Stephen Hawking Dead at 76

Physicist Stephen Hawking, famous for his scientific work, humor and determination, has died.

Hawking's family released a statement that he had died at his home in Cambridge early Wednesday morning. His children, Lucy, Tim and Robert said, "We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today."

They added, "He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years," and "We will miss him forever."

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson also shared his condolences, saying that Hawking's death has "left an intellectual vacuum."

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Hawking had a rare, early onset form of ALS, or motor neurone disease, that gradually left him paralyzed. He communicated using text-to-speech software.

He was world renowned for his work on relativity, and his theories on black hole, but also for his work in pop-culture. Hawking did voice-overs for "The Simpsons" and "Futurama," as well as a cameo on "The Big Bang Theory."

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Eddie Redmayne also won an Oscar for playing the physicist in "The Theory of Everything," based off a book written by Hawking's wife, Jane.

R.I.P.

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