Is someone disabled played by able-bodied?
Browse movies, tv shows, books and more where someone disabled is played by able-bodied.
The disabled character is played by an able-bodied actress/actor, and not a disabled one.
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TV Show • 2004 Report
Yes
105
No
4
3
If I'm not wrong, Houses's actor isn't disabled, but his character walks with a cane.
TV Show • 2022 Report
Yes
31
No
5
1
Izaa
Yes, Ed wears a leg brace and to my knowledge Taika doesn't. Characters become disabled too, a finger, a few toes and a leg is amputated for example and the characters use prosthetics that the actors don't.
Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
30
No
5
10
Anonymousmoviegoer
Willem Dafoe plays a man with extensive scarring and many disabilities, but these disabilities are fantasy in nature and not something any actor (or human) would have (such as various missing essential organs replaced with fantastical machines)
Movie • 2021 Report
Yes
25
No
3
8
Deacon
An autistic person is portrayed by a neurotypical actress, in a way that is reminiscent of children mocking someone with an intellectual disability. The 14yo actress is reported to have been hesitant (FWIW), but the writer/director insisted the portrayal was not problematic.
Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
24
No
1
2
RyanHidalgo
A child displays a non verbal autistic child. At some point he is possessed and walks into the house and talks clear complete sentences to his grandmother.
YouTube • 2023 Report
Yes
22
No
0
11
Coffeey1412
For some members, yes. But it's never done for the sake of it or as a joke. It's usually about lore, like how Richarlyson the egg has a prosthetic leg due to his model render not working as intended and shortening his leg.
TV Show • 2011 Report
Yes
18
No
1
1
AlexSand
Bran is able-bodied at the beginning of the show then looses the use of his legs. There are later scenes where he can walk but not in a physical reality.
Movie • 2017 Report
Yes
18
No
0
5
Stephen Root plays a blind man
Movie • 2004 Report
Yes
17
No
3
2
AliB
Potentially. There is a minor character, Jessica Lopez, who uses a wheelchair but from googling it looks like the actor may not actually be a wheelchair user.
Movie Report
Yes
14
No
4
5
HappyDog
John David Washington is not an amputee in real life.
Movie • 1975 Report
Yes
14
No
3
1
Brotato
Dr. Everett V. Scott in the movie isn't played by a disabled actor although he is in a wheelchair.
TV Show • 2009 Report
Yes
14
No
0
4
averyanderson2018
Artie is played by Kevin McHale, who is not disabled in real life.
Video Game Report
Yes
14
No
0
2
connogie
c!Schlatt, c!Ponk and other characters are physically disabled. But it's also Minecraft, so.
Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
13
No
1
2
MisterSix
The couple's son is partially sighted due to a childhood accident. He is played by a sighted child actor.
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
12
No
7
1
There are many times where the characters needs wheelchairs, and obviously the actor does not
TV Show • 2021 Report
Yes
12
No
0
1
HorrorShower21
S1
E1
Paralysed character in a wheelchair is played by an able-bodied person. However, it is a major plot line that the character is temporarily able-bodied once again
Movie Report
Yes
12
No
1
Movie • 1974 Report
Yes
12
No
0
TV Show • 1997 Report
Yes
11
No
2
2
CrispyPumpkin
S8
E8
Cartman pretends to be handicapped to win the special olympics.
TV Show • 2017 Report
Yes
11
No
1
5
Unhinged.but.handsome
The main character, Dr. Shaun Murphy is played by Freddie Highmore, who is not autistic. That can be very triggering to a lot of people.
TV Show • 2013 Report
Yes
10
No
0
2
uncreative
A character with an amputated leg and several characters with severe mental illness.
TV Show • 2008 Report
Yes
10
No
1
1
suricata_passer
S1
E1
Jefferson Bays plays Dr. Nicholas Boone, who is wheelchair-bound.
Movie • 1994 Report
Yes
10
No
0
2
MovieWatcher10
A neurotypical, abled actor plays Forrest, the main character who used to be disabled and who has a cognitive disability. The child actor who plays young Forrest, wears leg braces.
A side character becomes an amputee later on in the movie but is also played by an abled actor.
A side character becomes an amputee later on in the movie but is also played by an abled actor.
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
10
No
1
1
shaymin
i dont know any specific moments off the top of my head, but there are so many one off patient actors that im sure there are a few that present disabled on the show but their actors arent
Movie • 2024 Report
Yes
10
No
2
0
Anonymous
Wyatt Russel, an able-bodied actor, plays the father in the movie, who uses a cane or a wheelchair part-time due to MS
Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
9
No
2
1
Sid
Talleyrand, who walked with a limp and has a brace in the film, is played by an able-bodied actor
Movie • 2000 Report
Yes
9
No
0
1
capybarawin
an unnamed minor character with lou gerhrig’s disease is played by an able-bodied actor.
TV Show Report
Yes
9
No
0
Movie Report
Yes
8
No
0
1
mistersandman
Kerry— who loses a foot during the events of the film— is portrayed by Jeremy Allen White, who is not disabled.
Movie Report
Yes
8
No
0
1
xxlivlovesmusicxx
brendan fraser plays the main character who has a plethora of illnesses and disabilities due to his obesity