Summary

• Many popular TV characters exhibit traits of autism, whether diagnosed or coded by writers.
• Characters like Spencer Reid and Sheldon Cooper display characteristics associated with autism.
• Representation of autism in TV has evolved, with more nuanced and realistic portrayals like Max Braverman.

Does Spencer Reid have autism or does Criminal Minds only code him that way? It's a similar question that many fans have of their favorite characters from classic TV shows. A wider understanding of autism spectrum disorders has led to more characters in film and TV exhibiting characteristics of autism and even sometimes being diagnosed in the show as on the spectrum. Reality TV has even branched into more neurodivergent programming with Love on the Spectrum. There are now many more popular characters who could be referred to as autistic than have ever been in mainstream TV.

While some characters are defined in the show as being on the autism spectrum, others are coded that way by the writers. An autism-coded character exhibits one or more personality traits or habits that are commonly associated with someone who is diagnosed with autism. These characters are often confirmed as such by the actors and/or writers but not in the story. There are now many fantastic TV characters who are autism-coded and each brings something unique and fresh to their show, while not solely defined for being on the spectrum.

Spencer Reid (Criminal Mind)

Spencer Is Played By Matthew Gray Gubler

Dr. Spencer Reid is one of Criminal Minds' most popular characters. He's a Supervisory Special Agent with the Behavioral Analysis Unit in the show, as well as a genius with an eidetic memory. No one on the show has ever diagnosed Spencer as being on the autism spectrum, but he often behaves in a way that points to that. He has difficulty expressing empathy, misses social cues, and often goes off on long tangents about things he's knowledgeable about, which is a considerable list. Spencer actor Matthew Gray Gubler believes Spencer is on the spectrum, once saying, via Express,

"He's an eccentric genius, with hints of schizophrenia and minor autism..."

Watch on Hulu

Sam Gardner (Atypical)

Sam Is Played By Keir Gilchrist

The star and one of the best characters on Netflix's Atypical, Sam Gardener is an 18-year-old young man on the autism spectrum, and the series follows his coming-of-age story and how his diagnosis affects the Gardener family. The first season is a bit clumsy in its depiction of autism, making Sam's neurodivergence a source of his family's frustration in ways that don't always seem fair.

However, season 2 and on worked hard to break Sam away from some clichés associated with autistic characters in TV shows. Sam was given an interest in the arts rather than math and science, and it was made clear that the Gardener family's problems were extensions of everyone's decisions and mistakes, rather than being solely framed around Sam. Sam is a fully realized character whose autism is an important part of who he is, but it does not define him.

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Abed Nadir (Community)

Abed Is Played By Danny Pudi

When Dan Harmon created Community and started workshopping Abed Nadir, he looked into autism spectrum disabilities to better understand the meta-commenting and movie-referencing Abed (via Vulture). He quickly realized that many of the symptoms he found of autism were ones he recognized in himself. Harmon went to a doctor who diagnosed him as being on the autism spectrum, and as Harmon identifies most closely with Abed more than anyone in the study group on Community, it's easy to draw the connection that Abed is autistic.

Abed lacks social graces and prefers to view the world through his camera lens. Intimacy does not come easily to Abed, but the reason he is such a great autistic-coded character is that this does not solely define him. He can surprise with his confidence and Abed expresses a sincere understanding of people better than many other characters on the show. It can just be difficult for people to undertand what he is actually trying to say.

Watch on Netflix

Max Braverman (Parenthood)

Max Is Played By Max Burkholder

Max Braverman is diagnosed as autistic early in season 1 of Parenthood, the NBC comedy-drama about three generations of the Braverman family in San Francisco, California. It's a very realistic portrayal of someone on the autism spectrum and the young Burkholder is impressively able to channel the traits that signal Max's autism without being over-the-top in his portrayal. Max's breakdowns can be harrowing, but it's what families with autistic children experience in real life.

Max doesn't like to maintain eye , and he can be blunt to the point of insulting, which is often used for comic effect. However, he also develops throughout the show, which puts him in rare air as some other poorly written autistic characters tend to stay the same. Max learns how to fit in at school, lean into the subjects he likes, and even has a romantic relationship in later seasons.

