Asperger syndrome people

History's 30 Most Famous People with Autism

Though autism spectrum disorder did not become the mainstream diagnosis it is today until well into the 20th century, it is certainly not anything new. Indeed, history is full of people who many consider to be or have been somewhere on the autism spectrum. Like the 30 famous autistic people on this list.

Famous People with Autism

Dan Aykroyd – Comedic Actor
Hans Christian Andersen – Children’s Author
Benjamin Banneker – African American almanac author, surveyor, naturalist, and farmer
Susan Boyle – Singer
Tim Burton – Movie Director
Lewis Carroll – Author of “Alice in Wonderland”
Henry Cavendish – Scientist
Charles Darwin – Naturalist, Geologist, and Biologist

Emily Dickinson – Poet
Paul Dirac – Physicist
Albert Einstein – Scientist & Mathematician
Bobby Fischer – Chess Grandmaster
Bill Gates – Co-founder of the Microsoft Corporation
Temple Grandin – Animal Scientist
Daryl Hannah – Actress & Environmental Activist
Thomas Jefferson – Early American Politician
Steve Jobs – Former CEO of Apple
James Joyce – Author of “Ulysses”
Alfred Kinsey – Sexologist & Biologist
Stanley Kubrick – Film Director
Barbara McClintock – Scientist and Cytogeneticist
Michelangelo – Sculptor, Painter, Architect, Poet
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Classical Composer
Sir Isaac Newton – Mathematician, Astronomer, & Physicist
Jerry Seinfeld – Comedian
Satoshi Tajiri – Creator of Nintendo’s Pokémon
Nikola Tesla – Inventor
Andy Warhol – Artist
Ludwig Wittgenstein – Philosopher
William Butler Yeats – Poet

Related: 15 Best Applied Behavior Analysis Online Programs

While we are well aware that retrospective diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder is near impossible, the figures on this list have been carefully chosen. Experts (both medical professionals and those who experience autism first-hand) agree that every person listed here probably shows or showed autistic tendencies, and we’ve noted those cases in which some experts disagree with others. Despite the challenges associated with the identification of autism spectrum disorder, this list of autistic celebrities is meant to be helpful and inspiring to those who themselves fall somewhere on the spectrum.

Related: Who Was the First Person to be Diagnosed With Autism?

Dan Aykroyd

1952-present

One of the most famous people with Asperger’s Syndrome is popular comedic actor Dan Aykroyd. He had already been expelled from two different schools by the time a doctor diagnosed him with mild Asperger’s as a child. Since then, Aykroyd has been pretty honest and up-front about his experiences with the autism spectrum. The Academy Award-nominated actor and writer has even spoken to great extent about how his experiences with autism contributed to his character in Ghostbusters.

Hans Christian Andersen

1805-1875

The experts go back and forth over whether Hans Christian Anderson, the beloved writer of such fairy tales as The Little Mermaid and The Ugly Duckling, was autistic or not. Most of those who insist that he appeared somewhere on the autism spectrum are those who are autistic themselves, and therefore can relate to Andersen on a personal level. For example, Andersen’s diary describes to great length his many bouts of unrequited love for those who were, quite frankly, unattainable — a common personal experience, say those on the spectrum who can relate. They also cite the recurring theme of outcast characters in his stories. Most never achieve their sought after happy endings.

Benjamin Banneker

1731-1806

Benjamin Banneker was an African-American:

author
surveyor
naturalist
astronomer
inventor
farmer

Banneker lived as a free man in 18th century America. Plenty of contemporary documents refer to Banneker’s “unparalleled brilliance” and “odd methods of behavior,” lending credence to the common idea that Banneker had a high-functioning form of autism spectrum disorder. He was known to fixate on certain objects, such as a friend’s watch, until that fixation ultimately led to an experiment or invention of his own.

Susan Boyle

1961-present

Most people know Susan Boyle as the shy Scottish introvert who sold more than 14 million albums after appearing on Britain’s Got Talent. But even more people found Boyle inspiring when she announced she had been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a diagnosis that Boyle said, felt like “a relief.” Boyle is still learning about the autism spectrum and how it affects her, but as long as she keeps singing, people are sure to continue to be inspired by her.

Tim Burton

1958-present

Is Hollywood director Tim Burton autistic? His long-time partner, Helena Bonham Carter, seems to think so. At least, she once speculated that he was “possibly autistic” during an interview. While researching an autistic character for a film, Carter claims, she had an “a-ha moment” and realized that much of her research applied to Burton. Said Carter, “Autistic people have application and dedication. You can say something to Tim when he’s working and he doesn’t hear you. But that quality also makes him a fantastic father; he has an amazing sense of humor and imagination. He sees things other people won’t see.”

Lewis Carroll

1832-1898

There are few historical figures as controversial as Lewis Carroll, the author of the children’s classic Alice in Wonderland. While some of his behavior, such as continuously seeking out the company of young girls, has made some wonder if the university professor was a pedophile, others use the same information to insist that Carroll was actually autistic. After all, Carroll lived in a different time and place, with far different social customs than what we are used to today. He was also known to be a poor communicator, and therefore likely found interacting with children much easier. His difficulty with communication was exacerbated by a severe stammer. Finally, Carroll showed great mathematical ability and even considered himself to be a minor inventor, both common characteristics of those on the autism spectrum.

Henry Cavendish

1731-1810

Henry Cavendish is perhaps one of the most important scientists in history. He was a natural:

philosopher
chemist
physicist

Cavendish is perhaps most famous as the discoverer of hydrogen. He is also thought to have been autistic. Besides his weekly meetings at the prestigious Royal Society Club, Cavendish did all he could to avoid company and social calls. Indeed, he was so reclusive, he communicated with his servants in writing, ordered his meals via a note left on the table. He even added a private staircase to the back of his house so as to avoid the housekeeper. He also avoided eye contact and was described by a contemporary as the “coldest and most indifferent of mortals.” But he was also brilliant, though it was only after his death that fellow scientists went through his many papers and realized all he had accomplished.

