10 Celebrities you may not have known were Autistic

By Clara H

Being on the Autism Spectrum can be very challenging at times. These famous people on the spectrum have been able to use their unique ways of viewing the world to achieve great success. Some of these people may surprise you. You might not have known that all these well-known stars are actually on the spectrum. This list just may prove to you that those with autism can stand out big in the world.

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​1. Dan Aykroyd

Many people on the Autism Spectrum develop special interests to certain topics. Dan Aykroyd, the famous comedian, actor, screenwriter, and singer has always been extremely interested in ghosts and law enforcement. It led him to write Ghostbusters in 1984. Aykroyd described his childhood as "happy" even though he had Tourettes Syndrome at a very extreme level. Around the same time, Ghostbusters came out he was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. Since then, Aykroyd has been very open about his experiences on the spectrum.
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2. Courtney Love

Courtney Love, a very successful singer and songwriter known for her punk and grunge was diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum at the age of nine. As a child, she struggled academically and behaviorally leading her to get bullied. She later was expelled from school as a teenager because her behavior difficulties got worse when she was in high school. Music has helped her with getting her thoughts out to other people without being viewed as aggressive. 

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3. Sir Anthony Hopkins

Actor, Director, and Producer Anthony Hopkins has won two Emmys, three BAFTAs, and the Cecil B. DeMille Award. Overall, he has worked for more than 80 movies including "The Lion in Winter" and "Remains of the Day". Growing up, Hopkins was referred by the headmaster at boarding school as "hopeless" because of poor ability to learn. He claims to have spent most of his childhood feeling lonely and angry. In the year 2007 he and his daughter, Abigail, were both diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. 

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4. Susan Boyle

 Susan Boyle's rise to fame was when she sang "I Dreamed a Dream" on Britain's Got Talent in 2009. Over the past ten years, she has sold more than 25 million records worldwide. Although she is very successful in her career, her childhood was very hard. She was severely bullied in school and would have pubic outbursts. She even spent 50 years of her life being told that she had brain damage. In 2013 doctors concluded that she definitely does not have brain damage and diagnosed her with Asperger's Syndrome. 

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5. Matthew Labyorteaux 

Best known for his role as Albert Quinn Ingalls in "Little House on the Prairie" from 1978-83, Matthew Labyorteaux was told as a young boy that he would never have a normal life after being diagnosed with Autism as a toddler. He did not walk until the age of three and didn't speak for the first five years of his life. Labyorteaux would have tantrums about everything as a kid. Well, everything except for acting. It was an outlet for him leading to great success. 
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6. Daryl Hannah

Daryl Hannah started her acting career when she was 17 years old and as of 2019, she has been in over 90 films. Her first few years as an actress she would refuse to attend the premiers of her own movies or her go on talk shows. When she was a little girl she would always rock back and forth when she was at school and other public places. Doctors even wanted to place her in an institution as a child because of her Autism but her mother would not allow it.
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7. Satoshi Tajiri 

As a child, Satoshi Tajiri would spend most of his time collecting bugs and playing arcade games. This fantasize led him to create one of the most popular nintendo games of all time... Pokémon. Tajiri has Asperger Syndrome. He claims it helped him design the game. He does not like talking about his condition to the public so it is unknown how old he was when diagnosed or what his traits are.
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8. Alexis Wineman 

Alexis Wineman was diagnosed with PDD-NOS when she was 11 years old. She is the first known autistic contestant to compete in the Miss America pageant. Growing up she struggled with speech difficulties, communication challenges, and sensory sensitivities. She was bulled in high school for not talking and for always wearing hoodies. Winning Miss America in 2012 proved all those people wrong. Currently, Wineman is an advocate for those with Autism encouraging them to reach their highest potential.

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9. James Durbin 

James Durbin is a singer and guitarist who won fourth place in the tenth season of American Idol in 2011 who continues to perform today. His backstory though is quite depressing. He remembers being diagnosed with Asperger's and Tourettes Syndrome at the age of ten. He was badly bullied for making weird noises and faces he couldn't control, having large ears, and for having lost his father. This caused him to have suicidal thoughts and drop out of high school. Durbin discovered his musical interest after seeing his older sister in a musical theater production.  
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10. Heather Kuzmich

Fashion Model, Heather Kuzmich is best known for being a contestant on "America's Next Top Model". She was made fun of by other contestants for her behaviors. Growing up she was placed in a school for students with learning difficulties. She was diagnosed with a speech delay as a toddler and Asperger Syndrome at the age of 15. Throughout her life she has had trouble with social communication, making eye contact, and forming friendships. Kuzmich's Autism affects her career as well. She has a hard time with commercials and sometimes freezes up on state in front audiences.