Stephen Hawking has died at age 76, his family confirmed.
Professor Hawking’s children, Lucy, Robert and Tim confirmed that their father died at his home in Cambridge.
They said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today.
“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 forever.”
Hawking was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 1963 and was given two years to live before becoming one of the world’s most celebrated and successful physicists since Albert Einstein.
Hawking was the subject of the 2014 film The Theory Of Everything, starring Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones.
He also guest starred in popular TV series The Big Bang Theory.