Stephen Hawking Dead at 76: Celebrities Reacts to Famed Physicist’s Death
March 14, 2018
Celebrities who died before their time.
Stephen Hawking has passed away at the age of 76.
The world-renowned physicist, whose life was the focus of the 2014 film The Theory of Everything, died in his home early Tuesday, March 13, according to a statement from his family. He was surrounded by his children — Lucy, Robert, and Tim — as well as first wife Jane.
“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,” the statement from his kids read. “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.”
Since his passing, celebrities have been flooding social media with heartfelt tributes to one of the greatest minds known to mankind.Mmost notably Eddie Redmayne, who won an Oscar playing the A Brief History of Time author, and Benedict Cumberbatch, who played him in the 2004 TV movie Hawking, each released statements of their own honoring the cosmologist.
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“We have lost a truly beautiful mind, an astonishing scientist and the funniest man I have ever had the pleasure to meet. My love and thoughts are with his extraordinary family,” Eddie said in a statement.
“I feel so lucky to have known such a truly great man who’s profundity was found both in his work and the communication of that work. Both in person and in books,” Benedict’s statement read, explaining he was “so sad” to hear of the death. “He virtually created the publishing genre of popular science. A heroic feat to bring the wondrous complexities of the universe to all outside of specialists in this field. But truly courageous when considering it was achieved by a man who lived a life trapped in his body from the age of 21 when he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. His support of the sciences, art, education and the NHS and charities such as the MND foundation will also live on as will his wickedly funny sense of humor.”
See more celebrities reactions — including tributes from Katy Perry, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and the cast of The Big Bang Theory —below:
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Stephen Hawking’s historic breakthroughs in science advanced humanity’s understanding of the universe even as the extraordinarily courageous life he led inspired us all. He will be greatly missed and will never be forgotten.
— Al Gore (@algore) 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
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
Dear Stephen,Will Remember Our luncheon Forever. It was amazing🙌🏻.I Know we argued about The Value Of History (“Cher,when Time Travel Is perfected HISTORY Will Obsolete “) But as I Told you ”history Is like a friend,and “#’s are like🐓scratches to me😱 Dyslexia
RIP Dear ❤️— Cher (@cher) March 14, 2018
Just sitting here absolutely shattered about Stephen Hawking.
— Emmy Rossum (@emmyrossum) March 14, 2018
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RIP Stephen Hawking. Genuinely very sad to hear that. If you haven’t, read A Brief History of Time. It’ll make the world feel more amazing and beautiful and strange. It’ll also make you feel smart and stupid all at once.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) March 14, 2018
One of the greatest minds our species has ever produced is returned to the stars. It is a great loss to the scientific community. He was a hero to so many. Stephen Hawking, let us honor your work by respecting always the importance of scientific inquiry. https://t.co/BuNaEUrcer
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) March 14, 2018
May you ride some stardust to another dimension and watch over us. #RIP #StephenHawking https://t.co/d02l3aiyZW
— Elizabeth Banks (@ElizabethBanks) March 14, 2018