28 Famous People With Asperger Syndrome

Who are the most famous celebrities with Asperger Syndrome?

Introduction

Asperger syndrome is a form of autism. It was formerly described as a distinct autism spectrum disorder, but in May 2013, the DSM-5 combined the diagnosis for Asperger syndrome with the autistic disorder into one condition called autism spectrum disorder.

A person with Asperger syndrome finds it harder to read social signals, therefore, it is harder for a sufferer to interact and communicate with others.

Common symptoms of AS include:

the preference for a strict routine or schedule;
problems maintaining or making friendships;
a remarkable rote memory;
interpretation of information as literal;
minimal interaction in social situations;
fascination with certain topics;
poor eye contact;
a tendency to engage in one-sided conversations;
trouble interpreting gestures;
the ability to focus on something intensely;
problems communicating feelings, controlling emotions, or expressing empathy;
odd mannerisms;
inappropriate behaviors;
a high IQ;
inability to recognize sarcasm, irony, and humor.

List Of 28 Famous People With Asperger Syndrome:

#1 Sir Anthony Hopkins

During a 2017 interview, Anthony said he had received a late-in-life diagnosis of AS. He also said it has helped him get into roles as an actor.

Hopkins added that he thinks that being on the spectrum made him “a loner.”

#2 James Durbin

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He was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome and Tourette syndrome. Durbin said:

“As I was getting older, at school people would tell me, ‘Cut that out!’ ‘Stop that!’ – I can’t!” … “I always got made fun of, beat up. I was just LOST.”

#3 Robert Durst

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He is the son of New York City mogul Seymour Durst.

Durst was arrested in New Orleans for first-degree murder.

After more than 70 hours of examination, Robert was diagnosed with AS.

#4 Elliot John Gleave (Example)

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During an interview, he said:

”I was diagnosed with Asperger’s when I was younger.”

Example went on to say:

”I was amazing with numbers, I had a photographic memory, and I hated reading fiction, preferring books on nature and history. All symptoms of mild autism.”

#5 Robert White

He described himself as:

“the only gay, Aspergic, quarter-Welsh comic on the British comedy circuit.”

#6 Jason Zimmerman

Jason Zimmerman, better known by his nickname – ”gamertag Mew2King,” has suffered from periodic depression as well as AS during his career.

#7 Daryl Hannah

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During an interview, she said:

“I never went on talk shows, never went to premieres.”

Daryl later added:

“These days I have little tricks that I do to help me cope,” she told Women’s Weekly. As long as I remember to do them, then I am okay.”

#8 Cody Ware

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He is an American professional motorcycle racer and stock car racing driver who revealed on his social media account that he was diagnosed with AS in 2018.

#9 Hans Van Themsche

Hans is a Belgian student who shot 3 people in 2006. In 2008, Van Themsche was sentenced to life in prison.

At his trial, it was revealed that he suffered from a narcissistic personality disorder and AS.

#10 Penelope Trunk

Penelope is an American blogger, author, and businesswoman. She is the author of the following books:

The Power of Mentors: The Guide to Finding and Learning from Your Ideal Mentor;
The New American Dream: A Blueprint for a New Path to Success;
Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success.

She has been diagnosed with AS.

#11 Greta Thunberg

She is a Swedish activist who began protesting at age 15 outside the Swedish parliament in 2018 about the need for immediate action to combat climate change.

In March 2019, 3 members of the Norwegian parliament nominated Greta for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Thunberg was diagnosed with selective mutism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and AS.

#12 Dan Aykroyd

Dan told The Guardian:

“My very mild Asperger’s has helped me creatively.”

Aykroyd continued:

”I sometimes hear a voice and think ‘That could be a character I could do.’”

#13 Raymond Thompson

He is a British-born Canadian/New Zealand producer, composer, and screenwriter, who founded the Cloud 9’s Children Foundation. Both Raymond and his son were diagnosed with AS.

#14 Daniel Tammet

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He is an English autistic savant, translator, poet, novelist, and essayist. His books have been published in more than twenty languages.

Daniel was diagnosed with AS at age 24.

#15 Susanna Tamaro

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She is an Italian novelist who published Luisito – A Love Story in 2018.

In the same year, Tamaro announced that she has been affected by AS since her early years of life.

#16 Linus Söderström

He is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender who is under contract with the New York Islanders.

Linus was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and AS at the age of 7.

#17 Ladyhawke

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She was diagnosed with AS in 2008.

During an interview, Ladyhawke declared:

“I only have a very mild form of it and there are some people who have it so bad that they find it too hard to even write a message to me.”

Ladyhawke also said:

“People shouldn’t be scared of it or anything. Some people don’t even realize that they have it.”

#18 Slushii

He is an American record producer and DJ who is based in LA. During a recent interview, he said:

”Really the whole Asperger’s thing, my social skills were horrible, awful, like high school was a nightmare.”

Slushii went on to say:

”I never took the time to reach out to anybody but at the same time it’s like that time that I spent cooped up in my own hole.”

#19 Courtney Love

According to her biography titled – ”Courtney Love: The Real Story,” the American singer was diagnosed with AS at age 9.

#20 Rudy Simone

She is an American author of books on AS. In addition, Simone has kept conferences on AS and autism in the United Kingdom.

#21 John Elder Robison

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He is an author who was diagnosed with AS at age 40.

He even detailed his savant abilities and life experiences in his memoir, named – ”Look Me in the Eye.”

#22 Marcelo Ríos

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Marcelo Ríos, nicknamed El zurdo de Vitacura and El Chino, is a former world No. 1 tennis player from Chile.

In 2016, Marcelo said that he was diagnosed with AS.

#23 Chris Packham

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He is an English naturalist who is best known for his nature series, named – ”The Really Wild Show.”

Chris was diagnosed with AS in 2005.

#24 Gary Numan

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Numan once said:

”I had some problems during my school years and, after many trips to a child psychologist, it was suggested that I had Asperger’s.”

#25 Paula Hamilton

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Hamilton is an English model who revealed in 2007 that she was suffering from a combination of AS, developmental coordination disorder, and dyslexia.

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#26 Susan Boyle

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During an interview, Boyle said:

“It’s a condition that I have to live with and work through, but I feel more relaxed about myself.”

Susan later added:

”People will have a greater understanding of who I am and why I do the things I do.”

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#27 Guy Martin

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After he was diagnosed with AS, Martin confessed:

”It hasn’t changed anything, it just confirms why I do certain things in a certain way.”

#28 Satoshi Tajiri

Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokémon, has been reported to have Asperger’s Syndrome.

Here’s a quick recap of the famous people with Asperger Syndrome:

Sir Anthony Hopkins
James Durbin
Robert Durst
Elliot John Gleave (Example)
Robert White
Jason Zimmerman
Daryl Hannah
Cody Ware
Hans Van Themsche
Penelope Trunk
Greta Thunberg
Dan Aykroyd
Raymond Thompson
Daniel Tammet
Susanna Tamaro
Linus Söderström
Ladyhawke
Slushii
Courtney Love
Rudy Simone
John Elder Robison
Marcelo Ríos
Chris Packham
Gary Numan
Paula Hamilton
Susan Boyle
Guy Martin
Satoshi Tajiri

Featured image credit – Getty Images

READ THIS NEXT: Famous People With Autism

References

https://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is/asperger.aspx
https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/study-confirms-a-gene-linked-to
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15909404