From Star Trek to The Big Bang Theory: A look at Stephen Hawking’s acting career

Stephen Hawking, who has died aged 76, was Britain's most famous modern day scientist, a genius who dedicated his life to unlocking the secrets of the Universe.

Born on January 8, 1942 - 300 years to the day after the death of the father of modern science, Galileo Galilei - he believed science was his destiny.

But while he loved science, he also loved entertaining, as a meeting with a fan who questioned him on One Direction's break-up discovered. Read more here

Hawking also made cameos in several popular television shows. He appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation as himself where he is seen playing poker with Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, and the android character Data. And yes, his cameos are way cooler than the ones made by Marvel Universe creator Stan Lee, who tends to make an appearance in all his movies, and The Big Bang Theory

He also is seen in an episode of the Simpsons where he is seen interacting with the family, with Lisa Simpson the most excited to meet him.

The creators of The Simpsons also had him make a cameo in Futurama where he is only a head on a wheelchair in the future inside a department store where he acts like a diva.

However, the most recent appearance was in multiple episodes of The Big Bang Theory. His meetings with Jim Parsons' character Sheldon Cooper are quite legendary.