2012 – The Big Bang Theory

Hawking first appeared in Season 5 of the popular sitcom in 2012. In Episode 21, named The Hawking Excitation, Howard was hired to maintain his wheelchair equipment when Hawking was to give a lecture at Caltech. When Sheldon heard the news, he was thrilled to get the opportunity to meet the great man.

The physicist appeared shortly in a cameo at the end of the scene, but he didn't stop just there. Hawking continued to appear in the sitcom in six more episodes, stretching from Season 6 to 11.

"In loving memory of Stephen Hawking. It was an honor to have him on The #BigBangTheory. Thank you for inspiring us and the world," @bigbangtheory wrote on its official Twitter account.

2000 – Futurama

Hawking appeared as himself in two episodes of the TV series in 2000 and 2001. In the first episode, he joined Vice Presidential Action Rangers, led by Al Gore, who aimed to protect the space-time continuum.

Later in 2008, he played as a detached head in the movie Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs.