Is Freddie Highmore Dr Shaun Murphy Of The Good Doctor Autistic In Real Life
So I was seeing ABCs The Good Doctor with some family members over the weekend and one of them was of the opinion that Freddie Highmore who the played the character of Dr. Shaun Murphy has autism in real life following his excellent rendition of his role in the movie.
Following this, it occurred to me that many people might be harboring this thought without knowing what is really the truth, hence the need to address it.
If you ask me, is Dr. Shaun Murphy autistic? My and answer would be: YES, he his. Continue reading for clarification
WHO IS DR. SHAUN MURPHY?Dr. Shaun Murphy is a fictional character who is the main titular protagonist of ABCs series, The Good Doctor. He is a young surgical resident with autism and savant syndrome who relocated from a quiet country life to join the prestigious St. Bonaventure hospitals surgical unit in San Jose. So yes, he has autism if it is the character you are talking about.
How about Freddie Highmore, who played the character of Dr. Shaun Murphy in The Good Doctor? Does he have autism? The simple answer is: NO, he does not have autism.
We have sometimes seen in plays where people who have certain conditions are used to represent characters having similar conditions but that is not the case of Freddie Highmore and Dr. Shaun Murphy in the ABCs The Good Doctor.
WHO IS FREDDIE HIGHMORE?Freddie Highmore is an English actor who made his acting debut as a child actor in the comedy film, Women Talking Dirty in 1999.
Will Yun Lee As Dr Alex Park
In The Good Doctor, Lee stars as the series Dr Alex Park, a surgical resident and former police officer from Phoenix, Arizona.
The actor has a notable career in Hollywood, starring as Danny Woo in the supernatural drama Witchblade and Jae Kim in the sci-fi series Bionic Woman. He has also appeared in True Blood, Hawaii Five-O, Torque and Elektra. Interestingly, the actor holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and once earned an athletic scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied political science and ethnic studies.
Who Is In The Good Doctor Cast For Season 5
Freddie Highmore plays the good doctor! He returns as Dr. Shaun Murphy, a brilliant young surgeon whose autism makes it difficult for him to foster relationships with his colleagues and patients yet despite his difficulties he works through friendships, professional relationships and allows himself to fall in love.
Hill Harper plays Dr. Marcus Andrews, an attending plastic surgeon and board member at the prestigious St. Bonaventure Hospital. He first serves as the head of the surgical department and later as hospital president when Dr. Glassman steps down to fight brain cancer. Dr. Andrews is one of many doctors who have gone to bat for Dr. Murphy. He continues to provide emotional support to Shaun and Lea.
Richard Schiff is Dr. Aaron Glassman, Dr. Murphys friend, mentor, and father figure. He put his job as hospital president on the line for Dr. Murphy, beat brain cancer , navigated a rocky personal relationship with his wife, Debbie , and is back working as a surgeon at St. Bonaventure and supporting Dr. Murphy.
Christina Chang returns as Dr. Audrey Lim, the chief of surgery and an attending trauma surgeon.
Fiona Gubelmann is Dr. Morgan Reznick, an outspoken and competitive young medical resident who works closely with Dr. Murphy. Despite her own medical difficulties, shes finding her own footing, both personally and professionally.
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Is Actor Freddie Highmore Autistic In Real Life
Despite his realistic portrayal of someone with autism, actor Highmore does not have the condition himself, or any other developmental disability.
Highmore had just finished five series of Bates, where he played a young Norman Bates from Alfred Hitchcocks film Psycho.
Just days later he was offered the role in The Good Doctor and after initially turning it down due to just finishing a series, Highmore changed his mind and started researching Shauns condition.
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Researching For The Role:
Freddie said he knew about autism from people in his personal life with the condition. However, to properly play someone with autism, Freddie and The Good Doctor showrunner, David Shore, researched before filming the first episode. In fact, they hired autism consultant Melissa Reiner to help perfect the character.