Charles Darwin

1809-1882

Trinity College professor Michael Fitzgerald, a leading psychiatrist, researched and published a paper concluding that Charles Darwin had Asperger’s Syndrome. There are records from Darwin’s childhood that state he was a very quiet and isolated child, who avoided interaction with others as much as he could. Like so many others with Asperger’s, he sought alternative ways of communicating, such as writing letters. He had fixations with certain topics like chemistry, but was a very visual thinker — all traits of someone on the autism spectrum.

Emily Dickinson

1830-1886

In her book Writers on the Spectrum: How Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome have Influenced Literary Writing, academic Julie Brown includes classical poet Emily Dickinson. Brown is part of a large group who believe Dickinson showed plenty of signs of being autistic including:

writing poems that were extremely unconventional for her time period
living a reclusive lifestyle
getting along best with children

She wore white clothing almost exclusively, and had a fascination with scented flowers, among other things. While Dickinson’s biographer, Lyndall Gordon, insists that Dickinson’s epilepsy is what made her so reclusive, medical professionals are quick to point out that those with autism have a much higher chance of also having epilepsy.

Paul Dirac

1902-1984

Paul Dirac has repeatedly been referred to as one of the most significant and influential physicists of the 20th century. The Cambridge professor greatly contributed to early quantum mechanics and quantum electrodynamics, and even received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1933. That Nobel, however, was almost refused by Dirac, who was so reclusive that he didn’t want the publicity. Such shyness is one of many reasons why a large number of people think Dirac may have had some form of autism. Besides his shyness, they cite his:

intense focus
extreme literal mindedness
lack of empathy
rigid patterns

Albert Einstein

1879-1955

Is Albert Einstein autistic? Perhaps the most famous scientist and mathematician in history, Albert Einstein had a number of interesting and possibly telling characteristics. For one, he had trouble socializing, especially as an adult. As a child, he experienced severe speech delays and later echolalia, or the habit of repeating sentences to himself. And of course, there is the fact that Einstein was incredibly technical. Such characteristics have led many experts to conclude that he appeared somewhere on the autism spectrum.

Bobby Fischer

1943-2008

One of the most famous people with Aspergers is Bobby Fischer. Bobby Fisher, the chess grandmaster and World Chess Champion, is said to have had Asperger’s Syndrome. He was also suspected to have paranoid schizophrenia and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Fischer was known to be extremely intense, and did not relate well to others thanks to his lack of friendships and poor social abilities. His extreme focus on chess is another sign, as his track record for not being able to cope in an unstructured environment.

Bill Gates

1955-present

Is Bill Gates autistic? Quite a few autism experts seem to think so! While nothing has ever been confirmed regarding whether or not Gates falls on the autism spectrum, those who seem to think he is cite things like:

the distinct rocking motion Gates displays when he concentrates
his shortened and monotoned speech patterns
his habits of avoiding eye contact on the rare occasion he speaks directly with someone else

These are all common characters of those with autism spectrum disorder, and the evidence that Bill Gates may be autistic is quite persuasive.

Temple Grandin

1947-present

One of the most recognized celebrities with autism is Temple Grandin. In fact, there may be no autistic person alive today more famous than Grandin. The author and Colorado State University professor didn’t begin speaking until she was almost four years old. The doctors who diagnosed her recommended she be institutionalized. Fortunately, her parents did not agree with those doctors. Grandin has gone on to:

become a leading force in animal sciences
be named one of TIME’s 100 most influential people
produce an award-winning biopic about her life

She remains an outspoken advocate in the autism community. She has been unapologetic about her belief that the “characteristics of autism can be modified and controlled.”

Daryl Hannah

1960-present

Daryl Hannah — the beautiful star of films like Splash, Blade Runner, and Steel Magnolias — only came out about her experiences on the autism spectrum about five years ago. Since then, Hannah has been nothing but inspirational as she’s told the honest truth about her challenges with Asperger’s Syndrome. As a child, she rocked herself to self-soothe, and was so shy that once she began acting, she refused to give interviews or even attend her own premieres. Though she has mostly learned to control and live with her diagnosis, Hannah has all but left the entertainment industry to focus on environmental issues and other passions.

Thomas Jefferson

1743-1826

This one is especially controversial. Those who argue that the third president of the United States fell somewhere on the autism spectrum cite the fact that Jefferson was well-known to have been an uncomfortable public speaker and one who could not relate well to others. A number of contemporary documents even reference Jefferson’s sensitivity to loud noises and his many strange routines, such as the constant companionship of a pet mockingbird. Despite the evidence, the best we can do when it comes to Jefferson is speculate, as most documents dating from his early life burned down with his childhood home.

Steve Jobs

1955-2011

Those who associate Steve Jobs with autism admit that it’s pure speculation. They are also quick to point out that that speculation has grown more and more mainstream since the Apple genius’s death in 2011. Those who believe Jobs landed somewhere on the autism spectrum cite such behavioral quirks as his:

obsession with perfection
unorthodox ways of thinking
general lack of empathy when dealing with others

James Joyce

1882-1941

Ask any autism expert about James Joyce, and you’ll likely hear them argue that his writing itself is extreme evidence of Joyce possibly being autistic. After all, his two most famous works, “Ulysses” and “Finnegan’s Wake”, are brilliant, yet intentionally difficult to read and understand. As Joyce told Harper’s Magazine, “The demand that I make of my reader is that he should devote his whole life to reading my work.” Some claim that this intentional approach to his work showed Joyce’s desire to distance himself from society, a very autistic thing to do. These same scholars also reference Joyce’s youth, during which he was extremely intelligent, but also suffered from a number of phobias and had trouble keeping friends.

Alfred Kinsey

1894-1956

Alfred Kinsey was a famed sexologist and biologist who founded the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction. As is just about anything in his line of work, Kinsey was extremely controversial. Though the controversy surrounding his work has died down since Kinsey’s death, a new controversy has since arisen: was Kinsey autistic? Many medical professionals seem to think so. A 1999 article in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders stated that Kinsey meets the criteria for Asperger’s Syndrome because of his:

“qualitative impairment in social interaction”
“failure to develop appropriate peer relationships”
“lack of social and emotional reciprocity”

Stanley Kubrick

1928-1999

Stanley Kubrick is most famous as the innovative and exceedingly creative director of films like:

“A Clockwork Orange”
“Dr. Strangelove”
“2001: A Space Odyssey”

But could he also have had some form of autism? The experts are split on this one. Those who argue that Kubrick was indeed autistic cite the director’s reclusive nature and his habit of hoarding animals. He was a chess mastermind, and said to be uncomplimentary and cheap. Still, there are plenty of reports that refute these allegations.

