Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that can affect communication, social interaction, and behavior. The severity of symptoms can vary greatly among individuals with ASD. Some may have mild symptoms and function well while others may have more severe symptoms that significantly impact their daily lives.
Treatment options may include behavioral therapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and medication to manage anxiety or irritability. Early intervention and treatment can help manage the symptoms of individuals with ASD. Below is a list of 50 celebrities who are diagnosed with autism.
1. Courtney Love
| Full Name | Courtney Michelle Love (née Harrison) |
| Date of Birth | July 9, 1964 |
| Place of Birth | San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer, musician, songwriter, actress |
| Year active | 1981 |
Courtney Love, who was born on July 9, 1964, is an American artist with skills in singing, guitar playing, songwriting, and acting. She became famous during the 1990s as the lead singer of the alternative rock band Hole. In addition to her musical career, Love has also acted in a number of films and television shows, including Man on the Moon, Sons of Anarchy, and The People vs. Larry Flynt, which earned her Golden Globe nomination.
When she was nine, a psychologist observed that she displayed symptoms of autism, including touch sensitivity. Love has been known for her controversial public image and personal life. She has been outspoken on a variety of issues, including feminism, drug addiction, and mental health.
2. Susan Boyle
| Full Name | Susan Magdalane Boyle |
| Date of Birth | April 1, 1961 |
| Place of Birth | Dechmont, West Lothian, Scotland |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Year active | 1998-present |
Susan Boyle was born on 1 April 1961, in Dechmont, West Lothian, Scotland. She was a music lover, she sang in local choirs and in small venues. Boyle gained attention when she appeared on the television show “Britain’s Got Talent” in 2009.
One of Boyle’s most stunning performances, “I Dreamed a Dream” from the musical Les Misérables, went viral and made her an overnight sensation. Despite having gained so much fame, she admitted that she was on the Autism spectrum from 2012 – 2013, she faced challenges such as learning difficulties and bullying, and she pursued her dream of becoming a singer.
3. David Byrne
| Full Name | David Byrne |
| Date of Birth | May 14, 1952 |
| Place of Birth | Dumbarton, Scotland |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, music theorist, visual artist, actor, writer, filmmaker |
| Year active | 1971–present |
David Byrne was born on 14 May 1952, in Dumbarton, Scotland. He moved to Hamilton, Ontario in Canada, and then continued to emigrate to the U.S. for his father’s work. Byrne had a sense of music as he already knew how to play the guitar, accordion, and violin. However, he was too “off-key and too withdrawn”, he did not attend his middle school’s choir. He began his career as a member of a duo Bizadi with Marc Kehoe somewhere between 1971 and 1972. In addition to his musical career, he also acted in several films. He freely opened up that he is on the autism spectrum,
4. Johnny Dean
| Full Name | John Hutchinson Dean |
| Date of Birth | December 12, 1971 |
| Place of Birth | Salisbury, United Kingdom |
| Occupation | Singer, musician, songwriter, artist, writer, activist |
| Year active | 1993 |
Johnny Dean was born on 12 December 1971, in Salisbury, United Kingdom. He gained recognition for his appearance in the rock band Pulp’s music video “Do You Remember the First Time?”. He is a well-known figure from the Britpop era of the 1990s, having been a frontman and musician for bands such as Menswear and Messiah. Additionally, he was diagnosed with a pervasive developmental disorder in 2009 (known as ASD) and has been involved in various events aimed at raising awareness for the autistic spectrum.
5. Jessica-Jane Applegate
| Full Name | Jessica-Jane Applegate |
| Date of Birth | August 22, 1996 |
| Place of Birth | Great Yarmouth, England |
| Occupation | Paralympic swimmer |
Jessica-Jane Applegate was born on 22 August 1996, in Great Yarmouth, England. She was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at a young age and started swimming as a therapy method. Her talent and dedication to swimming were soon recognized, she then began competing at a high level. She won her first Paralympic gold medal at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London and also set a new world record in the process. In addition to her athletic accomplishments, she has also been recognized for her advocacy work for people with disabilities.
6. Todd Hodgetts
| Full Name | Todd Hodgetts |
| Date of Birth | March 23, 1988 |
| Place of Birth | Launceston, Tasmania, Australia |
| Occupation | Athlete |
Todd Hodgetts was born on 23 March 1988, in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. He is a para-athlete, who competes in the shot put. Hodgetts made his national team debut in 2005 and won the gold medal at the 2012 London Paralympics in the Men’s Shot Put F20 event.
He has won numerous medals in major competitions, he set a world record in the shot put at the 2012 Australian Athletics Championships, won bronze at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships and gold at the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships, and so on. Todd has an autism spectrum disorder and is an inspiration to overcome adversity.
7. Lisa Llorens
| Full Name | Lisa Christina Llorens |
| Date of Birth | January 17, 1978 |
| Place of Birth | Canberra, Australia |
| Occupation | Paralympic athlete |
Lisa Llorens was born on 17 January 1978, in Canberra, Australia. She is an Australian Paralympic athlete in high jumping, long jumping, and sprinting, specifically for athletes with autism. Llorens is known as “The Cheetah” due to her love for cheetahs and her speed on the track.
She won several medals at the 1996 Summer Paralympics and received a Medal of the Order of Australia. At the 2000 Summer Paralympics, Llorens continued to win three gold medals and a silver medal. She held the Paralympic world record for her long jumps.
She retired from the sport in 2004 due to the International Paralympic Committee’s decision to remove events for intellectually disabled athletes from its official activities.
8. Ulysse Delsaux
| Full Name | Ulysse Delsaux |
| Date of Birth | September 22, 1997 |
| Place of Birth | Troyes, France |
| Occupation | Racing driver |
| Year active | 2011 |
Ulysse Delsaux was born on 22 September 1997, in Troyes, France. Before following a professional career as a racing driver, he debuted in kart racing. He drives the No. 10 Chevrolet Camaro for RDV Competition in both the EuroNASCAR PRO and EuroNASCAR 2 classes. Delsaux was diagnosed with high-functioning autism as a child, which made it difficult for him to communicate with others. He still requires monthly visits to his doctor. Despite this, he became a champion in the Euro Series and also won the EuroNASCAR 2 championship in 2018.
9. Tommy Des Brisay
| Full Name | Tommy Des Brisay |
| Date of Birth | December 19, 1991 |
| Place of Birth | Ottawa, Canada |
| Occupation | Paralympian |
| Year active | Unknown |
Tommy Des Brisay was born on December 19, 1991, in Ottawa, Canada. He received an Autism diagnosis at the age of 2 and began speaking at the age of 7. He confessed that Disney’s programs helped him so much with his language learning process. Despite struggling with the language, Tommy is hyperactive with climbing, exploring, and jumping on his trampoline all the time. Tommy is famous as a wonderful para athletic runner, he finished 1st place at the Canada Army Run 2016, finishing ahead of 8800 runners. Tommy shares his inspiring story with the world on YouTube and his website.
10. Hannah Gadsby
| Full Name | Hannah Gadsby |
| Date of Birth | 1978 |
| Place of Birth | Smithton, Tasmania, Australia |
| Occupation | Comedian, writer, and actress |
Hannah Gadsby was born in 1978 in Smithton, Tasmania, Australia. She is a comedian, writer and actress. She studied art history but she chose to be a stand-up comedian in the early 2000s. She performed at various comedy festivals and venues, earning critical acclaim such as second prize in “So You Think You’re Funny?” competition or “the 2007 Best Newcomer Award” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and so on.
Gadsby was diagnosed with ADHD and autism in 2017, she stated that “I’ve always been plagued by a sense that I was a little out of whack”.
11. Robert White
| Full Name | Robert White |
| Place of Birth | Horsham in West Sussex, England. |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Comedian, music teacher, and YouTuber. |
Robert White was born in Horsham, West Sussex, England. He has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome as well as dyslexia. He is a comedian, music teacher and YouTuber.
Robert White came in the second place in Series 12 of Britain’s Got Talent and he was praised by the judges for his humor and unique style with David calling him a “funny man” and Simon admiring his edginess. He is an outspoken advocate of the LGBT community, and his “Tank Top Tour” began in 2018. In addition, he published a new song in honor of World Autism Awareness Day. He also participated in David Walliams’ “Comedy Christmas Calendar” skit in Winter 2020 alongside other comedians like Francine Lewis, Lost Voice Guy.
12. Bethany Black
| Full Name | Bethany Black |
| Date of Birth | 24 December 1978 |
| Place of Birth | Chorley, Lancashire, England |
| Occupation | Stand up comedian, actor and writer |
| Year active | 2003 |
Bethany Black was born on December 24, 1978, in Chorley, Lancashire, England. She is a comedian who is widely known as “Britain’s only goth, lesbian, transsexual comedian,” and her performances are often centered around black comedy. Black dealt with depression throughout her childhood. She began her career at “Club Fuzzy,” a music club located in Preston. Her career breakthrough came in 2005 when for her performance at the Manchester Pride festival. In 2018, Black was diagnosed with autism, ADHD, OCD, and agoraphobia. She referenced these diagnoses during her show “Unwinnable” at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe that same year.
