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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Movie • 2021 Report
Yes
14
No
1
2
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 • 2008 Report
Yes
9
No
0
0
suricata_passer
S1
E1
Jefferson Bays plays Dr. Nicholas Boone, who is wheelchair-bound.
YouTube • 2023 Report
Yes
8
No
1
3
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
6
No
0
2
averyanderson2018
Artie is played by Kevin McHale, who is not disabled in real life.
TV Show • 2011 Report
Yes
6
No
0
TV Show • 2004 Report
Yes
5
No
1
2
If I'm not wrong, Houses's actor isn't disabled, but his character walks with a cane.
TV Show • 2017 Report
Yes
4
No
0
0
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 • 2010 Report
Yes
4
No
0
TV Show • 2010 Report
Yes
4
No
1
TV Show Report
Yes
4
No
0
Movie • 1974 Report
Yes
4
No
0
TV Show • 2013 Report
Yes
3
No
0
1
uncreative
A character with an amputated leg and several characters with severe mental illness.
TV Show • 2014 Report
Yes
3
No
0
1
PixelWolf
A character heavily characterised as autistic is played by (to my knowledge) a non autistic person
TV Show Report
Yes
3
No
0
0
catnipp
hector
TV Show • 2019 Report
Yes
3
No
0
1
Diane Guerrero plays a character with DID while she herself doesn’t have it. Additionally, Timothy Dalton plays a character who is in a wheelchair while he himself (as far as I’ve been able to find) does not.
Movie • 2016 Report
Yes
3
No
0
1
Corellon
A blind character is played by an actor who is not blind. He wears clouded contact lenses.
Movie • 1993 Report
Yes
3
No
0
1
FleetwoodMacNCheez
Leonardo DiCaprio portrays an intellectually disabled teen
TV Show • 2021 Report
Yes
3
No
0
1
S1
E1
Matthew Needham plays Larys Strong. While the character is disabled, as far as I’ve been able to find, Matthew is not.
Movie • 2004 Report
Yes
3
No
2
0
Unhinged.but.handsome
I don't think so? Cancer isn't a disability. It's a terminal illness (obviously not in all cases, but it is in John's case). And I don't think there were any characters with any disabilities in the movie
TV Show • 1997 Report
Yes
3
No
1
1
ChrisBang
S8
E8
Cartman pretends to be handicapped to win the special olympics.
Movie • 2017 Report
Yes
3
No
0
1
Sibelos
Professor X (a man in a wheelchair) is played by Patrick Stewart.
Movie • 1996 Report
Yes
3
No
0
1
AlmightyKingPrawn
Tim Curry plays the amputee Silver.
Movie • 1980 Report
Yes
3
No
0
TV Show • 2021 Report
Yes
3
No
0
Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
3
No
1
Movie • 2000 Report
Yes
3
No
0
Movie • 2017 Report
Yes
3
No
0
TV Show • 1993 Report
Yes
3
No
1
Movie • 1993 Report
Yes
3
No
0
Movie • 2006 Report
Yes
3
No
0