Autism Soccer: Famous Actors with Autism You Didn’t Know about

Actors deal with autism too and represent this condition on the big and small screen for those at home.

When we think about Hollywood celebrities, we rarely wonder about what’s going on in their minds. Actors might seem pure extroverts that enjoy all the attention and fame, but that’s not always the case. Even though it might seem like the life on the spotlight and an acting career would be the last choice for people on the autism spectrum, some actors have gone out of their ways to talk about their diagnosis and how autism has impacted their careers and lives.

When we talk about famous individuals, autistic actors are a rare sight. You’re more likely to find musicians and scientists on this field. But one thing’s true: autism didn’t stop them from taking a chance and work hard to star in some of the most remembered films and TV series of all time. It wasn’t easy, sure, but they kept going and took control over their futures. Here are three actors that live with diagnosed autism and you had no idea about it!

Daryl Hannah

Eighties iconic actress, Daryl Hannah, made her first appearance in 1978’s film The Fury, and then went on to participate in productions such as Blade Runner, Wall Street, Splash and Kill Bill: Volume 1. She’s worked alongside directors like Ron Howard, Quentin Tarantino, and Oliver Stone and co-starred with Hollywood stars like Tom Hanks, Harrison Ford, and Michael Douglas. But one thing she’s spent most of her life in private is her battle with Asperger’s Syndrome.

She opened up about it publicly in 2013. “I was a little odd and incredibly introverted and withdrawn when I was young,” said Hannah about her childhood. She suffered bullying and has explained in interviews that doctors recommended having her medicated and institutionalized. Fortunately, her mother disagreed, and she was able to find in acting a vehicle for her vivid imagination.

“It’s confronting and always has been. But it’s the way I am; the way I have always been. I’m still not great in crowds. I’m fine one on one, but in larger groups, I lose my sense of self. Big events are always uncomfortable for me, and I don’t know if I will ever grow out of it. I try to keep those feelings under control, but it takes a lot of focus and concentration, and energy. It’s not always easy.” Dannah described in an interview with The Weekly. She now lives a calmer life as an environmentalist activist and has worked in the popular TV series Sense8.

Dan Aykroyd

You probably remember comedian, actor, and producer Dan Aykroyd for his works on Saturday Night Live, Ghostbusters and The Blues Brothers. The 65-year-old actor has been diagnosed with Tourette's since he was 12 and Asperger’s Syndrome since the eighties. Curiously, Ghostbusters came to be thanks to his condition.

“One of my symptoms included my obsession with ghosts and law enforcement — I carry around a police badge with me, for example. I became obsessed by Hans Holzer, the greatest ghost hunter ever. That’s when the idea of my film Ghostbusters was born.” He told in an interview with Daily Mail. That’s for anyone who says that individuals on the autism spectrum can’t be creative!

Matthew Labyorteaux

Although Labyorteaux has never been a huge celebrity, people remember him fondly for his work in 1977’s House on the Prairie. He’s also notable for his roles as a voice actor in films like Mulan. The truth is Matthew didn’t walk until the age of 3 and didn’t talk until he was 5. According to his mother, doctors held little hope that he could ever live a normal life.

About his childhood, his mother remembers: “He slept standing up in his crib, and when anyone would try to pick him up he would scream and try to get away. I spent months on the floor with Matthew screaming and me holding him down telling him that no matter what he did I would love him." He then picked an interest in acting and went on to live a pretty normal life.

As you can see, for these artists, acting became a way to cope and overcome the difficulties that living with autism can bring into our lives. Acting can be a good vehicle to channel anxiety and strong emotions! At Autism Soccer, our goal is to provide exercises and techniques to strengthen our kids’ mental health and help them live a happier life!