Sad Diagnosis for Creator of SpongeBob

Stephen Hillenburg has ALS

By Newser Editors, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 14, 2017 2:03 AM CDT

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SpongeBob Creator Has ALS — This image released by Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies shows characters, from left, Squidward Tentacles, SpongeBob SquarePants, Sandy Cheeks, and Mr. Krabs in a scene from "The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water." (AP Photo/Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies)

The man who dreamed up SpongeBob SquarePants announced a tough diagnosis on Monday: Stephen Hillenburg has ALS. The 55-year-old is in the early stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the neurodegenerative disease often referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease, reports Variety. "Anyone who knows me knows that I will continue to work on 'SpongeBob SquarePants' and my other passions for as long as I am able," he said in a statement. He is currently an executive producer of the Nickelodeon juggernaut, which has been on the air since 1999 and has been renewed for a 10th and 11th season. A third feature film is in the works for 2019, notes the Hollywood Reporter. (Read more SpongeBob stories.)