06 / Culture
Stephen Hawking in Popular Culture
The Oscar-winning biopic, the unmistakable synthesised voice, and the cameos that made him the world's most famous scientist.
No scientist since Einstein has been as recognisable to the general public as Stephen Hawking. His synthesised voice, his cameos on hit television shows, and the Oscar-winning film of his life made him a genuine cultural figure, a rare bridge between the laboratory and the living room. He understood the value of that reach, and used it to bring science to audiences who would never open a textbook.
These pages look at how the wider world met him: the acclaimed biopic The Theory of Everything and Eddie Redmayne's award-winning performance; his many television and film appearances, from Star Trek to The Simpsons to The Big Bang Theory; the story of the voice, the 1980s speech synthesiser he refused to give up because it had become part of who he was; and the documentaries and series in which he explained the cosmos himself.
For the real life behind the cultural image, see his biography; for the science the cameos rarely had time for, the discoveries.
See also his notable speeches and lectures.
Browse the full media library of his films, series and documentaries.
New: a watcher's guide to the major Hawking films and series at where to watch Stephen Hawking on film.
The Theory of Everything (2014)
The Oscar-winning biopic of Stephen and Jane Hawking, Eddie Redmayne's transformative performance, and how closely the film matched the truth.
Read →Stephen Hawking on Film: Where to Watch the Documentaries and Dramas
A guide to the four essential Stephen Hawking films and series. What each one covers, who it's for, and where to watch or buy on Amazon.
Read →TV & Film Appearances
Star Trek, The Simpsons, Futurama, The Big Bang Theory: the cameos and pop-culture appearances that made Stephen Hawking the world's most recognisable scientist.
Read →The Voice
How Stephen Hawking's iconic speech synthesiser worked, why he selected each word with a single cheek muscle, and why he kept a 1980s American-accented voice to the very end.
Read →Documentaries & Series
From Errol Morris's film of A Brief History of Time to Into the Universe and Genius: the documentaries and series that let Stephen Hawking explain the cosmos himself.
Read →Books & Films About Stephen Hawking
Beyond his own writing, Hawking has been the subject of memoirs, biographies and films. A guide to the best books and films about Stephen Hawking, including the one behind The Theory of Everything.
Read →The Science of Interstellar & Hawking's World on Screen
Interstellar brought real black hole physics to the cinema, designed by Hawking's friend and collaborator Kip Thorne. How the film dramatises the science that defined Hawking's career.
Read →Stephen Hawking's Notable Speeches & Lectures
From his BBC Reith Lectures on black holes to his TED talk on the origin of the universe, a guide to Stephen Hawking's most notable public lectures and what each one covered.
Read →Stephen Hawking Media Library: Films, TV & Documentaries
A guide to the films, television series and documentaries featuring Stephen Hawking, from Errol Morris's A Brief History of Time to The Theory of Everything, with what each one covers.
Read →A Brief History of Time (1991): Errol Morris's Documentary
Errol Morris's acclaimed 1991 documentary turns Stephen Hawking's bestselling book into one of the great science films. A guide to what it covers, where to watch it, and why it endures.
Read →Hawking (2004): the BBC Drama with Benedict Cumberbatch
Before The Theory of Everything there was Hawking, the 2004 BBC television film that gave Benedict Cumberbatch his breakout role. A guide to the drama and where to watch it.
Read →Stephen Hawking's Universe (2010): the Discovery Series
A guide to Stephen Hawking's landmark 2010 Discovery series, Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking, narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch. Three feature-length episodes on aliens, time travel and the story of everything.
Read →Stephen Hawking's Grand Design (2012): the Discovery Series
A guide to Stephen Hawking's Grand Design, the 2012 Discovery series in which Hawking takes on the biggest questions: did God create the universe, why does it exist, what is the meaning of life. Where to watch.
Read →Genius by Stephen Hawking (2016): the PBS Series
A guide to Genius by Stephen Hawking, the 2016 PBS / National Geographic series in which Hawking set ordinary volunteers experimental challenges to think their way to scientific breakthroughs. His final major TV project. Where to watch.
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