David Shore, our wonderful main writer and showrunner, and I sat down before the pilot and also between the pilot and making the show with the consultant that we still have on-board, Freddie said on ABC podcast Popcorn With Peter Travers. And also just traded back and forth books and pieces of literature and documentaries that we thought were useful or gave us some sort of insight into building this one, very particular character.
Freddie continues to research the role. Several seasons into the season, he says he is constantly learning. He told Digital Spy in March 2019, Aside from continual research, or working with the consultant that we have Im also talking to people who feel that they have a personal connection to the show through autism, and are pleased or thankful that the show is seeking to raise awareness in that way.
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The premises of The Good Doctor is about Dr Shaun Murphy , who is undoubtedly a talented doctor but has autism and Savant Syndrome. Initially, those at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital aren’t sure whether or not to hire Shaun due to his condition but it wasn’t too long before they could see how much of an asset he would be to the team. The ABC medical drama is now in its third series and has been renewed for a fourth.
Tv Representation Of Autism
Highmore says it was important that Shaun was not just someone with autism but a complete multi-dimensional person, just like any other character on television.
I appreciate the way in which Shaun is a fully formed character, Freddie told USA Today. Often, people with autism on screen have been represented as somewhat emotionless or singularly focused on one thing, and that isnt true. We get to see Shaun in moments of joy, what makes him excited, alongside the very real struggle hes facing.
In an interview with Scroll.in, Highmore talks about the challenges of playing Doctor Shaun Murphy, a genius surgeon who is an autistic savant, on The Good Doctor.
Highmore explains the playing a character that is both autistic and a genius took a lot of work. He reveals it took a lot of preparation to understand the role and how to portray Dr. Murphy on film.
Shaun Murphys role required more preparation than any other role I did on TV, he said. In terms of autism, it was important for all of us that the portrayal of the condition was authentic. Again, we had a consultant here too. David and I watched documentaries and read relevant books to help ourselves construct the character. But we were aware that Shaun is representing an individuals story and not everyone in the autism spectrum. The key was to portray his journey as an individual and not someones who just autistic.
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Beau Garrett As Jessica Preston
American actress Beau Garrett stars as Jessica Preston, the hospital’s in-house attorney and Vice President of Risk Management, who also happens to be the granddaughter of the hospital founder and friend of Dr Glassman.
Garrett began her career working as a model, appearing in GUESS campaigns from the late 1990s. She made her feature film debut in the horror film, Turistas, before going on to portray Captain Raye in 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and Gem in 2010’s Tron: Legacy.
Hill Harper As Dr Marcus Andrews
American actor Hill Harper portrays Dr Marcus Andrews in The Good Doctor, an attending surgeon who specialises in plastic surgery and later goes on to become the hospital’s president.
Prior to securing his status in the acting world, Harper earned degrees from Brown University and Harvard Law School. In 1993, he made his acting debut in and went on to star in The Vast, City of Angels, The Handler and CSI: NY.
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Murphy Is The Classic White Cis Male
Murphys relationship with his mentor dr. Its pretty remarkable that an average 17.4 million people have been tuning in each week to watch a character with autism. Dr shaun murphy has both autism and savant syndrome in the good doctor. The good doctor does that, counterintuitively, with a protagonist whose inability to connect emotionally is one of his defining features. Expertly played by freddie highmore , dr. The shows biggest battle isnt that american audiences wont connect we all love a good medical drama its that it has to finely walk the path of making their autistic lead character not fall victim stereotypes. Read the official abc bio, show quotes and learn about the role at abc tv. The good doctor depicts one character with extreme realismbut not all autistics are like the character on the the good doctor may choose to present its autistic protagonist front and center, but in the tv show the good doctor, would dr. The patient continuously escapes from his hospital room, and jared keeps tracking him down. It is based on a 2013 south korean series of the same name. Season 4 of the good doctor premieres monday, november 2 on abc. Shaun murphy, a surgical resident with autism. To start off with some of the positives, freddie highmore already looks like a great choice to play dr.
