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
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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.
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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 in great length his many bouts of unrequited love for those who were 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. 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 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. Dickinson’s biographer, Lyndall Gordon, insists that Dickinson’s epilepsy is what made her so reclusive. But 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. He received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1933. Dirac almost refused the prize. He 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
Was 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. 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 well as inability to cope in an unstructured environment.
Bill Gates
1955-present
Is Bill Gates autistic? Quite a few autism experts seem to think so! Nothing has ever been confirmed regarding whether or not Gates falls on the autism spectrum. However, 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.
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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 a few 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. There are those who argue that the third president of the United States fell somewhere on the autism spectrum. They 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 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 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. She 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. She was 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 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 were determined through dozens of contemporary notes and letters. They 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. He 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 suggesting 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. This 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. This is 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 often been cited 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, is a Trinity College professor who recently published a paper asserting that Charles Darwin likely had some form of autism spectrum disorder. He 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.
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