It may be a cliché to describe someone as an inspiration, but there is no title more befitting for the late Stephen Hawking.

The British theoretical physicist died early Wednesday morning aged 76, after a lifetime awing scientists and the public alike with his brilliance, wit, and his encouragement to investigate the universe around us.

One of the world's most beloved scientists and a prolific author, Hawking leaves the world with his pioneering work on black holes and relativity, as well as quintessential science books like his bestseller, A Brief History of Time.

Hawking also inspired people with a disability. At 21, he was diagnosed with ALS, where doctors gave him two years to live. Hawking lived on for another 55 years, where he frequently made appearances in popular culture, from The Simpsonsto The Big Bang Theoryand Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Fellow physicist Neil deGrasse Tyson said Hawking's death "left an intellectual vacuum."

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Barack Obama bid him a touching farewell.

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Astronauts Scott Kelly and Chris Hadfield also saluted Hawking.

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As did Google's CEO, Sundar Pichai.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook appeared to have a typo in his tweet.

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Tributes extended from the world of pop culture, with posts from the likes of pop star Katy Perry, Simpsonswriter/producer Al Jean and comedian Kumail Nanjiani. Nyle DiMarco, the first deaf winner of America's Next Top Model, said Hawking's life was a testament to disability not being inability.

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