Despite being wheelchair-bound from an early age and only being famously able to communicate using a voice synthesizer, Hawking managed to go on to excel in his field and his theories made him probably the world's most famous scientist since Albert Einstein.

In loving memory of Stephen Hawking. It was an honor to have him on The #BigBangTheory. Thank you for inspiring us and the world. pic.twitter.com/9rWoYqIToy

— The Big Bang Theory (@bigbangtheory) March 14, 2018

Professor Stephen Hawking, who was Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology within the University of Cambridge, was the first to set out a theory of cosmology explained by a union of the general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics.
The English scientist's most famous works included a mathematical model for Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, as well theories about The Big Bang and Black Holes.
He was the first scientist to set out a theory of cosmology as a union of relativity and quantum mechanics.
While he also discovered that black holes leak energy and fade to nothing, which is known today as 'Hawking Radiation'.

His three children Robert, Tim and Lucy said in a statement: '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.
"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 forever."
His three children went on to praise his "courage and persistence" and his "brilliance and humour".
Hailed as one of the greatest minds, Hawking's most famous book 'A Brief History of Time' sold more than 10 million copies.
His wife Janet's book 'Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen' inspired the movie made about his early life, 'The Theory of Everything', back in 2014.
Such was his popularity that he appeared in 'The Simpsons', 'The Big Bang Theory', and 'Star Trek'.
RIP.