Professor Stephen Hawking is dead at 76

• The renowned physicist and professor at the University of Cambridge made many discoveries in physics, mathematics and cosmology.
• Hawking suffered for decades from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
• His early encounter with the disease during was depicted in the film "The Theory of Everything" in 2014.

Renowned physicist Stephen Hawking has died at the age of 76.

Hawking, who was a professor at the University of Cambridge, made several discoveries in the field of physics, mathematics and cosmology that raised his profile internationally.

Cambridge University confirmed Hawking's death to NBC News.

His better-known works involve black holes and the theory of relativity. He also wrote a number of popular science books, including "A Brief History of Time."

Hawking suffered for most of his life from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. The condition causes nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to degenerate.

ALS typically kills sufferers within the first few years, but Hawking survived the disease for decades. His early encounter with the disease during his younger years was depicted in the film "The Theory of Everything" in 2014.

In recent months, Hawking warned vocally about the dangers posed by artificial intelligence. Last year, he said A.I. could be the "worst event in the history of our civilization."

—CNBC's Ted Kemp contributed to this report.