Kim Peek, the inspiration for the Academy Award-winning 1988 movie 'Rain Man,' died of a heart attack Saturday at age 58, according to the Deseret News of Salt Lake City, Utah, Peek's home. He was known as a mega-savant who had mental handicaps but also an heightened ability to memorize and recite massive amounts of information.Peek was an expert on 15 broad categories, including math, literature, sports, classical music, history and geography. He had memorized more than 12,000 books and could compute complex mathematical equations in his head. But he was born without the connective tissue needed to bring the left and right sides of his brain together. Consequently, he was unable to filter information and often had to twist a cord or hum to himself so he could block out distractions, according to the Deseret News.
Kim and his dad first met 'Rain Man' screenwriter Barry Morrow at a convention in the '80s and two years later Morrow had written and sold the 'Rain Man' script. Dustin Hoffman spent time with Kim and with other savants while preparing for the role and Morrow later gave Kim the Academy Award he won for Best Screenplay. Kim carried it with him on his travels.
'Rain Man,' starring Hoffman as the afflicted Raymond Babbitt and Tom Cruise as his brother and directed by Barry Levinson, won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor, in addition to Best Screenplay.
Get more on Peek's unique mind:
Reader Comments (3)
Jacob Lunde at 7:08PM on Dec 22nd 2009
I think his tombstone should read how many seconds he was alive, something he would have shared and I would guess would know ....now
Rob at 12:26PM on Dec 24th 2009
Kim was an inspiration, so was also his incredible father who stood by him his entire life. I'm not a religous man, however I recognise an Angel as I see one. I wish him peace and joy as he travels among us a little bit further in life
Wendilynn at 4:12PM on Dec 26th 2009
I'm with Rob on this one.. His Dad is definately an angel on earth. As amazing as Kim was, so was his Dad.