Barbara McClintock

1902-1992

Barbara McClintock was a famed scientist who made great breakthroughs in the study of chromosomes and how they change during the reproduction process. McClintock has long been thought of as autistic in some way. She had an extreme fixation on her work and was able to focus for long periods of time. She was also very particular about what she would and would not wear. Notably reclusive and one who went to great lengths to avoid any attention of limelight, McClintock nearly didn’t accept the 1983 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine that she was awarded for her excellent and groundbreaking work.

Michelangelo

1475-1564

Dr. Muhammad Arshad published in the Royal Society of Medicine’s Journal of Medical Biography a convincing paper arguing that Michelangelo was almost certainly autistic. Another leading researcher on the topics, Professor Michael Fitzgerald, agrees. Their evidence:

the artist’s singular interest in his work
a temper that could change at the drop of a hat
strict routines
very poor social skills

Such characteristics, all of which were determined through dozens of contemporary notes and letters, are consistent with those with high-functioning autism.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

1756-1791

Most scholars agree that musical maestro Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was somewhere on the spectrum. Mozart was allegedly extremely sensitive to loud noises. He had a notoriously short attention span and could fly through a cycle of facial expressions within seconds. In one well-documented incident, a bored Mozart began doing cartwheels and vaults over tables while meowing loudly like a cat.

Sir Isaac Newton

1643-1727

Thanks to researchers at Cambridge University, we have a pretty good idea that Isaac Newton had Asperger’s Syndrome or something else on the autism spectrum. The researchers, who also argue that Albert Einstein was autistic, mention in their evidence that Newton isolated himself as much as possible and was notoriously awkward when it came to typical daily conversation. He was not good at keeping friends and relied strongly upon routines. Lastly, there are a number of reports that suggest that he was often so focused on his work, that he went for days at a time without eating or sleeping.

Jerry Seinfeld

1954-present

Jerry Seinfeld, one of the most popular comedians of all time, has said in multiple interviews that he believes himself to be on the autism spectrum. Though he has never been officially diagnosed by a medical professional, Seinfeld has defended his self-diagnosis by citing various social challenges that he has experienced since childhood, as well as his tendency to think literally. While Seinfeld may consider himself to have mild Asperger’s Syndrome, others in the autism community disagree. In fact, Seinfeld’s revelation has been quite controversial, with many feeling that his self-diagnosis has only served to make light of actual issues.

Satoshi Tajiri

1965-present

As a child, Satoshi Tajiri was fascinated by insects and was even nicknamed “Dr. Bug” by other children. As an adult, Tajiri turned that interest into the world-wide phenomenon that is Pokemon — which itself makes him an inspiration to millions of children (and adults!) around the world. But Satoshi Tajiri is also on the high-functioning end of the autism spectrum. Though he confirmed that he does indeed have Asperger’s Syndrome, Tajiri does not talk about it in public, choosing instead to let his many accomplishments speak for themselves.

Nikola Tesla

1856-1943

Thanks to his major rival, Thomas Edison, who reportedly stole many of his best ideas, Nikola Tesla died poor and alone. More recently, Tesla is finally getting the credit he deserves for many of his most genius ideas. It’s likely the inventor was also autistic. According to records of Tesla’s time, he suffered from a large number of phobias and was extremely sensitive to light and sound. He isolated himself and was obsessed with the number three.

Andy Warhol

1928-1987

Experts like Judith Gould, the director of the leading diagnostic center for autism in the United Kingdom, insists that it makes perfect sense that Andy Warhol was autistic. After all, much of the artist’s work focuses on repetition, on which those with autism usually fixate. In interviews, Warhol almost always responded to questions with monosyllabic answers, possibly evidence that he had the verbal dyslexia that is so common among those on the spectrum. He reportedly refused to wear anything but a certain kind of green underwear. Still, not everyone agrees that Warhol was autistic. Those who argue against this posthumous diagnosis suggest that Warhol’s different behavior was calculated in an effort to “enhance a sense of mystery.”

Ludwig Wittgenstein

1889-1951

The Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein is another inspiring historical figure who very likely had autism spectrum disorder. In fact, Wittgenstein’s most famous work, “Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus” has been cited again and again as a classical example of the autistic thought process. Contemporary letters and diary entries reference Wittgenstein’s persistent irritation, especially when it came to understanding and dealing with those around him.

William Butler Yeats

1865-1939

Professor Michael Fitzgerald, the same Trinity College professor who recently published a paper asserting that Charles Darwin likely had some form of autism spectrum disorder, claims the same thing about Irish poet William Butler Yeats. Fitzgerald cites Yeats’ extreme difficulty in school, where he was bullied for his lack of interest and awkward social behavior. He also brings up the fact that Yeats pined for years for Maud Gonne, despite her stated disinterest. Still, Yeats’ biographer, Oxford professor Roy Foster, rejects Fitzgerald’s ideas.

How Has Autism Been Portrayed in the Media?
Is EFT Tapping Effective with Those with Autism?
30 Great Jobs for People on the Autism Spectrum

Famous People with Asperger's Syndrome [150+ Actors, Entrepreneurs, Athletes, Musicians & More!]

We came across many famous people with Asperger’s Syndrome while researching for our recent blogs on autism and neurodiversity. We found 150+ Asperger’s famous people…and even with a bit of overlap, there are lots of new faces too! These famous Aspies include comedians, actors, athletes, scientists, musicians, writers, leaders, and artists.

Disclaimers: This list of famous people with Asperger’s who have been diagnosed and those who have been reported or rumored to have Asperger’s. I do my best to list resources for any questionable ones and welcome feedback, additions, and edits! I am not an expert on Asperger’s Syndrome.