13. Mel Baggs
| Full Name | Amelia Evelyn Voicy Baggs born Amanda Melissa Baggs |
| Date of Birth | August 15, 1980 |
| Death | April 11, 2020 |
| Place of Birth | Mountain View, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Non-binary blogger |
Amelia Evelyn Voicy Baggs was born in 1980 and died in 2020 (39 years old for respiratory failure). Although He was suffering from many diseases (bipolar disorder, munchausen syndrome, dissociative disorder, psychotic disorder, schizophrenia , gastroparesis and of course autism), he chose to be a helpful person to his community. He could only speak thanks to a communication device.
He was also known as Mel Baggs who was an American non-binary blogger. Baggs created a website with the name of “Getting the Truth Out” to respond to a campaign by the Autism Society of America (ASA). The ASA campaign made autistic people objects of pity and worked with Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists that were researching autism.
His video “In My Language” was posted in 2007 to describe the experience of living as a person with autism and it became the subject of several articles on CNN.
People know his works: “Toward a voice for everyone”, “Why we should listen to ‘unusual’ voices” and “In My Language” (YouTube, 2007).
14. Jason McElwain
| Full Name | Jason McElwain |
| Date of Birth | October 20, 1988 |
| Place of Birth | Rochester, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Athlete in basketball and marathon, public speaker |
Jason McElwain was born on October 20, 1988, in Rochester, New York, U.S. He is an amateur athlete in both basketball and marathon and a public speaker with high-functioning autism. McElwain was prominent as playing in a high-school basketball game and scored twenty points in the final few minutes of the game. He won the ESPY Award for Best Moment in Sports in 2006 and he made his professional basketball debut with the Rochester Razorsharks later on.
McElwain was diagnosed with high-functioning autism at the age of two and was involved in various fundraising activities to support autism research and increase awareness about the condition.
15. Tony DeBlois
| Full Name | Anthony Thomas DeBlois |
| Date of Birth | January 22, 1974 |
| Place of Birth | American |
| Occupation | Musician |
Tony DeBlois (born January 22, 1974) is an American musician and savant who was born prematurely and became blind due to high levels of oxygen intake as an infant. He started playing piano at the age of two and later attended schools for the blind in Texas and Massachusetts before receiving a scholarship to Berklee College of Music in 1989. He graduated magna cum laude in 1996.
DeBlois is a jazz specialist but can play a wide range of music genres and is proficient in playing 20 different musical instruments. He has performed concerts worldwide and has his band called Goodnuf. He has memorized about 8,000 musical pieces. A TV movie titled Journey of the Heart was made about his life in 1997, with DeBlois himself playing the piano at the end of the movie.
16. Jodi DiPiazza
| Full Name | Jodi DiPiazza |
| Date of Birth | October 3, 2001 |
| Place of Birth | New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer |
Jodi DiPiazza was born on October 3, 2001, in New Jersey, U.S. She is a musician, composer, vocalist, and autism advocate who was diagnosed with autism before her second birthday. Currently, she is studying music at Rollins College in Florida and can play various instruments such as the piano, guitar, clarinet, and drums.
DiPiazza has performed in various events such as the Night of Too Many Stars fundraiser, where she sang a duet with Katy Perry and “Weird Al” Yankovic. She has also appeared on TV shows like Good Morning America, El Tiempo, and Fox News Street Talk where she showcased her talents. In addition to her musical career, DiPiazza is also an autism advocate who has raised awareness and funds for Autism Speaks.
17. Dan Aykroyd
| Full Name | Daniel Edward Aykroyd |
| Date of Birth | July 1, 1952 |
| Place of Birth | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician |
| Year active | 1971 |
Dan Aykroyd was born on July 1, 1952 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He is known for his work on Saturday Night Live and in many films such as Ghostbusters and The Blues Brothers.
Aykroyd started his career in the entertainment field as a member of the Second City comedy troupe. Aykroyd has won several awards for his performances including an Emmy and a Grammy. He is also a successful businessman and a co-founder of the House of Blues chain of music venues. He also took part in the recording of “We Are the World” in 1985.
Dan had been diagnosed in childhood with Tourette syndrome (a comorbid disorder with autism spectrum disorders) but was successfully treated with therapy.
18. Rachel Barcellona
| Full Name | Rachel Barcellona |
| Date of Birth | January 31, 1997 |
| Place of Birth | Florida, United States |
| Occupation | Beauty pageant contestant and activist |
Rachel Barcellona was born on January 31, 1997, in Florida, United States. She is a beauty pageant contestant, who has been competing in pageants since the age of five, and also an autism advocate. Barcellona is currently Miss Manatee River and also won several titles such as Miss Florida International in 2016 and Miss Southeast International in 2017. Barcellona was diagnosed with autism spectrum at the age of 3, which made it difficult to make friends.
