Stephen Hillenburg was a marine science teacher and animator from the United States. Stephen Hillenburg is best known as the creator of the “Nickelodeon” animated television series “SpongeBob SquarePants.” He was the show’s executive producer for the first three seasons. The show is now America’s longest-running animated series. Learn more about Stephen Hillenburg’s Net Worth, Bio, Age, Wife, Height, Nationality, Ethnicity, and Career.
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Stephen Hillenburg |
|---|---|
| Born Date: | 21 Aug 1961 |
| Age: | 59 years |
| Horoscope: | Leo |
| Lucky Number: | 10 |
| Lucky Stone: | Ruby |
| Lucky Color: | Gold |
| Best Match for Marriage: | Sagittarius, Gemini, Aries |
| Death Date: | November 26, 2018 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Profession: | Animator, Marine Biologist, Storyboard Artist, producer, director, painter |
| Country: | America |
| Wife | Karen Umland |
| Net Worth | $120 million |
| Eye Color | blue eyes |
| Hair Color | brown hair |
| Birth Place | Lawton, Oklahoma |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christian |
| Education | Humboldt State University |
| Father | Kelly N. Hillenburg Jr. |
| Mother | Nancy Dufour |
| Siblings | Bryan Hillenburg |
| Kids | Clay |
| IMDB | Stephen Hillenburg IMDB |
| Wiki | Stephen Hillenburg Wiki |
Stephen Hillenburg Age & Early Life
Stephen McDannell Hillenburg, better known as Stephen Hillenburg, was born on August 21, 1961, in Lawton, Oklahoma, USA. His zodiac sign is Leo. He was the eldest child of Kelly N. Hillenburg Jr. and Nancy Dufour. Kelly, Stephen’s father, left the military after Stephen was born to work as a draftsman and designer for an aerospace company. His mother, Nancy, was a teacher of visually impaired students. The family later moved to California from Lawton, Oklahoma.
He also grew up with his brother, Bryan Hillenburg. Bryan, his brother, followed in his father’s footsteps and became an aircraft designer. Since he was a teen, Stephen has been fascinated by the underwater world. He became interested in marine life after watching a film by French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau. He later stated that Cousteau’s film introduced him to an underwater world that he had never known existed prior to watching the oceanographer’s film.
Stephen Hillenburg Education
When it comes to Stephen’s education, he attended ‘Savanna High School.’ He had developed an interest in art while there. His maternal grandmother, who was a talented painter, inspired him to pursue art. He used to listen to music while studying in school. In addition, he studied marine science at ‘Humboldt State University in California. He also studied art in college, preparing himself for a career in art and marine science.
Stephen Hillenburg Height & Weight
How tall was Stephen Hillenburg? Stephen stood 5 feet 8 inches tall. His eyes are blue, and his hair is brown. Aside from that, there is no information about his weight or other body measurements.
Stephen Hillenburg Professional Life
In terms of his professional career, he created his first animated works, short films “The Green Beret” and “Wormholes,” at CalArts in 1992. The film “The Green Beret” tells the story of a Girl Scout with enormous fists who sells cookies and crushes all the houses with a single knock on the door. Stephen’s graduation thesis on the theory of relativity, “Wormholes,” earned him a Princess Grace Foundation Graduate Film Scholarship.
His first professional job in the animation industry was on the Nickelodeon animated series “Rocko’s Modern Life,” which aired from 1993 to 1996. At the Ottawa International Animation Festival in 1992, he met the show’s producer, Joe Murray. Wormholes and Murray’s “My Dog Zero” both competed here. Furthermore, after seeing Stephen’s project, Joe offered to collaborate. As a result, Stephen was promoted to the position of manager.
Stephen’s cartoon ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ was one of his most influential works. In 1986, he had the idea for the show while working at the Orange Country Marine Institute. The first episode of the “SpongeBob SquarePants” cartoon aired on Nickelodeon on May 1, 1999, and the final episode aired on July 17, 1999. In its first month on the air, the animated series surpassed ‘Pokemon’ to become the highest-rated Saturday morning children’s series. By the end of 2001, the show had the highest ratings for a children’s television series.
In 2004, he released a full-length animated film titled “SpongeBob SquarePants.” The film grossed $ 120 million. Again, in 2014, he released the second full-length film, ‘SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water.’ The film grossed $ 323.4 million, making it the second-highest-grossing film after ‘The Simpsons Movie (2007).
Stephen Hillenburg Net Worth
How rich was Stephen Hillenburg? He has amassed a sizable fortune in his professional career as an animator, Marine Biologist, producer, and director. At the time of his death, Stephen Hillenburg’s net worth was estimated to be around $120 million US dollars.
Stephen Hillenburg Wife & Marriage
Stephen was married to Karen Umland. She is a chef from Southern California who teaches at the New School of Cooking in Culver City. Clay Hillenburg, the couple’s first and only child, was born in 1998. Stephen was never involved in any kind of controversy or rumor till his death.
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