There Needs To Be More Care With Different Focuses And Areas Of Savant Syndrome
I think they captured his exceptionalities well, said Anthony, who has an educational background in cognitive science. He commented on the depiction of the shows main character as an autistic savant, noting the risk of generalizing characters with autism in entertainment media. Its dangerous to over-dramatize this, he said, citing an episode of the TV series Criminal Minds that featured a child with savant syndrome. Viewers and/or people who have little understanding or awareness assume that what they are seeing is the rule for everyone with savant syndrome, for instance.
Matthew acknowledged that the series makes interesting choices in portraying Shaun Murphy as a savant. In the pilot episode, he tries to figure out what is going on with a boy, and it visually shows the way his mind works. This is done well in the series. However, Matthew agrees with other reviewers that more care is needed in the way that savant syndrome and autism are represented in film and television. There needs to be more care with different focuses and areas of savant syndrome, he said.
The discussion turned from the series in general to the episode Parenting, where Dr. Murphy met his girlfriends parents for the first time and complications ensue. It was an incredible episode that really showed that Shaun was able to prove his girlfriends parents wrong about being in a challenging relationship, was Courtneys summary of the episode.
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Autistic Adults Review The Good Doctor
~ 7 minute read
The Good Doctor, which airs on CTV, has drawn much attention from the autism community. It centres around Dr. Shawn Murphy, a young autistic savant resident surgeon at an American hospital, played by neurotypical actor Freddie Highmore. Highmore has drawn praise from some parts of the autism community for the care he has brought to the role. However, others have raised concerns over the representation of people on the autism spectrum in the media and the overall message that a program like this presents to the public.
Autism Ontario assembled a diverse group of adults with autism to review and discuss The Good Doctor. The group consisted of self-advocates Michael McCreary, comedian and author Courtney Weaver, freelance writer David Moloney, Autism Ontario Board Member and Mutual Fund Indexer with CIBC Matthew Lemay, freelance writer Anthony Spezzano, Capital Markets Specialist, TD Securities Christian Maltesta and, Nicole Corrado. Michael Cnudde, self-advocate and Specialist Communications and Project Development, Autism Ontario, moderated the panel.
All in all, I find that it plays the autism card a little too heavily, said David. He found the shows lead actor and writers tried to show autism as a broad concept or a construct. He thought this was too general an approach and much was lost this way. It doesnt really portray the positivity exuded by people on the spectrum.
The Good Doctor: Unknown Facts About Shaun Murphy That Make Him A Golden Lead
During the pandemic, the series of doctors took on much more relevance and one of them was The Good Doctor. Since its premiere in 2017, this medical drama broadcast on the BBC hooked thousands of fans, but its arrival on Amazon Prime was what increased its success. It is that, the role of Freddie Highmore as Shaun Murphy went to international fame being one of the favorites.
In The Good Doctor, Highmore brings to life this young surgeon with autism and sage syndrome who comes to work at San José St. Bonaventure Hospital much despite the wishes of his peers. The actors portrayal of this character received praise of all kinds, especially on his personal and professional growth.
The series, which already has four seasons available worldwide and will soon premiere the fifth, will continue to tell stories about Shaun and his environment. That is why, before the new episodes, from Spoiler we tell you unknown facts about this doctor who became a golden protagonist.
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The Good Doctor Is Really Just A Typical Medical Drama With A Twist:
Shaun murphy, a talented young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome. As a resident at st. Shaun murphy from the good doctor. Freddie does well in his debut, showing several characteristics that can accompany an autism diagnosis. Doctor shaun murphy does not only have autism, but he also has an extremely rare condition called the savant syndrome. Freddie highmore, the actor behind dr shaun murphy in the good doctor, isn’t really autistic. Viewers of the good doctor could be forgiven for wondering whether actor freddie highmore has an autism spectrum disorder in real life. 1 history 1.1 early life 1.2 season 2 1.3 season 3 1.4 season 4 2 personality 3. To be perfectly frank, the entire dr. Freddie highmore’s representation of the autistic dr. The good doctor is one of many medical dramas to hit the airwaves over the past year, however there is something about it that has got people talking. I’m also on the autistic spectrum, so the suggestion that shaun shouldn’t be allowed to perform surgery. Han storyline on the good doctor was aggravating.
I have autism, it’s part of who i am.dr. Shaun’s autism serves as a sort of screen that. The good doctor season 3 has finished and will return for another series. Shaun murphy, a talented young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome. Shaun murphy is tv’s most popular surgeon.
That Being Said I Do Identify With A Lot Of The Things Shaun Murphy Goes Through
The good doctor stars actor freddie highmore as dr. Shaun murphy is the main titular protagonist of the good. The good doctor star confesses: Shaun murphy, a surgical resident with autism.while highmore plays a physician with autism, highmore does not have autism. Freddie does well in his debut, showing several characteristics that can accompany an autism diagnosis. From cdn.images.express.co.uk freddie highmore, the actor behind dr shaun murphy in the good doctor, isn’t really autistic. Does this mean fans will now see shaun and leah as a couple in season four?freddie highmore, the actor behind dr shaun murphy in the good doctor, isn’t really autistic., who is undoubtedly a talented doctor but has autism and savant syndrome.
Shaun murphy, a surgical resident with autism, on the medical drama. It is based on a south korean drama series of the same name from 2013. In the new york post, he said he knows someone with autism but he also did research and. The good doctor stars actor freddie highmore as dr. The good doctor is one of many medical dramas to hit the airwaves over the past year, however there is something about it that has got people talking.
Read on for all the details. On the show, he plays a resident surgeon at a reputable san jose hospital. Series for british actress thomas. Freddie highmore on acting and staying grounded as an actor. Is actor freddie highmore autistic in.
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You Have Brilliant Skills:
Although Shaun Murphys brilliant abilities are publicly known, it should be noted that they are due to Savant Syndrome. Better known as the sage syndrome, this peculiarity causes people with autism to have a set of skills that surpass the average human.
Savant syndrome is characterized by presenting peculiar or impressive talents or abilities such as hypermnesia, hyperlexia and hypercalculia and different artistic expressions such as drawing, painting, sculpture and musicSaid the psychologist Anna BadÃa Llobet on her blog.
Shaun is a brilliant doctor. Photo:
Christina Chang As Dr Audrey Lim
Chang takes on the role of Dr Audrey Lim, an attending trauma surgeon in charge of the ER and surgical residents, later becoming the Chief of Surgery, and when the series decides to introduce COVID-19 as a storyline, her character developed post-traumatic stress disorder from her experiences.
Born and raised in Taiwan, the actress originally set out to become a ballerina, and at the age of 17 moved to the U.S. to study acting in Kansas and Washington. Chang is best known for her work in 24, Dragnet, CSI: Miami, Numb3rs, Private Practice, Desperate Housewives, and Nashville.
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Beginnings And Finding Neverland
Highmore began his acting career with small roles on television at the age of 7. He made his film debut in Coky Giedroyc‘s comedy Women Talking Dirty , playing the son of a woman who has recently become estranged from her commitment-phobic French lover. In 2001, Highmore played a young King Arthur in the TNT miniseries The Mists of Avalon, a take on the Arthurian legends that depicted the women of Camelot as the real power behind the throne.
In 2001, in the BBC miniseries Happy Birthday Shakespeare, he portrayed a young boy who dreams of moving his family to Stratford-upon-Avon. Highmore has acted alongside members of his family in two separate films: his brother played his brother in Women Talking Dirty, and his father played his father in Hallmark Entertainment‘s television film Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story .