19. Roseanne Barr
| Full Name | Roseanne Cherrie Barr |
| Date of Birth | November 3, 1952 |
| Place of Birth | Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress, comedian, writer, producer |
| Year active | 1970 |
Roseanne Barr was born on November 3, 1952, in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. She works as an actress, comedian, writer and producer. She performed stand-up comedy at The Comedy Store, appeared on Late Night with David Letterman, and so on. Roseanne gained breakthrough for her work on a television series namesake, which earned her an Emmy, a Golden Globe, a Kids’ Choice Award, and three American Comedy Awards for her part in the show. She is also a politician, with controversial political views and support of Donald Trump. Moreover, only a few people know that Barr has been diagnosed with autism.
20. Jennifer Cook O’Toole
| Full Name | Jennifer Cook (formerly O’Toole) |
| Date of Birth | October 24, 1975 |
| Place of Birth | Glen Ridge, New Jersey |
| Occupation | Author, speaker |
Jennifer Cook was born on October 24, 1975, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. In 2011, She was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome together with all three of her children. The disorder gave her insight into her lifelong struggles with social interactions and sensory issues. Jennifer has written several books on Asperger’s and autism, including “The Asperkid’s (Secret) Book of Social Rules” and “Autism in Heels: The Untold Story of a Female Life on the Spectrum”. She is also a public speaker and has given many talks on autism and neurodiversity. Through her work, Jennifer aims to promote acceptance and understanding of autism and to help individuals on the spectrum navigate the challenges of daily life.
21. Stephanie Davis
| Full Name | Stephanie Ann Davis |
| Date of Birth | March 8, 1993 |
| Place of Birth | Prescot, Merseyside, England |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Year active | 2005 |
Stephanie Davis was born on March 8th, 1993 in England. She started her acting career at the age of 7, she portrayed the character of Gretl von Trapp in The Sound of Music. She also played the role of Little Nell in ‘Her Benny’ when she was 8. Later on, Daivs appeared on various television shows such as Holby City, Doctors, Parents of the Band, and participated in the BBC talent competition, Over the Rainbow. Davis has spoken out about her struggles with mental health and depression in 2019, she was diagnosed with high-functioning autism.
22. Rex Lewis-Clack
| Full Name | Rex Lewis-Clack |
| Date of Birth | June 24, 1995 |
| Place of Birth | Southern California, United State |
| Occupation | Pianist |
Rex Lewis-Clack was born on June 24, 1995, in Southern California, United States. He was born with a cerebral Arachnoid cyst and Septo-optic dysplasia, a form of blindness. Despite his disabilities, Lewis-Clack displayed exceptional musical talent and was referred to as a “prodigious musical savant.” He also exhibited autistic symptoms. At the age of 7, CBS’s 60 Minutes featured him in a profile titled “Musically Speaking.” He was also featured in the documentary “The Musical Genius” alongside British musical savant Derek Paravicini, who was 16 years older than Rex. In 2006, he received the “Winspiration Award” in Baden-Baden, Germany.
23. Max Park
| Full Name | Max Park |
| Date of Birth | November 28, 2001 |
| Place of Birth | Cerritos, California, United States |
| Known for | Rubik’s Cube Speedsolving |
Max Park was born on 28 November 2001, in Cerritos, California, United States. Due to his autism, he had significant motor skill difficulties. As a result, his mother taught him how to solve a Rubik’s cube, which he had become interested in. Park has attended several major and minor competition and hold numerous records for different types of Rubik, for instance, the world record for an average of five 3×3×3 solves with a 4.86 second, won 4×4×4, 5×5×5, 6×6×6, 7×7×7, and 3×3×3 one-handed at World Championship in 2019 and so on.
24. Samuel Von Einem
| Full Name | Samuel “Sam” Von Einem |
| Date of Birth | June 21, 1995 |
| Place of Birth | Glengowrie, SA, Australia |
| Occupation | Table Tennis player |
Samuel Von Einem was born on 21 June 1995, in Glengowrie, SA, Australia. Einem was diagnosed with autism, and initially played tennis at 5 years old, but he soon changed to table tennis due to the hot climate in his hometown – Abu Dhabi. He is well known as a Paralympic table tennis player who represented Australia at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and earned silver medals in the Men’s Class 11 at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, and also earned the Table Tennis Australia Para Athlete of the Year Award in 2014 and 2016.
