And this weekend in theaters, we're getting a new look at Hawking's long and fascinating life.
A young british actor who co-starred in "Les Miserables" is winning big praise for his role in this new movie, "Theory of Everything" to be released in just a couple of theaters in New York City Friday.
Eddie Redmayne said he worried every day that he wouldn't be up to the task, but now there's talk of an Oscar nomination for his performance.
Filmmakers showed Hawking an early rough cut version of the film, and he was so impressed that he allowed them the use of his famous computerized voice in the finished movie. No one is allowed to use it without permission.
Check out Sandy Kenyon's review.