Peter Bennett obit

Peter Bennett dead at 57 as SpongeBob SquarePants legend mourned by co-workers and cry 'I'll miss you'

He was not on the list.

SpongeBob SquarePants artist Peter Bennett has died aged 57.

The legendary background painter worked on the hit Nickelodeon TV show over 182 episodes between 1999 and 2014. He also worked on the hugely popular movies. He passed away on Friday, May 17, his heartbroken co-workers confirmed on Instagram.

Leading tributes on social media, SpongeBob writer Kenny Pittenger penned the first message, writing: "We lost a long-time friend & coworker last night. Peter Bennett was the Art Director on SpongeBob for many years and a heck of a ping-pong player."

They added: "This is one of his paintings. He will be missed." Another co-star, SpongeBob background artist Amy Lewis wrote on X, formally Twitter: "In memory of our long time Art Director on SpongeBob Squarepants, Peter Bennett Wonderful paintings by Peter. What a huge loss. I'm just so grateful to have had the privilege to work with him. I'll never forget the day I met him. Rest in peace, Peter."

He was born in San Pedro, California on July 19, 1967, and made his big break working on SpongeBob SquarePants for almost 200 episodes. He was also the hand actor for the character Hans after the episode "Suds", Tom Kenny provides Hans' voice.

Peter didn't just work as a background artist, serving as the main art director for 161 episodes between 2005 and 2021, known for his acrylic paintings in close-up shots. He worked on the first two SpongeBob movies, as well as the spin-offs Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years and The Patrick Star Show, he contributed to comics, Nautical Nonsense: A Tribute to SpongeBob SquarePants, and San Diego Comic-Con 2016.

Family, fans, friends and colleagues have flocked to social media to pay their tributes too, with one saying: "Peter was my brother in law and he will be missed by many. Keep his wife and daughters in your thoughts." Somone else commented on Instagram: "Oh no. That is hard news. Peter was quite the talented man. I had the honor of working with him on one of the Sponge Bob movies. He will surely be missed."

Another friend wrote: "Heartbreaking so sorry to hear this, man. He volunteered to give painting classes when I was at Nick to teach a bunch of us aspiring painters. Really generous guy I never met him but I did enjoy SpongeBob from back in the day... He'll be truly missed. While a show fan said: "Sad news, Kenny. Peter fought the good fight. He was soft spoken and an incredible painter. A true artist. May his memory be eternal."

"So sad to hear of Peter's passing, Kenny. Hugs to you and the crew," wrote someone else. Another added: "Devastating. Pete was one of the best I ever had the pleasure of knowing. My heart goes out to his family and SpongeBob crew." Someone else said: "I'm so sorry to hear this! Peter was a very talented artist, and the nicest guy you could ever want to meet. He will live on through his amazing contributions to the SpongeBob universe, and all his own works which embody that same surreal, playful spirit."

 

Art Director

Clancy Brown, Mary Jo Catlett, Bill Fagerbakke, Tom Kenny, Mr. Lawrence, and Jill Talley in SpongeBob SquarePants (1999)

SpongeBob SquarePants

8.2

TV Series

Art Director

2005–2023

205 episodes

 

Bill Fagerbakke in The Patrick Star Show (2021)

The Patrick Star Show

3.5

TV Series

Art Director

2021–2023

17 episodes

 

Clancy Brown, Tom Kenny, Mr. Lawrence, and Dana Snyder in SpongeBob SquarePants Presents the Tidal Zone (2023)

SpongeBob SquarePants Presents the Tidal Zone

4.9

TV Special

Art Director

2023

 

Clancy Brown, Lori Alan, Dee Bradley Baker, Rodger Bumpass, Mary Jo Catlett, Bill Fagerbakke, Tom Kenny, Carolyn Lawrence, and Mr. Lawrence in Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years (2021)

Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years

3.6

TV Series

Art Director

2021

13 episodes

 

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015)

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water

6.0

art director: Animation Unit

2015

 

Bill Fagerbakke, Tom Kenny, and Mr. Lawrence in SpongeBob SquarePants: Spongicus (2009)

SpongeBob SquarePants: Spongicus

7.2

Video

Art Director

2009

 

Animation Department

Clancy Brown, Mary Jo Catlett, Bill Fagerbakke, Tom Kenny, Mr. Lawrence, and Jill Talley in SpongeBob SquarePants (1999)

SpongeBob SquarePants

8.2

TV Series

background painter

assistant animator

1999–2014

183 episodes

 

Bill Fagerbakke, Tom Kenny, and Mr. Lawrence in SpongeBob SquarePants: Spongicus (2009)

SpongeBob SquarePants: Spongicus

7.2

Video

background painter

2009

 

Alec Baldwin, Clancy Brown, Jeffrey Tambor, Tom Wilson, Dee Bradley Baker, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Kenny, Carolyn Lawrence, and Mr. Lawrence in The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie

7.2

background painter

2004

 

ChalkZone (1998)

ChalkZone

6.5

TV Series

background painter

2003–2004

17 episodes