Famous People Suspected to Have Autism

Was Albert Einstein Autistic?

There are many famous people with autism. Some you may suspect, while others go unnoticed. Throughout history, many of the great composers, artists, politicians, scientists, writers, and others have exhibited symptoms associated with disorders on the autism spectrum. While not all of these famous people are confirmed to have autism, they do have many personality traits in common with the recognized symptoms of autism.

Famous People Who May Have Autism Symptoms

There's lots of debate about this list of famous people with autism, but there is no doubt that these people are or were very talented and/or successful. Does autism play into those talents or successes? The following is a list of people suspected to have or have had autism, although in many cases, the symptoms were only borderline:

  • Virginia Woolf: Prolific writer rumored to write only while standing up
  • Andrew Jackson: Former President of the U.S. said to believe the world was flat
  • Daryl Hannah: Actress diagnosed with borderline autism
  • Sue Rubin: The subject of the documentary Autism is a World
  • Woody Allen: Brilliant director and actor who exhibits some signs
  • Bob Dylan: Musician who is rumored to be borderline autistic
  • Andy Kaufman: Famous comic and actor whose odd behavior indicated autism
  • Vincent van Gogh: An eccentric yet extremely talented artist who exhibited some traits of autism
  • Andy Warhol: Another brilliant artist whose behavior indicates possible autism
  • Courtney Love: Widow of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain who was diagnosed with mild autism at three years old
  • Hikari Oe: Famous Japanese composer said to be autistic
  • Dylan Scott Pierce: A wildlife illustrator who is considered to have high functioning autism
  • Donna Williams: Australian author of Nobody Nowhere and Somebody Somewhere who was diagnosed with autism in her 20s
  • Bill Gates: American business magnate, philanthropist, author, and chairman of Microsoft
  • Isaac Newton: English physicist, mathematician, and astronomer
  • Albert Einstein: German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity
  • Steven Spielberg: American film director, screenwriter, film producer, and studio executive
  • Dawn Prince Hughes: PhD, primate anthropologist, ethnologist
  • Matthew Laborteaux: Actor on Little House on the Prairie
  • Jasmine O'Neill: Author of Through the Eyes of Aliens
  • Robert Gagno: Actor from Vancouver
  • Birger Sellin: Author from Germany
  • Temple Grandin: Author and inspiration for a movie about her life

Famous People Who May Have Asperger's

There are numerous well-known people who exhibit many of the characteristics associated with Asperger's syndrome (AS). Although the majority of these people were never formally diagnosed with the disorder, they do show evidence of many of the prominent symptoms, such as obsessive need for routine and repetitive behavior. The following is a list of famous people who are thought to have or have had Asperger's syndrome:

  • Harry Truman: Because Truman's parents were thought to have exhibited classics signs, it was suggested that he may also have had this disorder.
  • Abraham Lincoln: This former president suffered from depression and anxiety, symptoms often associated with AS.
  • Dan Aykroyd: At one time, Aykroyd made the statement that he did have Asperger's, but others said that he was only kidding.
  • Satoshi Tajiri: The creator of Pokémon is said to exhibit some classic symptoms of the disorder.
  • James Durbin: This American Idol contestant who wowed the audience with his performance has AS.

Well-Known Potential Autistic Savants

There are also those who are known as savants, people with extraordinary abilities, and several of these are famous as well:

  • James Garfield: The twentieth U.S. president was said to have the ability to write Latin with one hand and write Greek with the other simultaneously.
  • Leonardo da Vinci: His tendency toward perfection was at times obsessive. For example, it is reported that he spent twelve years painting Mona Lisa's lips.
  • Kim Peek: He was the inspiration for the character played by Dustin Hoffman in the movie Rain Man. Ironically, Kim did not have autism; his corpus callosum was absent.
  • Alonzo Clemons: He suffered a head injury in an accident when he was a toddler that changed his life. While he is unable to feed himself, he is a talented sculptor.
  • Ellen Boudreaux: She is a blind autistic savant with exceptional musical abilities.

Speculation About Autism

These are only a few of the many famous people who may exhibit autistic traits. As more is known and understood about this condition, more famous people may be labeled autistic as well. Speculation about famous people is rampant, even when it comes to developmental disorders. It's important to keep in mind that exploring autistic traits in well known individuals can help people understand the spectrum better, but it doesn't mean that each should have been diagnosed with a disorder.