25. Thristan Mendoza
| Full Name | Thristan Mendoza |
| Date of Birth | 1989 |
| Place of Birth | Quezon City, Philippines |
| Occupation | Instrumentalist |
Thristan Mendoza (born 1989) also called “Tum-Tum”, is a Philippinan instrumentalist. Born and raised in Quezon City, he was diagnosed as autistic at the age of two and a half, and since then, Mendoza began to practice piano and the guitar. In 1997 the University of the Philippines presented him as a gifted child prodigy. He is now a college student majoring in percussion. Mendoza performed at many concerts both in his homeland and worldwide.
26. Matt Savage
| Full Name | Matthew Savage |
| Date of Birth | May 12, 1992 |
| Place of Birth | Sudbury, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation | Musician, composer, teacher |
Matt Savage was born on May 12, 1992 in Massachusetts, U.S. He is an American autistic savant musician. Despite being diagnosed with a pervasive developmental disorder as a child, Savage displayed advanced abilities such as walking and reading at an early age.
However, his musical talent did not develop during his childhood. With his intelligence and talent, Savage could learn how to read piano music by himself when he was six years old.
Now, he is known as a skilled musician and composer who has released twelve solo albums. At the age of 14, he had already performed with renowned singers like Chaka Khan.
27. Graham Sierota
| Full Name | Graham Jeffrey David Sierota |
| Date of Birth | February 05, 1999 |
| Place of Birth | Chino, California, United States. |
| Occupation | Drummer, Musician, and Social Media Personality |
Graham Sierota was born on May 12, 1992, in Sudbury, Massachusetts. He was diagnosed with a pervasive developmental disability as a child but he exhibited advanced skills in walking and reading at a young age. Though he did not initially exhibit musical talent, he taught himself to read piano music when he was six years old. Despite this, Savage’s intelligence enabled him to become a skilled musician and composer, and he has released twelve solo albums. By the age of 14, he had already performed with renowned singers like Chaka Khan.
28. Mark Tinley
| Full Name | Mark Simon Tinley |
| Date of Birth | March 18, 1963 |
| Place of Birth | Southampton, Hampshire, England |
| Occupation | Music technologist, guitarist, public speaker |
| Year active | 1979 |
Mark Tinley was born on 18 March 1963. He is wel known as a musician, sound designer, and audio engineer from the United Kingdom. He has an extensive background in the music industry, having worked with many popular artists and bands, including Duran Duran, Yes, and Dead or Alive. Tinley formed the music band Peeping Toms in 1982 and also formed Britain’s first acid house band The Garden Of Eden. In 2016, Tinley announced his retirement from his career due to being diagnosed with autism.
29. Corinne Duyvis
| Full Name | Corinne Duyvis |
| Date of Birth | April 28, 1989 |
| Place of Birth | Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands |
| Occupation | Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Authors |
Corinne Duyvis was born on April 28, 1989, in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands. She is an autistic person who dropped out of high school and followed the Amsterdam art school Wackers Academie. Duyvis decided to concentrate on writing science fiction and fantasy novels aimed at middle-grade to young adult readers. She is co-founder and editor for Disability in Kidlit, a website that examines how disability is depicted in children’s literature, the content includes critical and insightful articles, book reviews, and discussions written exclusively by people who identify as disabled.
30. Matt Bruenig
| Full Name | Matthew Bruenig |
| Date of Birth | November 22, 1988 |
| Place of Birth | United State |
| Occupation | Lawyer, policy analyst, commentator |
Matt Bruenig was born on November 22, 1988. He is an American lawyer, blogger, policy analyst, commentator and a founder of the left-leaning think tank People’s Policy Project. He has written issues such as: income distribution, taxation, welfare, elections and the Nordic model. And his writing has appeared in The New York Times, Current Affairs, Jacobin, The Atlantic, Dissent, The Washington Post and so on.
For his personal life, he married Elizabeth Bruenig and they have two children. Apart from that, he is also diagnosed as autistic in adulthood.
31. Aoife Dooley
| Full Name | Aoife Dooley |
| Date of Birth | April 14, 1991 |
| Place of Birth | Coolock, Dublin, Ireland |
| Occupation | Illustrator, author, comedian, and public speaker |
Aoife Dooley was born on 14 April 1991, in Coolock, Dublin, Ireland. In 2018, she was diagnosed with autism, which she believes has helped her feel more comfortable with herself and integrate that acceptance into her work. She studied graphic design at Colaiste Dhulaigh and attended the Dublin Institute of Technology. Her illustrations have been adapted into an animated television series for RTÉ, which stars Al Foran, Emmet Kirwan, Jen Hatton, and Enya Martin.
