Susan Grode Courtesy Susan Grode, a pioneering attorney who specialized in animation and fine art with clients including The Simpsons creator Matt Groening and SpongeBob SquarePants creator Stephen Hillenburg, died this week of natural causes in Los Angeles. She was 86. Related Stories Obituaries 2026 Deaths Photo Gallery: Hollywood & Media Obituaries Obituaries Remembering James Van Der Beek: A Career In Photos Grode pioneered contractual protections that remain standard today and represented some of the most influential creators in animation over the course of her decades-long career.