His work on the Big Bang, black holes, quantum mechanics, and the theory of cosmic inflation has advanced our understanding of the universe, and has shaped the course of theoretical physics over the past 50 years.

But modern cosmology’s brightest star was more than the sum of his parts. Like Einstein, this courageous, funny, and captivating individual inspired millions of ordinary people, who will remember him as much for his humanity and humour as for his scientific discourse.

A brilliant mind in a broken body, for much of his life Professor Hawking had lived with the expectation of an early death. When he was diagnosed with a form of motor neurone disease, at the age of 21, it was expected he would only last a few years — but he lived for more than 50, determined to continue exploring the universe’s darkest secrets.

He was a giant of theoretical physics, who bridged the divide between science and popular culture, enjoying widespread acclaim and appearing on TV shows from The Simpsons to The Big Bang Theory. He took great delight in his appearances on The Simpsons and once remarked that some people actually thought he was a cartoon character. His electronic voice features in two Pink Floyd songs: ‘Keep Talking’ and ‘Talkin’ Hawkin’.

Hawking later achieved Hollywood star-status, when he was portrayed in an Oscar-winning performance by actor Eddie Redmayne in the 2014 movie The Theory of Everything. With a typical flash of humour, he said Redmayne was so good, “at times, I thought he was me”.

He also experienced the trials and tribulations of everyday life, including the joys of parenthood and the pain of two divorces. He co-authored with his daughter, Lucy, a series of illustrated children’s books, to explain “secret keys to the universe” to younger readers.

He showed his humanity when attending the opening ceremony of the Paralympics in London in 2012. He told the competitors: “There is no such thing as a standard or run-of-the-mill human being, but we share the same human spirit. What is important is that we have the ability to create. This creativity can take many forms — from physical achievements to theoretical physics. However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at.”

In a tweet following the announcement of his death, scientists at Nasa said: “Remembering Stephen Hawking, a renowned physicist and ambassador of science. His theories unlocked a universe of possibilities, that we and the world are exploring. May you keep flying, like Superman in micro-gravity, as you said to astronauts on the space station in 2014.” With the death of Stephen Hawking, the world has lost a beautiful mind and a remarkable man.