Dooley has performed live at events such as Electric Picnic and the Vodafone Comedy Festival, and she has won awards such as U Magazine’s 30 under 30 for best comedian and The Specsavers Children’s Book of the Year for her first children’s book.
32. Jack Monroe
| Full Name | Jack Monroe |
| Date of Birth | March 17, 1988 |
| Place of Birth | Southend-on-Sea, England |
| Occupation | Writer, journalist, campaigner |
| Year active | 2012 |
Jack Monroe was born on March 17, 1988, in Southend-on-Sea, England, and is a well-known British food writer, journalist, and activist. Monroe’s blog, A Girl Called Jack became famous for offering budget-friendly cooking tips and recipes. Moreover, she has written several cookbooks and columns for newspapers. She is also an advocate of causes such as poverty, food insecurity, and LGBTQ+ rights. In 2007, Monroe was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honors. She was identified with autism and ADHD as a youngster.
33. Donna Williams
| Full Name | Donna Leanne Williams (born Donna Keene) |
| Date of Birth | October 12, 1963 |
| Death | April 22, 2017 |
| Place of Birth | Ringwood East, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Year active | 1992 |
Donna Williams, was born on October 12, 1963, in Melbourne, Australia. Although she was diagnosed with autism as an adult, she became well-known for her autobiographical book “Nobody Nowhere,” which chronicled her experiences growing up with the condition. Williams went on to write several more books and became an advocate for individuals with autism. Additionally, she was a professional artist whose work was showcased in galleries globally. Williams died on April 22, 2017, from cancer that had metastasized to her liver after originating in her breast.
34. Temple Grandin
| Full Name | Mary Temple Grandin |
| Date of Birth | August 29, 1947 |
| Place of Birth | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation | Academic and animal behaviorist |
Temple Grandin was born on August 29, 1947, in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. She is a well-known advocate for the ethical treatment of animals intended for consumption and has written over 60 scientific articles on the subject of animal behavior. Grandin is autistic and she had many speeches and released many books based on her experience with autism, including The Autistic Brain: Thinking Across the Spectrum, The Learning Style of People with Autism: An Autobiography, and so on.
For her contribution to the autistic community, Grandin was named in the Time 100 list of the one hundred most influential people in the world, in the “Heroes” category, received a Double Helix Medal, and was inducted into the Texas Trail of Fame.
35. Rosie King
| Full Name | Rosie King |
| Date of Birth | 1998 |
| Place of Birth | Britain |
| Occupation | Writer, public speaker, and autism advocate |
Rosie King, born around 1998, is a British individual who works as a writer, public speaker, and advocate for autism. She appeared in a documentary about autism on the BBC and is known for her significant contributions to the Pablo TV series. At 10 years old, King diagnosed herself with autism after reading the book “Little Rainman: Autism – Through the Eyes of a Child,” which led to her official diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome later on.
At the 2014 TEDMED Conference, King spoke about her autism diagnosis, viewing it as an asset rather than a limitation, and critiqued society’s glorification of normalcy. King also contributed to the writing and voicing of the character Llama in the CBeebies animated TV show “Pablo,” which centers around an autistic boy and debuted in 2017.
36. Jonathan Mitchell
| Full Name | Jonathan Mitchell |
| Date of Birth | September 7, 1955 |
| Place of Birth | Los Angeles, California, US |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Year active | 2003 |
Jonathan Mitchell was born in Los Angeles, California on September 7, 1955. He was diagnosed with autism when he was 12 and received psychoanalytic therapy to treat it. Mitchell faced a number of obstacles during his education, including bullying and the possibility of being expelled. Later on, he struggled to keep data entry jobs due to behavioral issues, leading to several dismissals. Nonetheless, Mitchell persisted in his pursuit of writing and began his career as a writer at the age of 51. His literary works include the novel The Mu Rhythm Bluff, a collection of short stories called The School of Hard Knocks, which focuses on abusive education, and various other short stories.
37. John Howard
| Full Name | John J. Howard |
| Date of Birth | March 1, 1983 |
| Place of Birth | Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Occupation | Mixed martial artist |
| Year active | 2004 |
John Howard, who was born on March 1, 1983, in Boston, Massachusetts, is a well-known professional mixed martial artist. Currently, he competes in the Middleweight division of the Eagle Fighting Championship and has been participating in the sport since 2004. He has fought in various organizations, including the International Fight League, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, CES MMA, and Professional Fighters League. Recently, at the age of 33, Howard underwent non-invasive neurological tests that revealed he has autism spectrum disorder.
