'SpongeBob Squarepants' Creator Stephen Hillenburg Diagnosed With ALS

Stephen Hillenburg, creator of SpongeBob SquarePants, announced he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the neurodegenerative disease more commonly known as ALS. The 56-year-old animator shared the news in a statement to Variety, explaining that he will continue working on the show.

“I wanted people to hear directly from me that I have been diagnosed with ALS.,” Hillenburg states. “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. My family and I are grateful for the outpouring of love and support. We ask that our sincere request for privacy be honored during this time.”