Stephen Hillenburg
Artist
Stephen McDannell Hillenburg (August 21, 1961 - November 26, 2018; aged 57) was an American teacher of marine science, artist, and the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants. He developed the idea for the series while working at the Ocean Institute in California. The character of SpongeBob was based on an educational book he had illustrated called The Intertidal Zone, and the character of Pearl was inspired by his time as a supervisor of whale watches at the Ocean Institute. He named Karen Plankton after his wife, Karen Hillenburg.
He was the showrunner from 1999 until 2004, when the first movie was completed. He was the original voice of Potty the Parrot before the role was passed onto Paul Tibbitt and Mr. Lawrence. He continued to be credited as the executive producer for seasons four to twelve, but his role was much less involved; he received this credit for every episode, regardless of whether or not he contributed at all, making it a "vanity credit" rather than an actual one.
Subject ID: 83612
MoreStephen McDannell Hillenburg (August 21, 1961 - November 26, 2018; aged 57) was an American teacher of marine science, artist, and the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants. He developed the idea for the series while working at the Ocean Institute in California. The character of SpongeBob was based on an educational book he had illustrated called The Intertidal Zone, and the character of Pearl was inspired by his time as a supervisor of whale watches at the Ocean Institute. He named Karen Plankton after his wife, Karen Hillenburg.
He was the showrunner from 1999 until 2004, when the first movie was completed. He was the original voice of Potty the Parrot before the role was passed onto Paul Tibbitt and Mr. Lawrence. He continued to be credited as the executive producer for seasons four to twelve, but his role was much less involved; he received this credit for every episode, regardless of whether or not he contributed at all, making it a "vanity credit" rather than an actual one.
It was announced he was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) on March 13, 2017. His deteriorating health made it difficult for him to speak or offer input on the series. According to Vincent Waller, Hillenburg stopped coming to Nickelodeon Animation Studio in August 2018, three months before his passing. Hillenburg passed away on November 26, 2018, due to complications from ALS. He was cremated and his ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean the following day.
Subject ID: 83612
Subject ID: 83612
Curators
Master Variant
Master Subvariant
Model Cars
<p>This 1/62 scale Matchbox model was first released in 1997 and given the MAN number MB302. It was retired after 2013, but was later retooled and reintroduced to the Matchbox line in 2023. The revised casting has many differences from the original, including a smoothed out hood bulge, a new grill and headlights as part of the interior piece, and the bumpers being part of the plastic baseplate instead of the metal body. Despite the changes, it retained the MB302 designation and thus is still considered a Variant of the original casting.</p>
Estimated Value
Master Variant
Master Subvariant
Model Cars
Estimated Value
- Type: Model Cars
- Brand: Matchbox
- Scale: 1/64
- Production Status: Standard
- Released: 2005 null BC/BCE
- Related Subjects: Chevrolet , Stephen Hillenburg
This 1/62 scale Matchbox model was first released in 1997 and given the MAN number MB302. It was retired after 2013, but was later retooled and reintroduced to the Matchbox line in 2023. The revised casting has many differences from the original, including a smoothed out hood bulge, a new grill and headlights as part of the interior piece, and the bumpers being part of the plastic baseplate instead of the metal body. Despite the changes, it retained the MB302 designation and thus is still considered a Variant of the original casting.
- Brand: Matchbox
- Scale: 1/64
- Production Status: Standard
- Released: 2005 null BC/BCE
- Related Subjects: Chevrolet , Stephen Hillenburg
Master Variant
Master Subvariant
Model Cars
<p>This 1/62 scale Matchbox model was first released in 1997 and given the MAN number MB302. It was retired after 2013, but was later retooled and reintroduced to the Matchbox line in 2023. The revised casting has many differences from the original, including a smoothed out hood bulge, a new grill and headlights as part of the interior piece, and the bumpers being part of the plastic baseplate instead of the metal body. Despite the changes, it retained the MB302 designation and thus is still considered a Variant of the original casting.</p>
Estimated Value
Master Variant
Master Subvariant
Model Cars
Estimated Value
- Type: Model Cars
- Brand: Matchbox
- Scale: 1/64
- Production Status: Standard
- Released: 2005 null BC/BCE
- Related Subjects: Chevrolet , Stephen Hillenburg
This 1/62 scale Matchbox model was first released in 1997 and given the MAN number MB302. It was retired after 2013, but was later retooled and reintroduced to the Matchbox line in 2023. The revised casting has many differences from the original, including a smoothed out hood bulge, a new grill and headlights as part of the interior piece, and the bumpers being part of the plastic baseplate instead of the metal body. Despite the changes, it retained the MB302 designation and thus is still considered a Variant of the original casting.
- Brand: Matchbox
- Scale: 1/64
- Production Status: Standard
- Released: 2005 null BC/BCE
- Related Subjects: Chevrolet , Stephen Hillenburg
Master Variant
Master Subvariant
Model Cars
<p>This 1/62 scale Matchbox model was first released in 1997 and given the MAN number MB302. It was retired after 2013, but was later retooled and reintroduced to the Matchbox line in 2023. The revised casting has many differences from the original, including a smoothed out hood bulge, a new grill and headlights as part of the interior piece, and the bumpers being part of the plastic baseplate instead of the metal body. Despite the changes, it retained the MB302 designation and thus is still considered a Variant of the original casting.</p>
Estimated Value
Master Variant
Master Subvariant
Model Cars
Estimated Value
- Type: Model Cars
- Brand: Matchbox
- Scale: 1/64
- Production Status: Standard
- Released: 2005 null BC/BCE
- Related Subjects: Chevrolet , Looney Tunes , Stephen Hillenburg
This 1/62 scale Matchbox model was first released in 1997 and given the MAN number MB302. It was retired after 2013, but was later retooled and reintroduced to the Matchbox line in 2023. The revised casting has many differences from the original, including a smoothed out hood bulge, a new grill and headlights as part of the interior piece, and the bumpers being part of the plastic baseplate instead of the metal body. Despite the changes, it retained the MB302 designation and thus is still considered a Variant of the original casting.
- Brand: Matchbox
- Scale: 1/64
- Production Status: Standard
- Released: 2005 null BC/BCE
- Related Subjects: Chevrolet , Looney Tunes , Stephen Hillenburg
Master Variant
Master Subvariant
Model Vehicle Sets
<p>5 pack exclusive 1969 Camaro SS 396 in Black, SpongeBob SquarePants on Fender, Characters on sides with small stars and pink seaweed at bottom of quarter panel.</p>
Estimated Value
Master Variant
Master Subvariant
Model Vehicle Sets
Estimated Value
- Type: Model Vehicle Sets
- Brand: Matchbox
- Series: 5-Packs , Nickelodeon
- Scale: 1/64
- Production Status: Limited Edition
- Released: 2008 null BC/BCE
- Related Subjects: Nickelodeon , SpongeBob SquarePants , Stephen Hillenburg
5 pack exclusive 1969 Camaro SS 396 in Black, SpongeBob SquarePants on Fender, Characters on sides with small stars and pink seaweed at bottom of quarter panel.
- Brand: Matchbox
- Series: 5-Packs , Nickelodeon
- Scale: 1/64
- Production Status: Limited Edition
- Released: 2008 null BC/BCE
- Related Subjects: Nickelodeon , SpongeBob SquarePants , Stephen Hillenburg