Celebrities with Asperger’s

David Byrne, lead singer, and guitarist from Talking Heads has Asperger’s. (image source: Wikipedia Creative Commons)

Which famous people have Asperger’s Syndrome? If you had to list the very top celebrities with Aspergers, these would surely make the top 20 list:

Isaac Asimov (diagnosed)
Dan Aykroyd (diagnosed)
Susan Boyle (diagnosed)
David Byrne (diagnosed)
Charles Darwin (rumored)
John Denver (diagnosed)
Eminem (rumored)
Daryl Hannah (diagnosed)
Dan Harmon (self-diagnosed)
Alfred Hitchcock (rumored)
Sir Anthony Hopkins (diagnosed)
Michael Jackson (rumored)
Courtney Love (diagnosed)
Clay Marzo (diagnosed)
Marilyn Monroe (rumored)
Jerry Seinfeld (self-diagnosed)
Satoshi Tajiri (diagnosed)
James Taylor (diagnosed)
Greta Thunberg (diagnosed)
Robin Williams (rumored)

But let’s break it down in more detail. There are so many reported famous people with Aspergers that I categorize them by their professional field (Actors, Athletes, Musicians, Entrepreneurs, Scientists, etc.).

Actors with Asperger’s

Dan Aykroyd on the set of Great Outdoors. Aykroyd struggled since childhood with symptoms of Asperger’s Syndrome. (image source: Wikipedia Public Domain)

Dan Aykroyd – Actor
Corey Burton – Voice Actor
Charlie Chaplin – Actor (rumored)
Lizzy Clark – Actress
Paddy Considine – Actor
Crispin Glover – Actor (rumored)
Daryl Hannah – Actress
Anthony Hopkins – Actor
Barry Humphries – Actor
Andy Kaufman – Actor
Marilyn Monroe – Actress (rumored)
Alex Plank – Actor
Damian Zduček – Reality Star
Robin Williams – Actor (rumored)

Comedians with Aspergers

Comedic troupe Asperger’s R Us is made up entirely of men with Asperger’s. (Image source: Max W. Lauf)

Noah Britton – Asperger’s Are Us Comedic Group
Trip Carey – Asperger’s Are Us Comedic Group
Ethan Finlan – Asperger’s Are Us Comedic Group
Jack Hanke – Asperger’s Are Us Comedic Group
Michael Ingemi – Asperger’s Are Us Comedic Group
Michael Palin – Comedian (rumored)
Jerry Seinfeld – Comedian (rumored)
Robert White – Comedian

Chris Rock — Aspergers Comedian?

Famous comedian Chris Rock started therapy after a friend suggested he may have Asperger’s Syndrome. According to Today:

“The actor went through nine hours of cognitive tests and was eventually diagnosed with NVLD, which makes it difficult for him to understand nonverbal signals.”
source: Today

We did include Rock in our blog, Famous People with Disabilities [a list of 650+] since has was diagnosed with LVLD, a learning disorder.

Other TV/Media Personalities with Asperger’s

Woody Allen, a famous film director is rumored to have Asperger’s. (image source: Georges Biard)

Woody Allen – Director (rumored)
Tim Burton – Director (rumored)
Justin Eugene Evans – Film Director
Paula Hamilton – Model
Brant Hansen – Radio Personality
Anne Hegerty – TV Personality
Alfred Hitchcock – Film Director (rumored)
Jamie Hyneman – TV Host (rumored)
Paul El Kharrat – the youngest champion of the show The 12 Coups de midi
Heather Kuzmich – Model
Nina Marker – Model
John Motson – Sports Commentator
Suzanne Muldowney – Performance Artist
Chris Niosi – American Voice Actor, animator, producer (his work includes Arataka Reigen in Mob Psycho, Dezel in Tales of Zestiria, Khoury and the Pokémon series).
Keith Olberman – Sports Commentator (rumored)
Chris Packham – TV Personality and one of the most popular tv character’s with Asperger’s.

“Packham, diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome in his 20s, said he was ‘lucky to get through that period of my life’.”
source: BBC

Aspergers Famous People — TV Personality, Chris Packham, after the People’s Walk for Wildlife, at Richmond Terrace, Whitehall, London on Saturday 22nd September 2018. (image source: Garry Knight — Wikipedia Creative Commons)

Alex Wineman – Model

Famous Athletes with Asperger’s

The Current reported: Jessica-Jane Applegate also lives with the challenges associated with Asperger’s syndrome. She has become one of the most inspiring female athletes with a developmental disability since starting her career in 2011. (image source: Richard Gillin)

Among other celebrities who have Aspergers are athletes. These famous Aspies are an inspiration to fans of their sport.

Jessica-Jane Applegate – the first British athlete from the intellectually disabled classification to win gold at the 2012 Paralympics
Danny Chew – Cyclist
Tommy Dis Brisay – Runner

A blog article on athletes with Asperger’s said:

“At five years of age, his parents were told he would never develop the ability to speak. A string of medications and countless struggles led to being overweight as a teenager. But his parents were committed to their son’s success, and they encouraged him to develop an interest. His father, Peter, an avid runner, encouraged Tommy to take to the trails. A jog with his father was all he needed to get hooked on running.”
source: Applied Behavioral Analysis Edu

Nikolas DiDomenico – Cyclist
Jim Eisenreich – Major League Baseball Player

Eisenreich, a famous Asperger’s athlete was diagnosed in 1984, causing him to leave MLB. But:

“medication, combined with a deeper understanding of his challenges, allowed him to return to the game he loved in 1986. ”
source: Applied Behavioral Analysis Edu

Justin Hansen – College Football Player

An article about athletes with Asperger’s said:

“Human interaction has always been difficult for him. If his dad hadn’t dragged him out of the house and to the football field in grade school, Justin would be in his parents’ basement playing video games.”
source: USA Today

Guy Martin – Motorcycle Racer
Clay Marzo – Surfer

A post about athletes with Asperger’s said:

“Like so many people on the autism spectrum, Clay Marzo was mislabeled and misdiagnosed plenty of times growing up: ADD, dyslexia, learning disabled. Socially awkward with others yet masterful on the surfboard, Clay wasn’t formally diagnosed with Asperger’s until he was 18.
source: Applied Behavioral Analysis Edu

Fernando “Fernie” Morlaes Jr. – Track and Field Athlete

A blog about athletes with Asperger’s said:

“The turning point in their search for the truth came when Fernie was in 5th grade and the family went to visit mom’s best friend over the Thanksgiving holiday. Mom talked and cried over her struggles to help Fernie succeed with her best friend, the friend who is a special education teacher said she suspected he had Asperger’s. She showed them literature she had on Asperger’s and mom said, “I just cried and cried and cried because we finally had our answer.”
source: MileSplitTX

Marcelo Ríos – Tennis Player
Linus Söderström – NHL Hockey Player
Codi Ware – Racecar Driver

Famous Musicians with Asperger’s

President Obama presenting Bob Dylan with a Medal of Freedom. It is rumored, but not confirmed that Bob Dylan has Asperger’s Syndrome according to IMDb. (image source: Wikipedia Public Domain)Susan Boyle, Britain’s Got Talent singer, was misdiagnosed as having a brain tumor at birth, WebMD reported. Boyle said: “I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what’s wrong and I feel relieved and a bit more relaxed about myself.” (image source: Wikipedia, Wasforgas)

Many musicians with Asperger’s use music as an outlet, especially rappers. Does Eminem have Aspergers? He raps about Asperger’s in his songs, but it has never been officially diagnosed. Does Chief Keef have Aspergers? Elite Daily says:

“Rumors have swirled that Keef has Asperger syndrome, which puts him somewhere on the Autism spectrum.”

AutistiX – an indie band from the U.K.
Lil B – Rapper (rumored)
Marty Balin – Singer & Songwriter of Jefferson Airplane
Bella Bartok – Composer (rumored)
Mark Boerbach – Musical Savant
Susan Boyle – Britain’s Got Talent Singer
Anton Bruckner – Composer (rumored)
Dan Bull – Rapper
David Byrne – Singer
John Denver – Musician
James Durbin – American Idol Singer
Bob Dylan – Musician (rumored)
Joseph Eber – Musician
Eminem – Rapper (rumored)
Example – Rapper
Glenn Gould – Pianist
David Helfgott – Pianist
Michael Jackson – Musician (rumored)
Chief Keef – Rapper (rumored)
Ladyhawke – Musician
Juice Leskinen – Musician
Abz Love – Rapper
Courtney Love – Singer
Gustav Mahler – Composer (rumored)
Travis Meeks – Musician
Josh Morgan – Drummer
Rich Mullins – Christian Singer/Songwriter (rumored)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Composer (rumored)
Ari Ne’eman – Activist
Craig Nicholls – Musician
Lisa Nowak – American Astronaut
Gary Numan – Singer & Songwriter
Eric Satie – Composer (rumored)
Savant – Musician
Slushii – Musician
Richard Strauss – Composer (rumored)
James Taylor – Musician (rumored)
Penelope Trunk – Entrepreneur & Author
Ludwig van Beethoven – Composer (rumored)
Robbie Williams – Singer (rumored)
Adam Young – Musician (rumored)

Entrepreneurs & Business Leaders with Aspergers

Steve Jobs and Bill Gates at ‘D5: All Things Digital’ conference in Carlsbad, California.

(image source: Joi Ito Flickr)

Does Bill Gates have Aspergers? The Guardian reported Bill Gates:

“…has been described as having autistic-type traits: lack of eye contact, poor social skills, a monotonous voice, a prodigious memory and a tendency to rock backwards and forwards during business meetings.”

How about the famous mind behind SpaceX? Does Elon Musk have Aspergers? This research on neurodiversity says its definitely possible. The article also discusses Steve Jobs’ Aspergers observations.

2021 Update…Elon Musk confirmed he has Asperger’s while hosting a May 2021 episode of Saturday Night Live. Here’s what Musk had to say about his Asperger’s when he opened up the SNL show:

“I’m actually making history tonight as the first person with Asperger’s to host SNL, or, at least the first to admit it, so I won’t make a lot of eye contact with the cast tonight. But don’t worry, I’m pretty good at running human in emulation mode. ”

Here’s the full list of famous Aspie entrepreneurs/biz leaders I found:

Julian Assange – WikiLeaks Founder

On September 23, 2020, Computer Weekly reported that the WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange:

“is on the autistic spectrum and has a history of depression that would put him at risk of suicide if he is extradited to a US prison”

This information was part of court proceedings from psychiatrists who evaluated Assange before his trial. In September of 2011, Assange talked to the UK Independent about being autistic:

“Later, when I became well known, people would enjoy pointing out that I had Asperger’s or else that I was dangling somewhere on the autistic spectrum. I don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun, so let’s just say I am – all hackers are, and I would argue all men are a little bit autistic. But in my mid- to late teens I could barely focus on anything that didn’t seem to me like a major breakthrough. ”

Adam Bradford – Activist & Entrepreneur
Michael Burry – U.S. Investment Fund Manager
Blondinbella – Entrepreneur & Blogger
Henry Ford – Industrialist (rumored)
Carly Fulgam – President of Autism Society of America Ventura
Bill Gates – Entrepreneur (rumored)
William (Bill) Hunt Gross – Investor & Philanthropist
Howard Hughes – American Businessperson (rumored)
Steve Jobs – Apple Co-founder (rumored)
Daniel Lightwing – Internet Gambling Business Co-Founder
Elon Musk – Tesla & SpaceX Co-Founder
Satoshi Tajiri – Pokemon Inventor
Nikola Tesla – Inventor of Electric Motors (rumored)
Mark Zuckerberg – Facebook Founder (rumored)

Political Leaders with Aspergers

Does Trump Have Aspergers? Many suspect so, but it has never been confirmed. (image source: Wikipedia)

Brisco Cain – Politician
Prince Charles of WalesIs Prince Charles autistic? One of our blog readers sent me an article and I did some digging. It looks like the answer is no, even though some speculate Prince Charles has some traits of Asperger’s.
Benjamin Franklin – U.S. Politician (rumored)
Al Gore – Politician (rumored)
Jeff Greenfield – Political Analyst
Thomas Jefferson – U.S. President (rumored)
Abraham Lincoln – U.S. President (rumored)
Ludwig II – King of Bavaria (rumored)
Lindsay Mason – Politician
Timothé Nadim – French Politician
George Washington – U.S. President (rumored)

Famous Aspergers Artists

Charles Schulz was best known for creating the “Peanuts” comic strip. His Asperger’s was never confirmed. (image source: Wikipedia)

Jim Henson – Animator & Puppeteer (rumored)
Peter Howson – Painter
Wasily Kandinsky – Painter (rumored)
Paul Kostabi – Artist
L S Lowry – Artist
Michelangelo – Artist (rumored)
Patrick Samuel
Charles Schulz – Cartoonist (rumored)
Vincent van Gogh – Painter (rumored)
Andy Warhol – Artist (rumored)

Famous Scientists with Asperger’s Syndrome (and Inventors)

There is speculation around whether some of the world’s greatest scientists and inventors had Asperger’s. Did Einstein have Aspergers? Many reports say its possible, but we may never know. How about other famous scientists? Most of the famous people on this list were never diagnosed with Aspergers, only rumored to be on the autism spectrum.