Watch on Hulu

Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory)

Sheldon Is Played By Jim Parsons

Sheldon Cooper, fan-favorite character of The Big Bang Theory, and its prequel Young Sheldon, is an awkward, blunt, and incredibly smart character working as a senior theoretical physicist at the California Institute of Technology. As is sometimes the case with people on the autism spectrum, Sheldon has a difficult grasp on humor and sarcasm, and he does not easily show humility or tolerance. Parsons has said that he believes Sheldon is on the autism spectrum, via Slate,

"The writers say no, he doesn’t. I can say that he couldn’t display more facets of it."

Sheldon is often mocked for his outrageous and inappropriate behavior, but the humor never feels targeted at his neurodivergence. For one, all the characters on The Big Bang Theory are exaggerated to an extent. And more importantly, it's Sheldon's specific character traits and quirks that make him easy to tease, not because of his potentially being on the autism spectrum.

Watch on Max

Jerry Espenson (Boston Legal)

Jerry Is Played By Christian Clemenson

Jerry Epsenson is a recurring character in Boston Legal seasons 2 through 5. Boston Legal premiered in 2004 and at that time, there were very few representations of people with autism on television, much less accurate representations. This puts Jerry in a strange spot because, while some of his actions are exaggerated and incorrect to be attributed to autism, he is still a case of a ing character enjoying a regular life and job while also likely being on the autism spectrum, which is very unusual for a television character at the time.

Jerry's struggle to maintain eye , his constant noise-making, and his dislike of social interaction are all classic characteristics of someone on the autism spectrum. However, the age of the show is also apparent when they attribute Jerry's moments of rage and incidents of violence to his autism, which is unfounded science.

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Brick Heck (The Middle)

Brick Is Played By Atticus Ronald Shaffer

Brick is the exceptionally intelligent youngest son of the Heck family in The Middle. With an eidetic memory, Brick should do well in school, but he is easily and often distracted, a symptom of being on the autism spectrum (via NCFL). Brick has difficulty with social interactions and often repeats words in a quiet whisper. While he has not been diagnosed on the show, his love of information and other quirks are indicative of someone on the autistic spectrum. Brick is a particularly lovable character and a realistic example of a young man exhibiting some traits associated with autism.

Watch on Peacock

Sonya Cross (The Bridge)

Sonya Is Played By Dianne Kruger

The Bridge is an American adaptation of the Danish-Swedish crime series Bron/Broen, and it stars Diane Kruger as Detective Sonya Cross, a member of the El Paso Police Department who is diagnosed as on the autism spectrum. Some aspects of Kruger's portrayal feel like stereotypical autism coding, such as her refusal to make eye and her extreme bluntness that veers into almost aggressive behavior.

However, it's still notable that the lead character of a crime drama is diagnosed as autistic. Kruger's performance is honest and heartfelt and Sonya shirks some classic autistic-character clichés by being in touch with her sexuality, an aspect TV writers often incorrectly ignore or outright deny when writing about characters on the autism spectrum.

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Shaun Murphy (The Good Doctor)

Shaun Is Played By Freddie Highmore

Doctor Shaun Murphy is a surgical resident at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital in The Good Doctor as well as the protagonist of the ABC medical drama series. Shaun is diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum, which is represented on screen with graphics and illustrations of complicated medical graphics and models. Shaun is awkward and stoic, but he is also multifaceted, and his autism does not constrain him to a one-dimensional characterization. He learns, grows, and changes throughout the series.

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Astrid Farnsworth (Fringe)

Astrid Is Played By Jasika Nicole

Astrid Farnsworth may not be autistic on Fringe​​​​​​, but her doppelgänger from a parallel universe who arrives in season 2 most likely is. Though the character is never diagnosed, the alternate Astrid does not like eye , has little emotion or empathy, and has a talent for math and science. Jasika Nicole has even said that she based her performance on her sister who is diagnosed with autism (via Whedonverse). Nicole's performance as both the real and alternate Astrid is an impressive showcase of how small acting decisions can completely change a character.

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