Fictional characters with disabilities appear in various mediums, including novels, comics, television, and movies. A disability may be readily visible, or invisible in nature. Some examples of invisible disabilities include intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, mental disorders, asthma, epilepsy, allergies, migraines, arthritis, and chronic fatigue syndrome. There are many different causes of disability that often affect basic activities of daily living, such as eating, dressing, transferring, and maintaining personal hygiene; or advanced activities of daily living such as shopping, food preparation, driving, or working. However, causes of disability are usually determined by a person's capability to perform the activities of daily life.
Due to the number of entries, autistic fictional characters are listed on their own page and are not included here.
Literature
YearCharacterBook(s)Author(s)Disability1818The MonsterFrankensteinMary ShellyA man made from the bodies of other people, imperfect, abused because of his visible differences and communication disabilities.DeLaceyAn old blind man who cannot see the monster so isn't prejudiced by his sight, and offers the only genuine friendship the monster has ever experienced.1831QuasimodoThe Hunchback of Notre-DameVictor HugoQuasimodo is born a hunchback, is half-blind, and becomes deaf due to his living in the bell tower of the cathedral.1838SmikeNicholas NicklebyCharles DickensHe has deformed limbs and has intellectual and communication difficulties related to the abuse he has suffered.1843Tiny TimA Christmas CarolCharles DickensTiny Tim is believed to have had either rickets, tuberculosis (TB), polio, and/or cerebral palsy. 1851 Captain Ahab Moby-Dick Herman Melville A whale bit off Ahab's leg, and he stands on what's left of the bone. The sound of his ivory limb echoes on the deck. Ahab experiences a constant, piercing pain in his groin that represents the world's suffering. 1883Long John SilverTreasure IslandTreasure IslandA pirate with a missing leg, and eyepatch and another who has lost his sight.Blind Pew1904Captain HookPeter and WendyJ. M. BarrieA pirate with a missing hand 1911 Colin Craven The Secret Garden Frances Hodgeson Burnett Colin Craven is a character who experiences a disability that is described as a hunchback and an inability to walk. 1928 Clifford Lady Chatterley's Lover D. H. Lawrence Clifford is dependent on a wheelchair for mobility. Clifford's disability is a significant metaphorical form in the novel. The novel satirizes Clifford's technological obsessions, focus on "the life of the mind", and insistence on industrial wealth. 1937Lennie SmallOf Mice and MenJohn SteinbeckHe is a migrant worker with learning and communication disabilities. He relies on his best friend for support.1937CandyCandy is an old man with a stooped posture and no right hand, which he lost in an accident on the ranch.1937CrooksCrooks has a crooked spine from an accident with a horse. Crooks is doubly marginalized by his disability and race.1955 JemimaThe Railway SeriesWilbert AwdryDeaf 1964 Barquentine Gormenghast series Mervyn Peake One-legged, hunchbacked dwarf.1966Charlie GordonFlowers for AlgernonDaniel KeyesMild intellectual disability1973Mr Johnny GotobedCarrie's WarNina BawdenHe has both communication and learning disabilities.1978WalterWalterDavid CookHe has learning and communication disabilities. 1996 Tyrion Lannister A Song of Ice and Fire George R. R. Martin An unspecified type of dwarfism and severe facial disfigurement.2001ShawnStuck In NeutralTerry TruemanCerebral palsy2012 Adam Parrish The Raven Cycle Maggie Stiefvater In the first book of the series, Adam becomes deaf in his left ear due to abuse.2012Hazel Grace Lancaster, Augustus Waters, and several other charactersThe Fault in our Stars John GreenThe book is about characters with several types of cancer and resulting disabilities including a blind character and one with a prosthetic leg.2012Melody BrooksOut of My MindSharon M. DraperCerebral palsy2012August PullmanWonderR.J. PalacioFacial difference2015 Kaz Brekker Six of Crows Leigh Bardugo Kaz has a limp and uses a cane. He also experiences post-traumatic stress disorder. These are major parts of his experiences and development throughout the Six of Crows duology.
