You've probably heard of Stephen Hawking but do you know who Dr. Dennis Klatt is?

Dr. Klatt is the American computer scientist who invented the DECtalk speech synthesizer, best known as Professor Stephen Hawking’s voice. Dr. Klatt recorded over 300 clips of his own voice to create Hawkins’ artificial voice. Dr. Klatt continued to work on the synthesizer while undergoing treatments for the cancer which had actually taken his own voice.

Over the years as technology advancements made “better”, more natural sounding voices possible, Professor Hawkings refused, saying “Thank you, no. My late friend Dennis’ voice IS my voice.”