The creator of SpongeBob SquarePants has died aged 57.

Stephen Hillenburg had been diagnosed with the degenerative motor-neuron disease (ALS) in March last year

In a statement to Variety, executives from the Nickelodeon network on which the much-loved cartoon airs said they were "incredibly saddened by the news that Steve Hillenburg has passed away following a battle with ALS".

"He was a beloved friend and long-time creative partner to everyone at Nickelodeon, and our hearts go out to his entire family. Steve imbued SpongeBob SquarePants with a unique sense of humour and innocence that has brought joy to generations of kids and families everywhere. His utterly original characters and the world of Bikini Bottom will long stand as a reminder of the value of optimism, friendship and the limitless power of imagination."

The creator of SpongeBob SquarePants Stephen Hillenburg has died aged 57.

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A former marine biology teacher, Hillenburg used his artistic skills to create the characters that would eventually become the denizens of Bikini Bottom as teaching tools. After deciding to pursue an animation career, he became a director and writer on Nickelodeon's mid-1990s series Rocko's Modern Life.

The first episode of his next project SpongeBob SquarePants debuted in May 1999. Since then more than 250 episodes have screened with the show proving popular with both children and university age students.

The series has won both US and British Emmy Awards and has been dubbed or subtitled in more than 60 languages, including Urdu, Azerbaijani and Maori.

Hillenburg also wrote, produced, and directed 2004's The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie and wrote and executive produced its 2015 sequel The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water.

He is survived by his wife of 20 years Karen Hillenburg, son Clay, mother Nancy Hillenburg(nee Dufour) and brother Brian Kelly Hillenburg, his wife Isabel, and nieces Emma and Hazel.