Live-action films
YearCharacterFilmDisabilityActor1952Larry NevinsBright VictoryBlindArthur Kennedy1954Hal JeffriesRear WindowWheelchair userJames Stewart1965Selina D'ArceyA Patch of BlueBlindElizabeth Hartman1967Susy HendrixWait Until DarkBlindAudrey Hepburm1969SingerThe Heart is a Lonely Hunter Deaf and muteAlan Arkin1974LeatherfaceThe Texas Chainsaw MassacreDevelopmental disabilitySeveral people1980Luke SkywalkerStar Wars The Empire Strikes BackHas a prosthetic right hand after losing it. In the Star Wars Expanded Universe/Legends Continuity his right hand was used to create a clone called Luuke.Mark Hamill1980Jason VoorheesFriday the 13thHydrocephalus and DeformitySeveral people1982WalterWalterLearning disabilitiesIan McKellen1984Freddy KruegerA Nightmare on Elm StreetTotal body surface areaSeveral people1985Mr WillPlaces in the HeartBlindJohn Malkovich1988Willow UlfgoodWillowShort stature (dwarfism)Warwick Davis1988Eric CruiseMac and MeWheelchair userJade Calegory1989Nick ParkerBlind FuryBlindRutger Hauer1992Lennie SmallOf Mice and MenLearning disabilitiesJohn Malkovich1992Frank SladeScent of a WomanBlindAl Pacino1994Forrest GumpForrest Gump Borderline intellectual functioningTom Hanks1999Lincoln RhymeThe Bone CollectorQuadriplegicDenzel Washington2002Charles XavierX-MenWheelchair userPatrick Stewart2002Bill PorterDoor to DoorCerebral palsyWilliams H. Macey2003Finbar McBrideThe Station AgentDwarfismPeter Dinklage2004Rory O'ShaeInside I'm DancingQuadriplegic wheelchair userJames McAvoy2004Ivy Elizabeth WalkerThe VillageBlindBryce Dallas Howard2004John Kramer/Jigsaw SawTerminal illnessTobin Bell2007Art HoneymanMusic Within Cerebral palsyMichael Sheen2007H.W. PlainviewThere Will Be BloodDeafDillon Freasier & Russell Harvard2008Laura MillerSweet Nothing in My EarDeafMarlee Maitlin 2013 Tim House of Last Things Cerebral palsy RJ Mitte 2014LailaMargarita with a StrawCerebral palsyKalki Koechlin2014GazelleKingsmanDouble leg amputeeSofia Boutella 2015 Imperator Furiosa Mad Max: Fury Road She is missing an arm and uses a mechanical prosthetic. Charlize Theron 2015 Marie Nakazawa Library Wars: The Last Mission She is deaf in one ear and hard of hearing in the other, using a hearing aid. Tao Tsuchiya2016Will TraynorMe Before YouParalysedSam Clafin2016Lee ChandlerManchester by the Sea Post-traumatic stress disorderCasey Affleck2016Dr Strange Marvel Cinematic Universe (first appearance in Doctor Strange)He suffered irreversible nerve damage to his hands. His hands are permanently injured. Strange's hands shake, his hands clench up or lose grip on objects without warning, he experiences painful spasms and can occasionally become paralyzed.Benedict Cumberbatch2016TrevorThe Fundamentals of CaringWheelchair userCraig Roberts2017Philip LacasseThe UpsideWheelchair user and paralysisBryan Cranston2017JamesThree Billboards Outside Ebbing, MissouriDwarfismPeter Dinklage2017RoseWonderstruckDeafMillicent Simmonds2018Regan AbbotA Quiet PlaceDeafMillicent Simmonds2019GaryJokerDwarfismLeigh Gill2019DianeSound of MetalDeafLauren Ridloff2019TravisStanding Up for SunnyCerebral palsyRJ Mitte2019ZakThe Peanut Butter FalconDown syndromeZack Gottsagen2020Izzy SimmonsChristmas Ever AfterWheelchair userAli Stroker2020Roman LunyovI Care a LotDwarfismPeter Dinklage 2020 Steve The Oak Room Cerebral palsy RJ Mitte 2020DaughterRunWheelchair userKiera Allen2021MakkariEternalsDeafLauren Ridloff2021TimHelpPhysical disabilityArthur Hughes2021JieGodzilla vs. Kong DeafKaylee Hottle2021CyranoCyranoDwarfismPeter Dinklage2021GarrickInfiniteWheelchair userLiz Carr 2021 SophieSee for Me Blind Skyler Davenport 2021Kackie RossiCodaDeafMarlee Maitlin2021Frank RossiDeafTroy Kotsur2021Leo RossiDeafDaniel Durant2022CliffordLady Chatterley's LoverPhysical disability from war injuriesMatthew Duckett2022PhilAmerican DreamerDwarfismPeter Dinklage2022Barbara LisickiThen Barbara Met AlanWheelchair userRuth Madeley2022Alan HoldsworthPhysical disabilityArthur Hughes2022LorcanAn Irish GoodbyeDown syndromeJames Martin2023Oompa LoompaWonkaShort statureHugh Grant2023ElliotBatteryWheelchair userZak Ford-Williams2023Tommy OlsenThe UnseenCerebral palsyRJ Mitte2023SamMonico PerseusDown SyndromeSam Barnard2024Maker KeeperDune: Part TwoShort stature (dwarfism)Alison Halstead2024NessaroseWickedWheelchair userMarissa Bode
Live-action television