Is someone disabled played by able-bodied?
Browse movies, tv shows, books and more where someone disabled is played by able-bodied.
An able-bodied actor portraying a character with a disability.
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TV Show • 2004 Report
Yes
136
No
5
8
If I'm not wrong, Houses's actor isn't disabled, but his character walks with a cane.
Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
48
No
5
16
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)
TV Show • 2021 Report
Yes
48
No
4
4
audreypom
Coach Ben Scott has his leg amputated and therefore spends most of the show disabled, and the actor that plays him is not disabled in this way.
Movie • 2024 Report
Yes
42
No
22
12
Smiliey
there is a joke about cassandra being in a wheelchair when she can walk
Movie • 2021 Report
Yes
38
No
3
20
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.
TV Show • 2011 Report
Yes
37
No
3
4
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.
TV Show • 2022 Report
Yes
36
No
5
3
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 • 1975 Report
Yes
33
No
3
8
Brotato
Dr. Everett V. Scott in the movie isn't played by a disabled actor although he is in a wheelchair.
Movie • 2022 Report
Yes
33
No
2
Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
27
No
1
4
Annabelle
Child with more severe autism. he’s also possessed… and they argue about whether his possession vs autism characteristics
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
26
No
12
2
There are many times where the characters needs wheelchairs, and obviously the actor does not
TV Show • 1963 Report
Yes
25
No
1
0
pedanther
S12
E12
"Genesis of the Daleks" part 3: Davros is played by an able-bodied actor.
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
25
No
16
0
humanhalfofachilleus
S4
E4
A blind character is played by a seeing person
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
25
No
6
2
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
TV Show • 2017 Report
Yes
25
No
1
8
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.
Movie • 2004 Report
Yes
24
No
4
6
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 • 2017 Report
Yes
24
No
0
6
Stephen Root plays a blind man
YouTube • 2023 Report
Yes
23
No
0
12
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 • 2009 Report
Yes
22
No
0
7
averyanderson2018
Artie is played by Kevin McHale, who is not disabled in real life.
Video Game Report
Yes
21
No
0
5
connogie
c!Schlatt, c!Ponk and other characters are physically disabled. But it's also Minecraft, so.
Movie • 2024 Report
Yes
20
No
2
4
Furiosa is an amputee with a mechanical arm; as Anya Taylor Joy is able-bodied, this was achieved digitally.
Other minor characters, such as Scrotus, the Citadel residents, and some War Boys, have prosthetic makeup on to approximate birth defects, facial differences, and tumors that are implied to result from radiation in the Wasteland and injuries going untreated.
There are also disabled Australian actors in this movie, including Sean Millis, who has Hunter Syndrome, and Quaden Bayles, who has achondroplasia.
Other minor characters, such as Scrotus, the Citadel residents, and some War Boys, have prosthetic makeup on to approximate birth defects, facial differences, and tumors that are implied to result from radiation in the Wasteland and injuries going untreated.
There are also disabled Australian actors in this movie, including Sean Millis, who has Hunter Syndrome, and Quaden Bayles, who has achondroplasia.
TV Show • 2020 Report
Yes
19
No
7
3
Kimiko a canonically mute character is played by an actress who isn't mute.
Movie • 2000 Report
Yes
19
No
0
6
capybarawin
an unnamed minor character with lou gerhrig’s disease is played by an able-bodied actor.
Movie • 2025 Report
Yes
19
No
0
Movie • 1974 Report
Yes
19
No
0
TV Show • 1997 Report
Yes
18
No
4
5
Jaebee
S8
E8
Cartman pretends to be handicapped to win the special olympics.
TV Show • 2010 Report
Yes
18
No
5
2
TheDreammweaver
In most cases of this it’s because characters sustain injuries, like amputations, after being on the show for multiple seasons
Movie • 2024 Report
Yes
18
No
1
3
lydlav
a blind person is played by someone not blind in real life
Movie • 2016 Report
Yes
18
No
3
4
BenHughes
Blind Al
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
16
No
6
3
Denko
The Doctor, played by Peter Capaldi, is rendered visually blind for a few episodes before being cured.