SpongeBob SquarePants, died Tuesday, his family announced. He was 59. Hey Arnold! creator Craig Bartlett paid tribute to Tucker in an Instagram post, which also included art from the Nickelodeon series. "A great friend, a master draftsman, a tireless practical joker, a brilliant storyteller, the first one I reached out to when I began 'Hey Arnold!' because he was the best board guy I had ever met," Bartlett wrote. "I’ll always remember him at his drawing board, arms blackened to the elbows with graphite, eraser shavings everywhere, bringing my characters to life," Bartlett continued. "A killer work ethic, passionately into it. I’m so lucky I got to work with him for so many years. He gave and gave. I miss him already, my heart is broken. Rest in power, Tuck Tucker."