38. Michael Brannigan
| Full Name | Michael Brannigan |
| Date of Birth | November 12, 1996 |
| Place of Birth | Huntington, New York |
| Occupation | Track and field athlete |
Michael Brannigan was born on November 12, 1996, in Huntington, New York. His parents noticed his disability when he was only 18 months old, and he was officially diagnosed with autism at the age of two. Brannigan faced difficulty speaking and only started speaking at the age of five. Nonetheless, he found his love with distance running at a young age and excelled at it throughout his high school years. Unfortunately, due to his autism, Brannigan did not meet the academic criteria of the NCAA, which prevented him from competing at the collegiate level. Brannigan participated in the 2016 Summer Paralympics in the 1500-meters category, where he achieved the gold medal.
39. Armani Williams
| Full Name | Armani Williams |
| Date of Birth | April 14, 2000 |
| Place of Birth | Grosse Pointe, Michigan |
| Occupation | Stock car racing |
Armani Williams (born April 14, 2000) is a young race car driver. He was born and raised in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. He has been interested in racing since he was a child, and in 2013, at the age of 14, he began competing in the Bandolero series. He later moved up to the Legends series, and in 2016, he made his debut in the ARCA Menards Series, becoming the first NASCAR driver diagnosed with autism. Although Williams has encountered difficulties, he has persevered in his pursuit of a career in racing, demonstrated his commitment to promoting awareness of autism, and encouraged others with the condition to follow their dreams.
40. Alexis Wineman
| Full Name | Alexis Wineman |
| Date of Birth | May 6, 1994 |
| Place of Birth | Cut Bank, Montana, United States |
| Occupation | Beauty Model |
Alexis Wineman was born on May 6, 1994, in Cut Bank, Montana, United States. She felt different and was bullied, until being diagnosed with autism at age 11. She graduated from Huntingdon College in 2017 with an art degree and currently lives in Montgomery, Alabama. She competed in Miss America 2013 with the platform “Normal is just a dryer setting – Living with Autism,” and won the “America’s Choice” award.
41. Billy West
| Full Name | William Richard Werstine |
| Date of Birth | April 16, 1952 |
| Place of Birth | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Occupation | Voice actor |
| Year active | 1980 |
Born on April 16, 1952, Billy West, also known as William Richard Werstine, is a voice actor hailing from the United States. Diagnosed with ADHD and autism at a young age, West started his career in 1980 on Boston’s WBCN The Big Mattress show, where he performed in daily comedic routines. With over 100 voice roles to his credit, West is widely recognized for his impressive vocal range and has lent his voice to popular television series such as “Futurama,” “The Ren & Stimpy Show,” and “Doug.”
42. Breanna Clark
| Full Name | Breanna Clark |
| Date of Birth | November 4, 1994 |
| Place of Birth | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Paralympic athletics |
Breanna Clark was born on November 4, 1994, in Los Angeles, California, United States. She is a Paralympic athlete who was identified as an austic at the age of four. Clark has run for women’s track teams since she attended Dorsey High School and Pasadena City College. She has participated in various competitions, such as the 2016 and 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. In 2016, Clark won a gold medal at the Rio Games, 40 years after her mother won a silver medal in 1976.
43. Ladyhawke
| Full Name | Phillipa Margaret Brown |
| Date of Birth | July 13, 1979 |
| Place of Birth | Masterton, New Zealand |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist |
| Year active | 2001 |
Phillipa Margaret “Pip” Brown was born on 13 July 1979, in Masterton, New Zealand. She is widely known by her stage name Ladyhawke, and is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She has musical family music as her mother is a singer–guitarist and her stepfather, is a jazz drummer. During her childhood, she usually came to the hospital due to various illnesses and has been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome – a form of ASD.
Brown joined the Two Lane Blacktop band from 2001 to 2003. Later, in 2004, she formed the art rock band Teenager with Nick Littlemore after moving to Australia. She left the band and has pursued a solo career since 2006. On September 22, 2008, she released her self-titled debut album.
44. Sir Anthony Hopkins
| Full Name | Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins |
| Date of Birth | December 31, 1937 |
| Place of Birth | Port Talbot, Glamorgan, Wales |
| Occupation | Actor, director, producer, composer, painter |
| Year active | 1960 |
Anthony Hopkins, born in Port Talbot, Glamorgan, Wales on December 31st, 1937, has had a diverse career as an actor, director, and producer. With a collection of awards and nominations including two Academy Awards, four BAFTA Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and an Olivier Award, he is a highly decorated artist. Hopkins discovered his passion for the arts as he found himself disinterested in academic subjects. He made his first professional stage appearance in 1960 in Swansea Little Theatre’s production of Have a Cigarette at the Palace Theatre in Swansea. Hopkins has also achieved great success in his film career. In an interview with The Desert Sun in January 2017, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome three years prior, describing his diagnosis as “high-end.”