An article on Medium discusses whether Alan Turning had Asperger’s Syndrome (image source: Wikipedia Public Domain)

Alexander Graham Bell – Inventor (rumored)
Richard Borcherds – Mathematician
Henry Cavendish – Scientist (rumored)
Marie-Curie – Scientist (rumored)
Charles Darwin – Naturalist (rumored)
Thomas Edison – Inventor (rumored)
Albert Einstein – Scientist (rumored)
Francis Galton – Scientist (rumored)
Oliver Heaviside – Physicist (rumored)
Alfred Kinsey – Scientist (rumored)
Barbara McClintock – Scientist (rumored)
John Nash – Mathematician (rumored)
Sir Isaac Newton – Mathematician
Dawn Prince-Hughes – Scientist (rumored)
Alan Turing – Mathematician (rumored)
Ludwig Wittgenstein – Logician (rumored)

Famous Writers with Aspergers

Temple Grandin was diagnosed with Asperger’s as a child.

(image source: Steve Jurvetson)

Syed Talha Ahsan – Poet
Hans Christian Anderson – Author (rumored)
Isaac Asimov – Author
Jane Austen – Writer (rumored)
Daantjie Badenhorst – Journalist & Author
Kage Baker – Writer
Benjamin Banneker – Author (rumored)
Henry Bond – Writer
Axel Brauns – Writer
Lewis Carroll – Author (rumored)
Todd Rafael Cimino – Novelist
Jennifer Cook O’Toole – Writer
Emily Dickinson – Poet (rumored)
Charles Dickinson – Writer (rumored)
Tim Ellis – Australian Author & Magician
Allx Generous – Author
Temple Grandin – Writer
Gunilla Gerland – Author
Dan Harmon – Writer (rumored)
Liane Holliday Willey – Author
Luke Jackson – Author
James Joyce – Author (rumored)
Franz Kafka – Writer (rumored)
Garrison Keillor – Writer
Rosie King – Writer
H. P. Lovecraft – Writer (rumored)
A. R. Morlan – Author
Jerry Newport – Author & Mathematical Savant
Tim Page – Pulitzer Prize Author
Markku Tapani Pölönen – Screenwriter
John Elder Robinson – Author of Look Me in the Ey
George Bernard Shaw – Writer (rumored)
Rudy Simone – Author (rumored)
Susanna Tamaro – Author
Daniel Tammet – Novelist & Poet
Raymond Thompson – Scriptwriter
Henry Thoreau – Writer (rumored)
Mark Twain – Writer (rumored)
Donna Williams – Author
Virginia Woolf – Writer (rumored)

Other Famous Aspies

These famous Aspies needed a category of their own. They may not be famous actors, but they are famous in their own right. Does M2K have Aspergers? Jason Zimmerman, a famous video gamer who goes by M2K does have Asperger’s Syndrome.

Hans Asperger – Podiatrist (Asperger’s was named after him)
Bobby Fischer – World Chess Champion (rumored)
Carl Jung – Psychoanalyst (rumored)
Charles Rennie Mackintosh – Architect (rumored)
Friedrich Nietzsche – Philosopher (rumored)
Bertrand Russell – Polymath (rumored)
Oliver Sacks – Neurologist (rumored)
Judy Singer – Activist & Sociologist (she coined the term Neurodiversity)
Vernon Smith – Award-winning Economist
Greta Thunberg – Environmental Activist (and sailed from the U. S. to Lisbon, Portugal in 3 weeks!)
Jason Zimmerman (M2K) – Video Gamer

Movies About Autism or Asperger’s

While researching celebrities with Asperger’s Syndrome, we realized quite a few famous movies have been made based on people with Asperger’s or Autism. Here are a handful to note:

The Accountant
- AutismMag.org discusses a popular movie called The Accountant — Aspergers plays a key part in this film about an accountant (played by Ben Affleck) with Aspergers Syndrome
The Social Network
- Many people asked “Does Mark Zuckerberg have Aspergers” after watching this movie about the creation of Facebook. The Autism Support Network said: “…It quickly becomes clear that the character has something on the autistic spectrum, most likely Aspergers syndrome,” when referring to Zuckerberg’s character in the movie.
Mozart and the Whale
- Based on the life of author and public speaker, Jerry Newport, this is a love story about a man with Asperger’s Syndrome.
Man on the Moon
- A film based on the life of famous Aspie entertainer Andy Kaufman. The main role is played by actor Jim Carrey.
Parenthood
- In season 5 of Parenthood, popular character Hank finds out he has Aspergers while reading a book to relate to Max’s Aspergers. “Does Max Burkholder have Aspergers?” He plays the young character Max Braverman, who does, but the star does not have Asperger’s in real life. What about Hank who is played by Ray Romano in this popular TV show. Does Ray Romano have Aspergers? Not in real life.
The Office
- The Office is not really about Autism, but some may ask the question, Does Dwight Schrute have Aspergers? A blog about autism in the media says its possible:”Adam from Adam, Christopher from The Curious Incident with the Dog at Night Time, Donald from Mozart and the Whale, and Don Tillman from The Rosie Project, along with Dwight, Sheldon and Abed, all fit into what I call “the quirky, high-functioning Aspie” archetype. ”

Viewers of the Big Bang Theory have suspected the character Sheldon, to be on the autism spectrum, but does Jim Parsons have Aspergers? No, but he seems to think his character exhibits some characteristics of Asperger’s syndrome.

There are so many more movies, books, and tv shows based on people with Asperger’s or have characters with Aspergers. Here is a list of the top 10 movies according to Shrink Tank.

