Professor Stephen Hawking was laid to rest on Saturday, with a eulogy by the man who played him.
The theoretical physicist, who battled with motor neuron disease for most of his life, passed away onMarchh 14, aged 76.
Despite being an atheist, Hawking’s family decided to hold the funeral at Great St. Mary’s Church in Cambridge, near to the university where the late professor had taught for over 50 years.
Those in attendance at the service included Star Wars: The Last Jedi actress, Lily Cole, Barbra Broccoli who produces the James Bond franchise, Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, and Eddie Redmayne who played Hawking in the 2014 film, The Theory of Everything.
The movie, based on the book my Hawking’s former wife, Jane, earned Redmayne an Academy Award for his role and Felicity Jones an Oscar nomination for playing Jane.
At the time of Hawking’s death, Redmayne said, “We have lost a truly beautiful mind, an astonishing scientist and the funniest man I have ever had the pleasure to meet.”
During the public service, the 36-year-old gave a reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes.
Hawking’s body will be cremated, with his ashes being interred at Westminster Abbey near the grave of Sir Isaac Newton.
