They Called Him Kimputer

Kim Peek, who suffered from the Savant Syndrome and inspired the character in Rain Man, died of a heart attack in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Kim Peek suffered from the Savant Syndrome and inspired the character of Raymond Babbitt, played by Dustin Hoffman, in Rain Man. On 19 December, Peek (58) died of a heart attack in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Savant Syndrome is a condition where an individual has developmental disorders but possesses superlative skill or intelligence in one or a few areas. Peek knew everything about everything but couldn’t button his own shirt. In fact, his family stopped taking him to shows or concerts because he would get up in the middle of the performance and point out mistakes.

Building on awareness created by Rain Man’s success, Kim and his father Fran Peek campaigned for the disabled and produced the book, The Life and Message of the Real Rain Man. Nasa made him the subject of MRI Research. For those of us whose memories are too weak to recall Peek’s mental prowess, here’s a sampling from a German documentary on Peek. A school teacher says he was born on 5 August 1947. “It was a Tuesday,” replies Peek. “And this year, it’s a Friday. And you retire in 2012 on a Sunday.”

Kim PeekSavant Syndrome