--- title: Remembering Stephen Hawking Guest Starring on The Simpsons description: Stephen Hawking appeared multiple times as himself on 'The Simpsons' and has been called the show's most intelligent guest star. canonical: https://time.com/5199216/stephen-hawking-death-the-simpsons/ author: Cady Lang article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-03-14T15:57:25.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-12T09:02:42.899Z og:title: Stephen Hawking's Other Stroke of Genius: Simpsons Star og:description: "The most intelligent guest star in the brief history of the Simpsons." og:url: https://time.com/5199216/stephen-hawking-death-the-simpsons/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb4afb3462690843e/69892ab922fb85d4d6e250ec/stephen-hawking-the-simpsons.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4104 og:image:height: 2309 og:image:alt: Stephen Hawking Addresses The Cambridge Union og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Stephen Hawking's Other Stroke of Genius: Simpsons Star twitter:description: "The most intelligent guest star in the brief history of the Simpsons." twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb4afb3462690843e/69892ab922fb85d4d6e250ec/stephen-hawking-the-simpsons.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Remembering Stephen Hawking's Other Stroke of Genius as _The Simpsons'_ 'Most Intelligent Guest Star' > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. ## Video: Famed Physicist Stephen Hawking Has Died at the Age of 76 [Watch (HLS stream): Famed Physicist Stephen Hawking Has Died at the Age of 76](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/kP0dhZbO.m3u8) (1:39)  _Published 2018-03-14. Stephen Hawking, whose brilliant mind ranged across time and space though his body was paralyzed by disease, died early Wednesday, a University of Cambridge spokesman said. He was 76 years old._  by [Cady Lang](https://time.com/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Mar 14, 2018 3:57 PM UTC Stephen Hawking, whose brilliant mind ranged across time and space though his body was paralyzed by disease, died early Wednesday, a University of Cambridge spokesman said. He was 76 years old.  by [Cady Lang](https://time.com/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Mar 14, 2018 3:57 PM UTC Renowned theoretical physicist [Stephen Hawking](http://time.com/5198751/stephen-hawking-physicist-obituary/) died on Wednesday at the age of 76, leaving behind [a legacy that has changed the scientific landscape](http://time.com/5198842/stephen-hawking-quotes-universe-life/) forever. However, his scientific work isn’t the only thing he’ll be remembered by; the physicist became a pop culture icon in his own right, often appearing as himself in shows like _Star Trek, The Big Bang Theory_, and memorably guest starring multiple times on [_The Simpsons_](http://time.com/4667462/simpsons-predictions-donald-trump-lady-gaga/)_._ In his first appearance on _The Simpsons_ in season 10, Hawking appears as himself, visiting Springfield after its chapter of Mensa (prodigy Lisa included) takes over the town with disastrous results. Hawking gives them a bracing reality check on their utopia, telling them it’s more like a “fruitopia.” “I don’t know what is the bigger disappointment,” he said. “My failure to formulate a unified field theory – or you.” Later in the episode, Hawking gives some sage advice to Lisa: “Sometimes the smartest of us can be the most childish.” His trademark wry humor showed itself, however, when Lisa asks if this advice also applied to him, with Hawking replying, “No. Not me. Never.” Hawking himself jokingly said that he thought as many people knew him from the Simpsons as his science. “The appeal of The Simpsons is that the characters display all the traits we see in ourselves,” he said before saying that he thought the show was “the best thing on American television.” _The Simpsons_ paid their respects to the great scientist via social media on Wednesday. Producer and writer Matt Selman called Hawking “the most intelligent guest star in the brief history of _The Simpsons_.” > [](https://twitter.com/mattselman/status/973777216013152256) While producer Al Jean paid homage with a photo of a Hawking Simpsons figurine. > [](https://twitter.com/AlJean/status/973775549473714179) ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] What makes human beings unique, there are many theories. Some say it's language or tools, others say it's logical reasoning. 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