Kim Peek, the inspiration for the movie "Rain Man," has died. The 1988 film, about an autistic savant (Dustin Hoffman) and his hustler brother (Tom Cruise) won several Oscars. Kim Peek was 58, and died of an apparent heart attack.
"Rain Man" is what many people think of when they think of autism. In reality, it was discovered later that Kim Peek, although the inspiration for Hoffman's character, was not autistic at all.
Instead, Kim Peek was born without connective tissue to bring the left and right sides of his brain together. As such, he was unable to filter information. He often had to twist a cord or hum to himself so he could block out distractions. However, autistic people are unable to integrate sensory information, which is a somewhat different problem.
However, while what scientists called a mega-savant, having phenomenal knowledge in 15 broad categories, simple tasks like dressing himself or setting the table eluded him. Scientists determined that Kim Peek was able to read the left page of a book with his left eye, and the right page of a book with his right eye, simultaneously, which would once again be something an autistic person cannot do.
Kim Peek and his father Fran first met screenwriter Barry Morrow at a convention in the '80s. Within two years Morrow had written and sold the script for the movie "Rain Man." Dustin Hoffman spent time with Kim Peek and with other savants to prepare for his role. Morrow later gave Peek his Oscar.
The movie "Rain Man" won Oscars for Best Actor (Hoffman), Best Director (Barry Levinson), Best Picture, and Best Writing, Original Screenplay (Morrow and Ron Bass).
Written by Michael Santo
HULIQ.com
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