he had two other children and three grandchildren. for more than three decades, he was a professor at cambridge university's department of applied mathematics and theoretical physics, specializing in the study of black holes and revered as a member of the academic elite. but professor hawking also did much to popularize science, playing himself in "star trek." >> in the opposite direction. >> reporter: the simpsons. in 2014, his life and romance with wife jane wild was depicted on the big screen in the acclaimed film "the theory of everything." >> the universe getting smaller and smaller, getting denser and denser, hotter and hotter. >> you mean wind back the clock? >> exactly. wind back the clock. >> reporter: hawking zounltd drama which earned five academy award nomination, and the best actor win for eddie redmayne for