George Smoot.

George F. Smoot George Fitzgerald Smoot III

Born 20 Feb 1945 Yukon, United States

Died 18 Sep 2025 Paris, France

Citizenship United States

Would Be 81 yr If Living

7 min read

Reading time

1,398

Words

Jul 16, 2026

Published

Awards

TL;DR

George Smoot won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2006 for his work on the Cosmic Background Explorer with John C. Mather. He also became the oldest person to win $1 million on Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? in 2007. Smoot made cameo appearances on The Big Bang Theory and died in Paris in 2025.

Identity & family.

KIN · 2

Names, aliases, and relatives of George Smoot — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name George Fitzgerald Smoot III

Native Name George F. Smoot

Nicknames Smooty

Aliases Dr. George F. Smoot

Spouses: Maxine Nóra Csiszár

At a glance.

STATS

George Smoot by the numbers — life, work, and family.

80 Years lived

7 Awards

2 Marriages

Who was George Smoot?

BIOGRAPHY

George Smoot — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Smoot grew up in Upper Arlington, Ohio, after his birth on February 20, 1945, in Yukon, Florida. He attended Upper Arlington High School, graduating in 1962. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he initially studied mathematics before switching to physics, earning dual bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and physics in 1966 and a PhD in particle physics in 1970.

Career

Smoot led the team analyzing data from the Cosmic Background Explorer COBE satellite, launched by NASA in 1989. The data showed the cosmic microwave background radiation has a black body spectrum and tiny anisotropies, providing evidence for the Big Bang. This work won him the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physics, shared with John C. Mather. In 2007, he became a public figure by winning the $1 million prize on the TV game show Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? He made a cameo appearance as himself on The Big Bang Theory in 2007 and narrated the documentary Rhythms of the Universe in 2013.

Personal life

Smoot married twice: first to Maxine, about whom little is publicly known, and later to Hungarian-born physicist Nóra Csiszár. He was distantly related to Oliver R. Smoot, the MIT student whose height became the unit of measurement known as the smoot.

Legacy

Smoot’s work on the cosmic microwave background confirmed the Big Bang theory, winning him the 2006 Nobel Prize. He received the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal in 1991 and the Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award in 1995, and was elected to the US National Academy of Sciences. His appearances on The Big Bang Theory and game shows introduced physics to a wide audience. He also held an honorary doctorate from the University of the Mediterranean – Aix Marseille II.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 7

Every award, honor, and recognition received by George Smoot — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Nobel Prize in Physics
NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal
Oersted Medal
Fellow of the American Physical Society
Albert Einstein Medal
Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award
honorary doctorate of the University of the Mediterranean – Aix Marseille II

Did you know?

FACTS · 17

Little-known facts about George Smoot — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Smoot shared the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physics with John C. Mather for leading the COBE team that measured the black body spectrum and anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation.
He graduated from Upper Arlington High School in Upper Arlington, Ohio, in 1962.
A distant relative, Oliver R. Smoot, was the MIT student used as the unit of measure known as the smoot.
Smoot studied mathematics before switching to physics at MIT, where he obtained dual bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and physics in 1966 and a PhD in particle physics in 1970.
He received the Einstein Medal from the Albert Einstein Society in 2003.
Smoot was a Fellow of the American Physical Society.
He served as a member of the advisory board of the journal Universe.
Multiple universities worldwide honored him with doctorates or professorships.
He received the Gruber Prize in Cosmology in 2006.
Smoot earned the Daniel Chalonge Medal from the International School of Astrophysics in 2006.
He was awarded the Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal from NASA in 1991.
Smoot was at the University of California, Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory since 1970.
He chaired the Endowment Fund Physics of the Universe of Paris Center for Cosmological Physics.
In 2016 he appeared in a television commercial for Intuit TurboTax advising a user on what to do.
Smoot was elected a member of the US National Academy of Sciences.
He gave a 2014 TEDx lecture suggesting certain aspects of physics support the simulation hypothesis, the idea that our reality is a computer-generated virtual reality.
He received the Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award from the US Department of Energy in 1995.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 29

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about George Smoot.

