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| OCD in literature and film The media's portrayal of OCD sufferers as eccentric and overtly neurotic is a contributing factor in the continuing public misconception of the disorder. Contrary to popular belief, OCD sufferers will rarely exhibit their compulsive behaviours in public, often becoming very adept at hiding or camouflaging their rituals. To the outside observer, the person with OCD will often seem completely normal. In fact, the more visible traits of OCD are actually ones that are encouraged and even admired in society, such as perfectionism, attention to detail, and cleanliness. The popular media rarely portrays sufferers as how they truly are — locked in a debilitating cycle of meaningless rituals that they feel compelled to perform even while recognizing their senselessness. * In Matchstick Men, Nicolas Cage's character suffers from a severe case of OCD. He eats very specific foods and has extreme phobias about dirt and the outside. * Adrian Monk (played by Tony Shalhoub), the title character of the American television series Monk, is a detective whose severe OCD is alternately beneficial and detrimental to his line of work. * Justin Green's 1972 comic book Binky Brown Meets the Holy Virgin Mary was based on the artist's childhood experience of what was later diagnosed as OCD. Green suffered from arranging, cleansing, and avoidance compulsions related to intrusive religious and sexual fears. * The science fiction novels Xenocide and Children of the Mind by Orson Scott Card portray a planet on which people with a form of OCD are revered as religious figures. * In Kurt Vonnegut's Jailbird, the main character Walter Starbuck must clap three times whenever his mind begins to wander. * The 1997 film As Good as It Gets starred Jack Nicholson as an obsessive-compulsive author. Nicholson received an Oscar for the performance. The film has been criticized for an exaggerated portrayal of OCD symptoms aimed mostly at getting laughs. * In the book series Everworld, Jalil Sherman's OCD is particularly painful, as his mind is otherwise rigidly bound to science and logic. It also serves as the basis for his connection to Senna. * The 2004 book by Steve Martin, The Pleasure of my Company is told from the point of view of a juvenile, but charming, mathematical genius with OCD. * The 2004 film The Aviator starred Leonardo DiCaprio as reclusive genius Howard Hughes, who was believed to have suffered from OCD (among other mental illnesses.) * Malcolm McDowell plays an OCD sufferer in the show Shadow Realm whose rituals keep the entire universe in working order. * The character of "Cameron" in the British teen soap opera Hollyoaks has OCD, and his storylines often dealt with the difficulties surrounding the condition. * In Ken Kesey's novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, clinic patient George Sorensen suffered from acute OCD. In the book he is described as "the water freak, who grins and shies back from that unsanitary hand" and he says things like "Those boats awful dirty any more — everything awful dirty." He behaves accordingly. * In the 2004 British film Dirty Filthy Love, Michael Sheen plays a successful architect, whose OCD tragically ends up costing him his wife, his job and his friends. * In film What About Bob?, the title character Bob Wiley (Bill Murray) suffers from OCD and multiple phobias. * In the third season of NBC's Scrubs, Michael J. Fox guest stars as a brilliant doctor with OCD. His disease helps him be the success he is in clinic but is also incredibly debilitating. Famous/celebrity OCD sufferers These figures have been identified as having the disorder: * David Beckham, an English footballer who plays for Real Madrid and was captain of the English national team. * Harrison Ford, an Academy Award-nominated American actor. * Paul Gascoigne, aka Gazza, a former English football player, notorious for his colourful character in the game. * Howard Hughes, an aviator, an engineer, an industrialist, a movie producer, a playboy, an eccentric and one of the wealthiest people in the world. * Joey Ramone, the singer of the punkrock band The Ramones * David Sedaris, American humorist and essayist * Howard Stern revealed in his book Miss America that he suffered from OCD and claimed that it was connected with his chronic back pain. * Marc Summers, an American television personality, best known for hosting the children's game show Double Dare on Nickelodeon. * Nikola Tesla, a Croatian inventor, physicist, mechanical engineer and electrical engineer. * Billy Bob Thornton, Academy Award-winning American screenwriter, actor, and also an occasional director, playwright and singer. He has stated several times in interviews that he suffers from OCD. |