While Hollywood has been slow to embrace the talent of those with neurological differences, many actors with autism have made their mark in cinematic history.
Some aspects of high-functioning and low-functioning autism can make it more difficult for autistic actors to perform in a role than it would for a non-autistic person. Often, eye contact, social cues, diction, and audiences can be difficult for autistic people to overcome due to their neurodivergence.
Drama seems to appeal to some people on the spectrum as this is a controlled environment – the script stays the same, the cues rarely change, they can be prepared, they know exactly what a fellow actor is going to say and they know exactly how to respond.
Dan Aykroyd
Since his diagnosis, Aykroyd has been vocal and honest about his experiences with autism spectrum disorder. He is one of the most famous actors with autism. According to the Oscar-nominated actor and writer, Asperger's even helped Aykroyd develop his famous Ghostbusters character.
Einstein himself had many autistic traits. He did not learn to speak until he was three, and he had a lack of concern about his appearance.
Savants with autism typically show amazing skill within one or more general ability domains. Mathematical, artistic, musical, spatial and mechanical abilities are most common. Most savants have a single skills but some have been reported to have more than one.
No matter what traits of autism you or your loved one may have, a person with autism has their own unique strengths and abilities. There are many famous people with autism spectrum disorder who have used their strengths and abilities to achieve success, fame, or to accomplish amazing things.
Death. Triplett died of cancer at home on June 15, 2023. He was the longest-living person known to have autism.
Character information
Renee is a thirteen-year-old girl who is nonverbally autistic. She appears in the Pixar SparkShorts film, Loop. Renne enjoys playing ringtones on her phone and touching interesting textures (like reeds). She communicates by vocalizing, gesturing, and showing people things on her phone.
Individuals with autism stand out in creative thinking
Autistic people have the ability to think in an abstract way, and they tend to provide solutions to problems in a different way than everyone else. Individuals on the spectrum are often described as people with the ability to think outside the box.
Aggression, such as hitting, biting, scratching, hair-pulling, or kicking another person, is relatively common in children on the autism spectrum. A study of children and teenagers with autism found that 68 percent had been aggressive to a caregiver, and 49 percent had been aggressive to someone else, at some point.
The results showed that most adults with autism (68.3%) and parents (82.5%) preferred to put the person before autism. Younger adults, with a higher intelligence, and with more autistic traits, were a bit more likely to put autism before the person.
The social signals involved in dating and flirting can be complex, inconsistent and subtle. Interpreting them presents a challenge for most everyone. It can be particularly difficult when ASD interferes with the ability to read and respond to social signals.
While cognitive empathy can be lower in people with autism, affective empathy—which is based on instincts and involuntary responses to the emotions of others—can be strong and overwhelming. In fact, newer research suggests that some people with autism may actually feel other people's emotions more intensely.
Autistic people are more likely to have a mutation in genes regulating melatonin resulting in a “flat melatonin curve.” Thus our bodies often do not feel tired or send the same level of tired cues at night, and we may feel sleepier during portions of the day/upon waking (Furfaro, 2020).
Individuals with an ASD often experience old age differently than non-spectrum seniors. Despite gradual transitions, their realization of body changes may be very sudden.
Donald Grey Triplett was the first person to be diagnosed with autism.
Some believe that autistic people aren't interested in romantic relationships or aren't capable of romantic love. However, this is far from the truth. In fact, autistic people can make wonderful partners.
Research shows that more than half of all autistic individuals have an above-average IQ, while roughly 16% have an IQ higher than 130. But having high intelligence doesn't mean that autistic individuals don't experience some challenges associated with the diagnosis.
ASD Level 1: Requiring Support
Level 1 is the mildest, or “highest functioning” form of autism, which includes those who would have previously been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. Individuals with ASD level 1 may have difficulty understanding social cues and may struggle to form and maintain personal relationships.
Having an extraordinarily good memory (being able to remember facts for a long period of time). Being precise and detail orientated. Exceptional honesty and reliability. Being dependable in regards to schedules and routines.
About 70% of autistic people have an intellectual disability, which means they have an IQ lower than 70. The remaining 30% have intelligence that ranges from average to gifted.