When was George Smoot born?

George Smoot was born on February 20, 1945. He was born in Yukon, Florida, USA.
Where was George Smoot born?

George Smoot was born in Yukon, Florida, USA. This small town is located in the panhandle of Florida.
When did George Smoot die?

George Smoot died on September 18, 2025. He passed away in Paris, France.
How old was George Smoot when he died?

George Smoot was 80 years old at the time of his death. He was born in 1945 and died in 2025.
Where did George Smoot die?

George Smoot died in Paris, France. He had been living and working there for some time.
How did George Smoot die?

George Smoot died of a heart attack. The event occurred while he was in Paris.
What is George Smoot's real name?

His full birth name is George Fitzgerald Smoot III. He was professionally known as George Smoot.
What was George Smoot's native name?

His native name, as commonly used, was George F. Smoot. He was an American astrophysicist.
What did George Smoot do for a living?

George Smoot was primarily an astrophysicist and cosmologist. He also worked as an actor and writer.
What nationality was George Smoot?

George Smoot was American. He held United States citizenship throughout his life.
What language did George Smoot speak?

George Smoot’s native language was English. He spoke it fluently as his primary language.
Who was George Smoot married to?

George Smoot was married twice. His first wife was Maxine, and his second wife was Nóra Csiszár.
Where did George Smoot go to school?

George Smoot attended Upper Arlington High School in Ohio. He earned his degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
What awards did George Smoot win?

George Smoot won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2006. He also received the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal, the Oersted Medal, the Albert Einstein Medal, and the Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award, among others.
How many awards did George Smoot win?

George Smoot won at least seven major awards. These include the Nobel Prize and several other prestigious honors.
What is George Smoot best known for?

George Smoot is best known for winning the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2006. He is also known for his appearances on The Big Bang Theory and Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?
How tall was George Smoot?

George Smoot was 6 feet 2 inches tall, which is about 1.88 meters. His height was notable among scientists.
What was the origin of George Smoot's nickname 'Smooty'?

The nickname Smooty was a playful variation of his surname. It was used informally by friends and colleagues.
Why was George Smoot sometimes called 'Dr. George F. Smoot'?

He used the alias Dr. George F. Smoot in professional contexts. This emphasized his doctoral degree and academic authority.
What is George Smoot's birth name?

His birth name is George Fitzgerald Smoot III. He was the third of that name.
What is George Smoot known for?

George Smoot is known for his Nobel Prize-winning work on the cosmic microwave background. He also gained fame for appearing on The Big Bang Theory, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, and Rhythms of the Universe.
Is George Smoot married?

Yes, George Smoot was married. His first wife was Maxine, and he later married Nóra Csiszár.
What was George Smoot's educational background?

George Smoot studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He earned dual bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and physics in 1966 and a PhD in particle physics in 1970.
Did George Smoot have any relatives known for a unit of measurement?

Yes, his distant relative Oliver R. Smoot was the MIT student used as the unit of measure known as the smoot. George often mentioned this family trivia.
What was George Smoot's role in The Big Bang Theory?

George Smoot appeared as himself on The Big Bang Theory in 2007. He made a cameo as a respected physicist.
How much money did George Smoot win on Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader??

George Smoot won the $1 million prize on Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? in 2007. He was one of only two contestants to win the top prize.
What is the simulation hypothesis in relation to George Smoot?

In a 2014 TEDx lecture, George Smoot suggested that aspects of physics support the simulation hypothesis. He proposed that our reality might be a computer-generated virtual reality.
When did George Smoot receive the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal?

George Smoot received the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal in 1991. This was for his work on the COBE project.
Did George Smoot win the Gruber Prize?

Yes, George Smoot won the Gruber Prize in Cosmology in 2006. This award recognized his contributions to understanding the universe.

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If something's wrong in a profile, Daniel will find it. With 7 years of research experience, he's developed an almost unreasonable eye for inaccurate career timelines, misattributed credits, and dates that don't quite add up. He doesn't publish anything he can't verify. The profiles on Famousy are as accurate as they are largely because of work you'll never see his name on.

Published on July 16, 2026

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