Celebs Who Have Kids with Aspergers

Famous comedian D.L. Hughley’s son, Kyle Hughley, has Asperger’s.

When Kyle Hughley was a child, doctors diagnosed him with Asperger’s syndrome. At times, D.L. Hughley has seriously discussed how that disorder has affected Kyle’s life. For example, in 2015 D.L. spoke with pride about Kyle graduating from college during an Oprah: Where Are They Now segment. After talking about his son’s education, D.L. briefly spoke about Kyle’s day-to-day life and then he got emotional as he told a touching story.
source: The Things

People Yearn to Know if Someone Famous is Autistic or has Asperger’s

As part of my research, I was amazed to discover the amount of Google traffic there is of people wondering if a famous person has Asperger’s. Here are 40+ examples of the most popular queries. I’ll start of the list with common questions about Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerberg, because there is loads of traffic around him:

Questions about Mark Zuckerberg (Austistic or Aspergers)

Is Mark Zuckerberg autistic? (700 queries/month)
Does Mark Zuckerberg have autism? (600 queries/month)
Mark Zuckerberg Aspergers? (15 queries/month)
Zuckerberg autism? (80 queries/month)
Does Mark Zuckerberg have Aspergers? (80 queries/month)
Is Zuckerberg autistic? (40 queries/month)
Does Mark Zuckerberg have Asperger Syndrome? (20 queries/month)
Zuckerberg Autistic? (20 queries/month)
Does Mark Zuckerberg have Asperger’s? (20 queries/month)
Mark Zuckerberg Aspergers? (20 queries/month)

The Autism Support Network says:

“The founder of Facebook, has a desperate deficit when it comes to human interaction. It quickly becomes clear that the character has something on the autistic spectrum, most likely Aspergers syndrome.”
source: Autism Support Network

More Famous Aspies?

My list is by no means complete. Please let me know if you find other successful people with Asperger Syndrome and I will be glad to add them to this growing list! Just ping me at [email protected].

If you enjoyed this list, you might also want to check out Famous People with Dyslexia [A List of 175+ Actors, Athletes, Musicians & Scientists] and Famous People with ADHD [100+ Actors, Entrepreneurs, Athletes, Musicians & More!]

Words Associated with Neurodiversity

During our research on notable people with Aspergers, we started making a list of words associated with neurodiversity. The list helps our clients write more inclusive job descriptions. We decided to put them all in one place in a glossary in this blog, 40+ Words Associated with Neurodiversity.

And a final thanks goes to…

Sources for my Research on Famous People with Asperger Syndrome

These pros helped me source the article — thank you!

Nicol Natale’s article on 7 Famous People You Didn’t Know Had Asperger’s Syndrome
Applied Behavior Analysis Programs Guide’s article on History’s 30 Most Inspiring People on the Autism Spectrum
Michelle Fattig’s article on Famous People Who Have or Had Asperger’s Syndrome
Colin Eldred-Choen’s article on 6 Creatives On The Autism Spectrum – Actors And Filmmakers
Michelle Fattig’s article on Famous People Who Have or Had Asperger’s Syndrome
Ranker. com’s article on Celebrities Who (Probably) Have Asperger’s Syndrome
Applied Behavior Analysis Edu’s article on 5 Top Athletes on the Autism Spectrum
Michael Capone’s article on Hockey Player Talks About Living With Asperger’s and ADHD
Nikolas DiDomenico’s blog on “I Didn’t Learn Until After Racing For a Few Years That Having a Label Can Be a Positive Thing”
Karen Gold’s article on The high-flying obsessives
Yousif Nur’s article on A comedian with Asperger’s who isn’t an antisocial introvert? It’s no joke
Erin Herbert’s blog on Athletes with Autism
Johanna Kristina’s list of Celebrities with autism or Asperger’s syndrome
Dr.John Brock’s article on Did Alan Turing have Asperger syndrome?
Wikipedia’s list of People with Asperger syndrome
Apoorva Madavilli’s article on Did Einstein have autism?
Peter Russell’s article on Singer Susan Boyle Reveals Asperger’s Diagnosis
Samantha Craft’s article on Meet Judy Singer a NeuroDiversity Pioneer
Fandom’s Parenthood Wiki
Emma Dalmayne’s article on Why I Appreciate Eminem Lyrics on Aspergers
A blog about Autism in the Media
Doran Miller-Rosenberg’s article on How Autism And Learning Disabilities Breed Incredible Rappers Like Chief Keef And Lil B
Stephan Shahinian’s article on The Neuro-Biology of Genius
Kerry Magro’s article on Why our autism community loves Sheldon Cooper
Dr. Frank Gaskill’s article on Top 10 Movies about Asperger’s and the Autism Spectrum, According to a Psychologist
“Autistic Asperger’s, I am exhausted having to conform to the norm (by Web24 News)
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has Asperger syndrome and depression, court hears (by Bill Goodwin)
Julian Assange: ‘I am – like all hackers – a little bit autistic’ (by Independent UK)
PEOPLE YOU KNOW WHO MAY HAVE ASPERGERS MINDS (by aspergersvic.org)
Elon Musk gets off to rocky start in SNL monologue, including false claim about being first host with Asperger’s (by Jolie Lash)
5 Famous Musicians with Autism Spectrum Disorder (by Applied Behavior Analysis)
Mindy Fox’s article on Asperger’s and “The Social Network”
Chris Packham recalls undiagnosed Asperger’s syndrome on TV walk (by BBC)
College football player with Asperger’s did the ‘impossible’ (by Matt L. Stephens)
Becoming A Star In A Year, Dealing With Aspergers For Life (by Nancy Pierce)
Defying expectations, people with autism are participating and excelling in sports (by Jon Wertheim and Stephanie Apstein)
Chris Rock reveals learning disorder diagnosis, says he has 7 hours of therapy a week (by Francesca Gariano)
Stifler Has Asperger’s Syndrome. A Bold Confession Of The Star Of “Warsaw Shore” (by Jewel Sandoval)

Why I wrote this?

Ongig is on a mission to eliminate boring and biased job descriptions. As part of this, we try to share best practices on all aspects of diversity. For example, Ongig’s Text Analyzer helps you avoid words that are exclusionary to famous (or non-famous) people with Asperger’s or other forms of Neurodiversity. Please visit Ongig if you’d like to learn more.

