Stephen hillenburg net worth

Remembering Stephen Hillenburg, Creator of SpongeBob SquarePants

PERHAPS THERE’S NO MORE ICONIC UNDERSEA LIFE than a simple, yellow lifeform named SpongeBob SquarePants.

This animated character, born of HSU alumnus Stephen Hillenburg’s love for art and the ocean, is a worldwide phenomenon and an inspiration for generations of kids and adults.

Stephen died of Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as ALS, in 2018 at age 57, but his creations and his commitment to education live on.

He was born in Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma and later moved to Southern California. He graduated from HSU with a degree in Natural Resources Planning and Interpretation in 1984, but midway through his education he realized he was drawn to art even more than the sciences. His fascination with tide pools and the natural world, combined with a unique sense of humor, led to the creation of SpongeBob SquarePants in 1999.

Stephen never expected the quirky fry cook who lives in a pineapple in the Pacific Ocean to generate such an adoring and massive fan-base. In 2006, he told the Humboldt Stater: “I never dream

Stephen Hillenburg

Stephen Hillenburg

Hillenburg in 2011

Born

Stephen McDannell Hillenburg


(1961-08-21)August 21, 1961

Lawton, Oklahoma, U.S.

DiedNovember 26, 2018(2018-11-26) (aged 57)

San Marino, California, U.S.

Cause of deathHeart failure complicated by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Other namesSteve Hillenburg
Alma materHumboldt State University
Occupation(s)Marine biologist, scientist, teacher, animator, television director, television producer, writer
Years active1991–2018
Known forRocko's Modern Life,
SpongeBob SquarePants,
The Intertidal Zone,
Pencilmation
SpouseKaren Hillenburg

Stephen Hillenburg[1] (August 21, 1961 – November 26, 2018) was an Americanmarine biologist, animator, writer, producer, actor, voice actor, and director. He was best known for creating the Nickelodeonanimated seriesSpongeBob SquarePants.

Hillenburg was born in Lawton, Oklahoma at a United States Army base. He was raised in Anaheim, California. He studied at Humboldt St

Stephen Hillenburg was born August 21, 1961, in Fort Sill, Okla. He is a marine biologist, a CalArts graduate (Film/Video MFA 1992), and is best known as the creator of Nickelodeon's "SpongeBob SquarePants."

After graduating from Savanna High School, Hillenburg enrolled in Humboldt State University and graduated in 1984 with a degree in natural-resource planning and interpretation, with an emphasis in marine resources.

In 1992, he earned a Master of Fine Arts in experimental animation degree from the California Institute of the Arts.

Career

He was a marine biology teacher at what is now the Orange County Ocean Institute. He worked as a marine biologist from 1984-1987. In 1987 Hillenburg decided to pursue a career in animation, his second lifelong passion. He made several short films, two of which were awarded and played in animation film festivals internationally. His two short films The Green Beret (1991) (which was featured in an episode of "Liquid Television"; MTV misspelled his name "Hillenberg" in the credits) and "Wormholes" (1992) be

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