Detective Goren/Vincent D'Onofrio

Post Reply New Topic

I'd have to say my favourite possible-Aspie tv character is Det. Robert Goren (Vincent D'Onofrio) on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. The writers even emphasized his odd mannerisms in one episode where they were investigating a suspect with Aspergers. Goren's partner noted the similarity as both the suspect and Goren were fiddling with their hands, speaking in odd patterns, etc. It was never confirmed whether or not he officially has AS, but I find Goren is a good role model of someone who can harness his aspie-like nature and learn to use it to his advantage in social situations - observing the patterns in people's behaviours to find out who is the true murderer.

Anyway, interestingly enough, as a character actor, Vincent D'Onofrio has been in a lot of movies with some Aspie appeal: playing an alienated soldier in Full Metal Jacket, an alien in Men in Black, the out-of-touch dad in the socially awkward film Thumbsucker (alongside Keanu Reeves), and even played the stuttering, socially-awkward older brother of Vince Vaughan in The Break-Up.

Anyone else a fan?

I'll always remember him as Pvt. Pyle in FMJ.

Tim

hes a champ.. doubt he has anything like aspergers though... he just looks interested in peoples behaviour alot, on/off screen.. he seems too normal/natural to me to be anything else

Vincent D'Onofrio has got aspergers, as has his eldest son Elias.

My favorite D'Onofrio role was as one of my favorite authors, Robert E. Howard, in The Whole Wide World. Though Howard died years before Dr. Asperger discovered his subjects with high functioning autism, Howard doubtlessly had all the symptoms, as did D'onofrio's portrayal of him as a movie character.
It's a great movie; check it out.

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer