[Stephen Hawking]. 2003

[Stephen Hawking (1942-2018)].

The Simpsons ‘Dr Stephen Hawking’ figurine made by Playmates Toys, 2003.

Plastic figurine, c.135 x 75 x 80mm, rotating gyrocopter blades and wheelchair wheels, trademark and copyright marked on the base ‘2003 Fox / Playmates Toys / Made in China’, removable base secured by screws with connector to enable interactive functions with compatible Playmates diorama (apparently missing a number of small removable parts, including Hawking’s glasses, a beer mug, a boxing glove and jet-propellers). Computer screen reads ‘IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR TROUBLE, YOU FOUND IT’. Provenance: from the estate of Professor Stephen Hawking.

Stephen Hawking’s personal Simpsons figurine. Stephen Hawking first made a Simpsons cameo appearance in the 1999 episode ‘They Saved Lisa’s Brain’ (s.10, ep.22): he attends a meeting of Springfield’s Mensa society – the Simpsons staff apparently selected their guest-star on the basis that he would be certifiably smarter than all the Springfield members – and debates with Homer the possibility of a doughnut-shaped universe. Hawking starred in four episodes of The Simpsons between 1999 and 2009, later quipping that ‘as many people know me through The Simpsons as for my science’ and claiming that these cameos resulted in some viewers confusing him for a fictional character. He described the show as the best thing on American television.

From the estate of Professor Stephen Hawking

Please note this lot is the property of a consumer. See H1 of the Conditions of Sale.