45. Paula Hamilton
| Full Name | Paula Hamilton |
| Date of Birth | January 23, 1960 |
| Place of Birth | Lancashire, England |
| Occupation | Model |
Paula Hamilton was born on 23 January 1960, in Lancashire, England. She is a model, she gained reputation for her appearance in the 1987 MkII Volkswagen Golf TV advert Changes. She had dyslexia, which affected her reading and writing skills, and by 2007, a diagnosis revealed that she had a combination of dyslexia, developmental coordination disorder, and Asperger syndrome. In her twenties, she went to rehab for cocaine addiction and experienced challenges with alcohol. Hamilton also ventured into acting and starred in notable films like Mad Dogs and Englishmen (1995) and Monk Dawson (1998).
46. Rick Glassman
| Full Name | Rick Glassman |
| Date of Birth | July 23, 1984 |
| Place of Birth | Shaker Heights, Ohio, United States |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian, writer, director |
| Year active |
Rick Glassman was born on July 23, 1984, in Shaker Heights, Ohio, United States. While attending Kent State University, he earned a marketing degree in 2006 and concurrently took theater classes. After graduation, Glassman started performing stand-up comedy, first performing at the Cleveland Improv in 2007. He was invited to the New Faces showcase at the Just for Laughs comedy festival in 2013, and made an appearance in the second season of Adam Devine’s House Party.
In the late 2010s, Glassman received a diagnosis of level 1 autism, which was previously referred to as Asperger syndrome. He revealed to Forbes that his diagnosis helped him understand how his seemingly unrelated struggles were connected and that he takes pride in his condition.
47. Aleksander Vinter
| Full Name | Aleksander Vinter |
| Date of Birth | April 16, 1987 |
| Place of Birth | Holmestrand, Norway |
| Occupation | Musician, singer, songwriter, performer |
| Year active | 2007 |
Born on April 16, 1987, in Holmestrand, Norway, Aleksander Vinter is a musician known for his musical work released under various names, but he is most recognized for his contributions under the name Savant. In 2009, he released his debut album under the name Vinter in Hollywood. One of his successful works, ZION, achieved No. 19 on the Billboard Dance Chart and No. 24 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. Vinter had faced challenges in his academic and personal life due to several mental conditions prior to being diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. After receiving the diagnosis, he gained a better understanding of his struggles.
48. Thomas A. McKean
| Full Name | Thomas A. McKean |
| Date of Birth | June 18, 1965 |
| Place of Birth | Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Occupation | Author and lecturer |
Thomas A. McKean was born on June 18, 1965, in Columbus, Ohio, U.S. He is a writer, poet, singer-songwriter, and international speaker. He discovered his autism which leads him to experience various symptoms, such as making unusual sounds and feeling low-intensity pain due to sensory perception. McKean gained attention in the autistic community and shared his story as an autistic person. In 2001, he appeared as a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show to talk about his childhood, feelings of loneliness, and difficulties with emotional regulation and sensory sensitivity, which were heightened due to his autism.
49. Abz Love
| Full Name | Richard Abidin Breen |
| Date of Birth | June 29, 1979 |
| Place of Birth | London, England |
| Occupation | Rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, TV personality |
| Year active | 1997 |
Abz Love, born on 29 June 1979 in London, England, is a multi-talented English rapper, singer, songwriter, DJ, producer, and TV personality. He was previously a member and lead singer of the boy band Five. Love won the reality TV show “Celebrity Big Brother” in 2013 and has appeared on several other reality shows, such as “The Farm” and “Celebs on the Farm.” While on “Celebrity Big Brother,” Love disclosed in a private conversation that he has Asperger’s syndrome, which is a mild form of autism.
50. Christopher Duffley
| Full Name | Christopher Duffley |
| Date of Birth | May 19, 2001 |
| Place of Birth | Florida |
| Occupation | Soul Singer |
Christopher Duffley was born on May 19, 2001, in Florida, USA, and began singing at a very young age (by four). In his first grade, he performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a Memorial Day assembly. His cover of “Open the Eyes of My Heart” went viral on YouTube, and he received wide attention from media outlets such as USA Today, The Huffington Post, and FOX. Autism Speaks recognized Christopher Duffley in 2013 as one of ten most outstanding individuals with autism who achieved success in their respective areas.