Stephen Hillenburg

Stephen McDannell Hillenburg is an American marine biologist, animator, director, producer, writer, cartoonist, and voice actor. Although associated with several animated television series, he is best known for creating the Nickelodeon animated series SpongeBob SquarePants. Born in Lawton, Oklahoma, Hillenburg grew up in Anaheim, California and attended Humboldt State University, earning a bachelor's degree in marine resource planning and interpretation in 1984. After graduating from college, Hillenburg taught marine biology at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point.