakke, Tom Kenny, and Carolyn Lawrence in SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated (2020)
    SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated
    7.0
    Video Game
    • characters
    • 2020
  • The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage! (2019)
    The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage!
    7.5
    TV Movie
    • based on the original series created by
    • 2019
  • SpongeBob Band Geeks Reanimated Collab (2019)
    SpongeBob Band Geeks Reanimated Collab
    8.8
    Short
    • creator
    • 2019

Producer



  • Paige Prater: Girl Power!
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 2025–2027
  • Paige Prater: Paige's Palace Pals
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 2026–2028
  • Paige and Paris
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 2026–2028



  • Clancy Brown, Lori Alan, Rodger Bumpass, Mary Jo Catlett, Bill Fagerbakke, Tom Kenny, Carolyn Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence, and Jill Talley in SpongeBob SquarePants (1999)
    SpongeBob SquarePants
    8.2
    TV Series
    • executive producer
    • 1999–2024
  • Clancy Brown, Lori Alan, Rodger Bumpass, Mary Jo Catlett, Bill Fagerbakke, Tom Kenny, Carolyn Lawrence, and Mr. Lawrence in Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years (2021)
    Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years
    3.6
    TV Series
    • executive producer
    • 2021–2024
  • Clancy Brown, Tom Kenny, Mr. Lawrence, and Dana Snyder in SpongeBob SquarePants Presents the Tidal Zone (2023)
    SpongeBob SquarePants Presents the Tidal Zone
    5.0
    TV Special
    • executive producer (segments "The Switch Glitch", "Welcome to Binary Bottom", "You're Going to Pay...Phone")
    • 2023
  • Bill Fagerbakke and Tom Kenny in The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (2020)
    The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run
    5.9
    • executive producer
    • 2020
  • Sparkletasia! (2017)
    Sparkletasia!
    TV Series
    • executive producer
    • 2017–2019
  • Paigie Prater
    TV Series
    • executive producer
    • 2017–2022
  • Agent Bluey Heeler and the Secret Museum (2017)
    Agent Bluey Heeler and the Secret Museum
    TV Series
    • executive producer
    • 2017–2025
  • Paige Prater: Making Friends in New York
    TV Series
    • executive producer
    • 2017–2024
  • The Powerpuff Girls Sleepover! (2016)
    The Powerpuff Girls Sleepover!
    TV Series
    • executive producer
    • 2016–2017
  • Paigie Prater: Color Power! (2016)
    Paigie Prater: Color Power!
    TV Series
    • executive producer
    • 2016–2019
  • Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Tom Kenny, and Carolyn Lawrence in The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015)
    The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water
    6.0
    • executive producer
    • 2015
  • Max & Friends
    TV Series
    • executive producer
    • 2013–2015
  • Blossom Blisstina's New York Adventures
    TV Series
    • executive producer
    • 2013–2018
  • Paris & Paigie
    TV Series
    • executive producer
    • 2011–2026
  • Paigie Prater: Friendship Grows Strong (2010)
    Paigie Prater: Friendship Grows Strong
    TV Series
    • executive producer
    • 2010–2025

Animation Department



  • Clancy Brown, Lori Alan, Rodger Bumpass, Mary Jo Catlett, Bill Fagerbakke, Tom Kenny, Carolyn Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence, and Jill Talley in SpongeBob SquarePants (1999)
    SpongeBob SquarePants
    8.2
    TV Series
    • original character designer
    • animator
    • 1999–2024
  • Clancy Brown, Lori Alan, Rodger Bumpass, Mary Jo Catlett, Bill Fagerbakke, Tom Kenny, Carolyn Lawrence, and Mr. Lawrence in Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years (2021)
    Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years
    3.6
    TV Series
    • original character designer
    • 2021–2024
  • Welcome to Bikini Bottom, Mexiguin! (2020)
    Welcome to Bikini Bottom, Mexiguin!
    TV Special
    • original character designer
    • 2020
  • Hollywood Blvd, USA (2014)
    Hollywood Blvd, USA
    7.0
    Short
    • animator
    • 2014
  • Bill Fagerbakke, Tom Kenny, and Mr. Lawrence in SpongeBob SquarePants: Spongicus (2009)
    SpongeBob SquarePants: Spongicus
    7.2
    Video
    • original character designer
    • 2009
  • Wormholes (1992)
    Wormholes
    7.7
    Short
    • animator
    • 1992
  • The Green Beret (1992)
    The Green Beret
    6.1
    Short
    • animator
    • 1992
  • Animation Diary (1992)
    Animation Diary
    Short
    • animator
    • 1992

