Renowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking died on Wednesday at the age of 76. He is survived by three children — Robert, Lucy and Timothy — from his first marriage to Jane Wilde, and three grandchildren.
“We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today. He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years. His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world. He once said, ‘It would not be much of a universe if it wasn’t home to the people you love.’ We will miss him for ever,” Hawking’s children said in a statement.
Diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) at the age of 21, this wheelchair-bound genius with computer-synthesised voice had captured the popular imagination and became a cultural icon especially after the publication of his book A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes. The scientist has appeared on television shows, stage programmes, music pieces and has had numerous pop-culture references.
The hero of Sheldon (Jim Parsons), Leonard (Johnny Galecki), Raj (Kunal Nayyar) and Howard (Simon), Hawking’s computerised voice is a running gag in the show. The scientist showed his humourous side when he appeared on The Big Bang Theory with Jim Parsons. Incidentally, Hawking was a big fan of Star Trek fan and it was Leonard Nimoy (famous for playing the role of Captain Spock) who introduced him during the screening of the documentary film A Brief History of Time.
He has lent his voice to four episodes of the cult show The Simpsons, and also for Futurama. American comedy The Family Guy, either features him or has often made references to him.
The legendary British progressive-psychedelic rock band, Pink Floyd used Hawking’s voice sample from a British television advert ain their song, ‘Keep Talking’ from the album, The Division Bell (1994). Hawking’s voice also appeared on the instrumental track ‘Talkin’ Hawkin’ from their album, The Endless River (2014).
The 2014 movie The Theory of Everything was based on the early life of Stephen Hawking and his days with his former wife Jane Hawking. It was based on the memoir Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen by Jane Hawking. The film stars British actor Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking, a role for which he was awarded the Best Actor at the 87th Academy Awards.
The American late-night show The Last Week Tonight with John Oliver had once in 2014 featured a seven-minute interview with Stephen Hawking where both the host and the guest took potshots at each other. In the Late Night with Kevin O’Brien Show, Stephen Hawking was a part of their written skit, where he prank calls the episode’s guest actor Jim Carrey.
Celebrities took to Twitter to remember the scientist:
As we near Pi day (3.14) I join the global community in mourning the loss of the greatest physicist of our era. #StephenHawking is free from the physical constraints of this earthly condition we all exist in and he is soaring above us now marveling at it all. pic.twitter.com/o3V0TZrppj
— Mayim Bialik (@missmayim) March 14, 2018
there’s a big black hole in my heart hours before Pi day. Rest In Peace @Steven_Hawking… See you in the next ❤
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) March 14, 2018
His passing has left an intellectual vacuum in his wake. But it’s not empty. Think of it as a kind of vacuum energy permeating the fabric of spacetime that defies measure. Stephen Hawking, RIP 1942-2018. pic.twitter.com/nAanMySqkt
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) March 14, 2018
“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet” – RIP Stephen Hawking you fucking legend.
— Foo Fighters (@foofighters) March 14, 2018
People who boast about their IQ are losers – #StephenHawking #RIP
— Huma Qureshi (@humasqureshi) March 14, 2018
The great Stephen Hawking has passed on. He gave the world so much more than a brief history of time. R. I. P. Cosmic Super
star. pic.twitter.com/neM8PYwBq7— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) March 14, 2018
