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Series 2 episode 2 - character observation - Troy Phillips

posted 13 years ago by alcockell
2 replies | jump to latest

Hi folks,

on watching the series 2 DVD... Jimmy Osmond played the learning-disabled character Troy Phillips. Did anyone else suspect that the character was actually on the autism continuum?

I'm diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome myself, so I noticed a lot of the mannerisms.
* Eidetic memory (learned both parts in a script segment when in a session with Doris)...
* Overload and panic when confronted with the whole of Shorofsky's class coming forward to congratulate him
* Stilted conversation when he first went into PA.
* Rocking, no eye contact..

Of course - understanding of high-functioning autism was far less back then.

I'd like to know who Jimmy Osmond worked with to get the mannerisms down - did he build a composite in the way Hoffman did for Raymond Babbitt?

[–] Ntr311 (1) 2 years ago

Hello!
I see it has been a while since you posted this, so I don't even know if this will ever reach you. But in any case this might be interesting for someone else. I have been diagnosed for a while know, since 2018. And like you I remarked on all the things you did. I completely believe that Autism is what the show was going for. I have just finished the episode so I don't have any answers for your questions. I am aware that things have changed a lot now and people appreciate characters to use the word Autism without fear and to have representation by autistic actors themselves, but I must say I think the part was spot on. I really liked watching a tv show of 1982 and seeing a character I could relate to!

[–] marktayloruk (2552) 2 years ago

As someone on the spectrum myself I made some tasteless observations about typecasting!