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative names
    • Stephen Hilleburg
  • Height
    • 5′ 8″ (1.73 m)
  • Born
    • August 21, 1961
    • Fort Sill, Oklahoma, USA
  • Died
    • November 26, 2018
    • San Marino, California, USA(ALS also known as Lou Gehrig's disease and leukemia)
  • Spouse
    • Karen Hillenburg1998 - November 26, 2018 (his death, 1 child)
  • Parents
      Nancy Dufour
  • Publicity listings
    • 3 Articles
    • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    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.
  • Quotes
    "There is something kind of unique about [SpongeBob]. It seems to be a refreshing breath from the pre-irony era. There's no sense of the elbow-in-rib, tongue-in-cheek aesthetic that so permeates the rest of American culture -- including kids' shows like the Rugrats. I think what's subversive about it is it's so incredibly naive -- deliberately. Because there's nothing in it that's trying to be hip or cool or anything else, hipness can be grafted onto it." -- Robert Thompson, professor at the Center for the Study of Popular Television at Syracuse University, in the New York Times, July 21, 2002.
  • Trademark
      Creator of Spongebob Squarepants
  • Nickname
    • Steve

FAQ13

Powered by Alexa
  • When did Stephen Hillenburg die?
  • How did Stephen Hillenburg die?
  • How old was Stephen Hillenburg when he died?

Related news

Contribute to this page

Suggest an edit or add missing content
  • Learn more about contributing
Edit page

More to explore

Production art
List
IMDb Summer Watch Guide
Browse the guide

Editorial lists

Related lists created by IMDb editors
In Memoriam 2018: Stars We've Lost
updated 6 years ago • 384 images
Al Reinert
Production art
List
The Best New and Upcoming Horror
See our picks

User lists

Related lists from IMDb users
Create a list
Cartoon Creators
created 4 months ago • 37 people
Nick Park
The best producers
created 1 year ago • 23 people
Alex Hirsch
Best Writers
created 1 year ago • 24 people
Stan Lee at an event for Hulk (2003)
Deaths: November 26
created 7 years ago • 34 people
Director Bernardo Bertolucci celebrates his Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 19, 2013 in Hollywood, California.
The Spongebob Squarepants Movie 2004 (NY) premiere
created 5 years ago • 21 people
Tom Kenny in The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)
Eliza Finally Snaps (Son Of The Wild Thornberrys Pilot)
created 7 years ago • 22 people
Adam Sandler and Genndy Tartakovsky in Hotel Transylvania (2012)

User polls

Related polls from IMDb users
Little-Known Facts About SpongeBob Squarepants

Add demo reel with IMDbPro

Demo reel thumbnail
Make your IMDb page stand out by adding a demo reel
Upload your demo reel

Add demo reel with IMDbPro

Make your IMDb page stand out by adding a demo reel
Upload your demo reel
Demo reel thumbnail

How much have you rated?

Keep track of how much of Stephen Hillenburg’s work you have rated. Go to your list.
Production art
List
IMDb's Picks For Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
See the list

Recently viewed

Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
Get the IMDb app
Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
Follow IMDb on social
Get the IMDb app
For Android and iOS
Get the IMDb app
  • Help
  • Site Index
  • IMDbPro
  • Box Office Mojo
  • License IMDb Data
  • Press Room
  • Advertising
  • Jobs
  • Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your Ads Privacy Choices
IMDb, an Amazon company

© 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.