If you aren’t aware of what Autism is, it’s a condition that consists of a wide spectrum of behaviors such as the struggle to communicate, socializing skills, and a few repetitive behaviors. While this seems mundane enough, those diagnosed with Autism may have their condition disrupt their daily routine.
There are those that can blend easily with others and those that have difficulty doing just that. Despite this setback, a lot of famous people with Autism have succeeded in their careers and became well-known. In this article, we’ll be listing down 10 famous people with Autism that may surprise you, which you could also read about here.
1. Bill Gates
Various autism experts have suggested that Bill Gates is diagnosed with Autism due to his inability to concentrate, avoiding eye contact, and monotone speech patterns. These are all characteristics found when an individual has been confirmed to have Autism.
Despite this, he’s one of the well-known tech billionaires of our generation. Even as he was never officially diagnosed with Autism, a lot of those who suffer from Asperger’s look up to him as their role model.
Bill Gates is one of the primary examples that even when you have Autism, you can still effectively blend like everyone else in the community, without seeming like an outsider. Not only is he known as a successful entrepreneur, but he co-founded Microsoft, one of the world’s well-known and biggest technological brands.
2. Woody Allen
Despite his autism, Woody Allen succeeded as a writer, director, actor, and musician – all at once. He has several award-winning movies to prove that despite his condition, it was his great passion and dedication that made him reach the peak of success.
Even with battles of focus and concentration, his mind worked wonders to become well-known in the creative field. He won three Oscar awards in his lifespan, making others look up to him, for both his persistence and creativity. He also stated that he had quirky habits such as not liking elevators and tunnels.
3. Susan Boyle
She may have amazed you with her performance at Britain’s Got Talent, but she’s been officially diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. Despite her diagnosis, she sold 14 million albums with her remarkable and astounding talent. While she opens up occasionally about still what she deals with regarding her condition, she also reveals that she feels relieved, which you can read about here.
All her life, she was labeled as brain-damaged and upon being diagnosed with Asperger’s, she felt more relaxed. The characteristics she suffered the most with this condition were social interactions and the ability to form strong relationships.
4. Temple Grandin
If you aren’t familiar with Temple Grandin, she’s most famous for her powerful impact on Autism communities. She was diagnosed with Autism at an early age and didn’t acquire her speaking skills until she reached the age of four. She was also suggested to be institutionalized upon her diagnosis but fortunately, her parents didn’t agree with this.
Despite her diagnosis, she used this as an opportunity to inspire and move others on the same journey as her. She’s a remarkable author, professor, spokesperson, and overall individual. In fact, she was classified under TIME Magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People.” You can read more about her influence on the Autism community in this article.
5. Anthony Hopkins
As a remarkable and talented actor, he was one of the casts included in The Silence of the Lambs. Anthony Hopkins was diagnosed with high-functioning Asperger’s Syndrome and one of the characteristics was his inability to socialize or go to parties.
Although, he admits to his fondness for people. He also admits to having obsessive thinking and difficulty maintaining relationships, which is part of having Asperger’s.
6. Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd is mostly famous for being a Canadian actor, singer, comedian, and screenwriter. He was nominated for various awards in his acting career, which led to his popularity. When diagnosed with mild Asperger’s, he admitted that he uses the voice in his head as a brand new idea for a character.
Instead of fearing his diagnosis, he instead used it to his advantage in his acting career. Asides from acting, he’s also managing a well-known Vodka brand, Crystal Head.
7. John Elder Robison
When he was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome as a child, it seems like a bizarre condition as few have heard of it. He was often punished for characteristics such as laziness and moral misconduct. However, upon visiting a doctor one time, it was a medical professional that made him confirm that he had a certain condition.
That diagnosis transformed his life, which was his main motivation in writing the memoir he became known for. He published Look Me in the Eye back in 2007, which then sold millions of copies. After, he continued to be an active advocate to the individuals diagnosed with Autism.
8. Satoshi Tajiri
If you don’t recognize him, he’s behind the magic and wonders behind the popularity of Pokemon. He willingly admitted to being diagnosed with Autism, however, he refused to discuss any further details about his condition or his challenges upon his diagnosis. Although he has high-functioning Autism, he admitted to it helping him succeed.
Autism has this characteristic that enables you to fixate on precise details and this is precisely what helped and urged him to create the unique world of Pokemon.
9. Adam Young
Adam Young is known for being part of a successful band back in the day called Owl City. He’s one of the famous individuals that people aren’t aware of having Autism. He also struggles deeply with insomnia, which is the premise of one of their most popular songs, Fireflies.
He’s an extreme introvert and he’d rather spend time with his own company than with others. For years, he didn’t like the idea of interviews so he’d do them through emails instead.
10. James Durbin
Being diagnosed with high-functioning Asperger’s Syndrome, he still auditioned for American Idol. He may not have won, but he raised significant awareness about the very condition he was diagnosed with.
He also appeared in Different is the New Normal, which is an eye-opening documentary. While he didn’t win in American Idol, he made a more significant impression on the Autism community. You can read more about his journey on Autism here.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I hope this article on famous people with autism was able to give you the knowledge and inspiration you needed. Despite their condition, these individuals were able to use Autism to their advantage, whether it’s for their creativity, passion, or drive.