June 25, 2020 by Heather Barbour in Diversity and Inclusion

Tags: Diversity Diversity and Inclusion Famous People

Why do people with Asperger's Syndrome often seem haughty?

12/16/15

People with a form of autism such as Asperger's syndrome are often portrayed as arrogant and self-absorbed, but this impression may simply be a consequence of speech characteristics

Author: Gavin Bollard / Gavin Bollard
Life with Aspegers

People with Asperger's Syndrome often appear self-absorbed during conversations, which is reflected in media portrayals of "typical Aspies" such as Doc Martin from the British TV series of the same name or Sheldon Cooper from The Big Theory explosion. " The question is, do we deserve such a reputation? Of course, talking to a person with this syndrome can be a "challenging experience," but is it a certainty of one's own superiority, or just a set of speech features that can leave the wrong impression... and what can be done about the last option? nine0003

One-way conversation

People with Asperger's often begin to dominate the conversation, constantly returning to a topic of interest to them (special interests) and then continuing to talk about that topic until the other person runs away. To an outside observer, it may seem that this is an attempt to "dominate the conversation", which indicates a lack of interest in other people and their opinions.

In reality, people with Asperger's syndrome talk about their special interests because they think about them all the time, and in the case of "normal" people this does not seem to be the case. When you speak, you most often voice the thoughts that came to your mind, and in our case, it is not at all difficult to predict these thoughts. In fact, it is really difficult for us to switch our thoughts to any other topic, especially if it is a superficial question about “weather today” or “match yesterday”. nine0003

We can improve our conversational skills by learning to limit ourselves to special interest and listen more to others. For us, these are very complex skills that require constant practice, but they are very important.

Straightforwardness

People with Asperger's Syndrome often ask questions that are too direct, such as asking an older person about their age, or asking too much one after the other about a purchase they are interested in. Other people may find them "too intrusive" or just plain rude. nine0003

From the point of view of people with Asperger's, this is not the case at all. This is a manifestation of interest, participation and, at times, honesty - qualities that we value in our interlocutors.

Personally, I've always prided myself on being honest, but over the years I've learned that there are things you just shouldn't say. I am now so apprehensive about making personal comments that I am often accused of "never complimenting".

Very often comments that I made with the most friendly intentions were misunderstood. I find it easier to avoid all personal comments than to take the risk of making compliments that can lead to unforeseen consequences. nine0003

This is an area where other people will have to change their unrealistic expectations of us. Of course, over the years, through trial and error, I have learned to avoid certain phrases and questions. And most likely, as you get to know each other better, these problems will decrease.

Interrupting and blurting out lines

Often people with Asperger's will interrupt others during a conversation, or they will suddenly blurt out what seems to be a random fact. This can lead to the impression that they consider their speech to be more important than the speech of others, or that they are simply rude. nine0003

Blurring out lines can be a symptom of being "overexcited" about a topic, or a great need to get information across before it gets out of your head. People with Asperger's Syndrome often have excellent long-term memory, but their short-term memory may be very poor, and they may rightly fear that they will simply forget the answer formulated in their head.

Most often interruption is due to the fact that a person simply cannot determine what points are appropriate for his own answer. Very often, when other people start talking to each other, the person with Asperger's syndrome watches their conversation for a while, as if watching a tennis match, and then just leaves. It's not being rude, it's just that he can't find the right "gaps" where he himself can join in the conversation. After several similar attempts, the unexpected blurt out of a cue is hardly surprising. nine0003

In general

There are many other nuances to Asperger's conversation, but the answer is usually the same. A person with Asperger's needs to work on some skills, other skills can only develop themselves over time, and sometimes other people need to show more understanding and flexibility.

The more you interact with a person with Asperger's Syndrome, the easier it will be for you to adjust to their "original" speech and outlook. If you watch the series that I mentioned earlier, then consider whether your perception of such characters has changed now that you know more about the reasons for such behavior. The apparent confidence in their superiority, as a rule, is nothing more than an illusion. nine0003

We hope that the information on our website will be useful or interesting for you. You can support people with autism in Russia and contribute to the work of the Foundation by clicking on the "Help" button.

Notes of an Autist, First Person, Asperger's Syndrome

10 famous people with Asperger's Syndrome. Dropi

December 4, 2017, 13:05 / Author: Oksana Byvaltseva

Asperger's Syndrome is a form of high functioning autism that is a lifelong dysfunction that affects how a person perceives the world, processes information and relates to other people. Many people with autism have made enormous contributions to society. In fact, some of the most famous people or geniuses have been autistic. nine0003

Source: list25.com

Stories #celebrities #asperger's syndrome

1. Stanley Kubrick

Famous film director, Stanley Kubrick was quite intrusive and had trouble interacting with people. Asperger's Syndrome sharpened his attention to detail and may have made him a great filmmaker! nine0003

2. Dan Aykroyd

The Canadian actor said that Asperger's helped him with Ghostbusters because he was obsessed with ghosts and law enforcement, both of which made him the perfect actor for the role! For those who don't know, Asperger's Syndrome can cause a person to focus on a narrow range of interests.

3. Robin Williams

Due to his social awkwardness and hyperactivity, it has been suggested that the late comedian probably has a form of autism very similar to Asperger's syndrome. It is also known that he struggled with depression for a long time. nine0003

4. Susan Boyle

The famous Scottish singer won 2nd place in Britain's Got Talent in 2009. Although she was diagnosed with brain damage at birth, the diagnosis was subsequently invalidated. She actually has Asperger's, which partly explains her lack of control over her emotions.

5. James Durbin

James finished 4th on American Idol in 2011. And he has not only Asperger's syndrome, but also Tourette's syndrome. Apparently, singing helps him cope with both. nine0003

6. Abraham Lincoln

The sixteenth president of the United States suffered from depression and anxiety attacks, symptoms that many researchers have linked to autism. In addition, Lincoln often had nervous breakdowns.

7. Daryl Hannah

When she was young, social interaction was a real nightmare for Daryl. She even rocked back and forth to calm herself. Despite this, she continued to overcome all difficulties and became a famous actress in Hollywood.

Learn more