Alex Plank
{{short description|American actor}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Alex Plank
| image = File:Headshot of Alex Plank.jpg
| alt = Photograph of Alex Plank
| caption = Alex Plank
| birth_name = Alexander Plank
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|06|27}}
| birth_place = Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| other_names =
| occupation = Autism advocate, film consultant, filmmaker, actor
| years_active =
| known_for = Creating Wrong Planet, consulting and acting on FX's The Bridge, acting on The Good Doctor
}}
Alexander Plank (born June 27, 1986) is an American autism advocate, filmmaker and actor. He is known for founding the online community Wrong Planet, working on FX's television series The Bridge, and acting on The Good Doctor. At the age of 9, Plank was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome.{{cite book | last = Hallahan | first = Dan | title = Exceptional Learners: Introduction to Special Education | publisher = Allyn & Bacon | year = 2006 | isbn = 0-205-44421-0 | page = [https://archive.org/details/exceptionallearn00dani/page/452 452] | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/exceptionallearn00dani/page/452 | edition = 10th }} Plank started Wrong Planet at the age of 17 in order to find others like him on the Internet. After the popularity of Wrong Planet grew, Plank began to be frequently mentioned in the mainstream media in articles relating to autism, Asperger's, and autism rights.{{cite news | url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2008/04/autistics-dont.html | work=Chicago Tribune | title=Some Autistics Don't want to be Cured | first=Julie | last=Deardorff | date=2008-05-11 | access-date=2010-11-19 | archive-date=2008-04-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405174100/http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2008/04/autistics-dont.html | url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://nymag.com/news/features/47225/|title=The Autism Rights Movement|website=NYMag.com|date=23 May 2008 |accessdate=29 January 2018}}{{cite news| url=http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2008/09/18/lynn_harris/ | work=Salon | title=The "Retarded" Renaissance | first=Lynn | last=Harris | date=2008-09-18}}
Early life and founding of Wrong Planet
As a child, Plank was bullied, excluded, and ridiculed by his peers, according to the book NeuroTribes. He only found out about his diagnosis of Asperger's after looking through papers in his parents' drawers. During his teen years, he searched the internet to find others like him but was frustrated by the lack of sites for autistic individuals. He was a Linux developer while still in high school and was familiar with the tools needed to create an online community. After meeting Dan Grover, he created Wrong Planet at the age of 17.{{cite book |first=Steve |last=Silberman |year=2015 |title=NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity |publisher=Avery |isbn=978-1583334676 |page=[https://archive.org/details/neurotribeslegac0000silb/page/454 454] }}
Plank was a contributor to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia during its early years. He contributed to over 10,000 articles.{{cite news |last1=Mediati |first1=Nick |title=Profiles in Geekdom: Alex Plank of Wrong Planet |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/254796/profiles_in_geekdom_alex_plank_of_wrong_planet.html |accessdate=16 March 2020 |work=PCWorld |date=7 June 2012 |language=en}}
Alex Plank's story regarding the founding of Wrong Planet is covered in the special education curriculum of many universities in the United States. A page is dedicated to Alex Plank and his story in a textbook used by various universities such as the University of Virginia and George Mason University for introduction to special education courses.{{cite web|url=http://teach.virginia.edu/index.php?option=com_currypeople&userid=dph&task=detail|title=The Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia|publisher=|accessdate=29 January 2018}}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=http://cehd.gmu.edu/assets/syllabus/EDSE401-501-C01-04D-McDuffie.pdf|title=George Mason University|publisher=|accessdate=29 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://oregonstate.edu/education/programs/syllabi/COUN548.doc|title=College of Education|website=College of Education|accessdate=29 January 2018|archive-date=12 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612160458/http://oregonstate.edu/education/programs/syllabi/COUN548.doc|url-status=dead}}
Entertainment career
=''The Bridge''=
Alex Plank served as a consultant for the 2013 TV series The Bridge and worked with Diane Kruger on developing her character.{{cite news| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/bridge-eps-stars-talk-aspergers-598863 | work=The Hollywood Reporter | first=Marisa | last=Guthrie | title='The Bridge' EPs and Stars Talk Asperger's, Tweaks in Season 2 | date=August 2, 2013}} He made his on-screen acting debut in the finale of season one, playing the role of the intern at the El Paso Times.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2920010/fullcredits|title="The Bridge" The Crazy Place (TV Episode 2013)|publisher=|accessdate=29 January 2018|via=www.imdb.com}} Diane Kruger stated that Plank was on set every day, would go to the writers room, and was "instrumental" to both her performance and to the writers, as he would also work with the writers in the writers room.{{cite news | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/bridge-eps-stars-talk-aspergers-598863 | work=The Hollywood Reporter | title='The Bridge' EPs and Stars Talk Asperger's, Tweaks in Season 2 | first=Marisa | last=Guthrie | date=2013-08-02 }}|{{cite news | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/08/07/the-bridge-producers-and-diane-kruger-on-sonyas-aspergers | work=IGN | title=The Bridge Producers and Diane Kruger on Sonya's Asperger's | first= Eric | last=Goldman | date=2013-08-06 }}| Kruger also stated that, while working on the show, she spent more time with Plank than with her partner and friends.{{cite news | url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/blogs/the-tribal-mind/from-rain-man-to-the-bridge--the-art-of-aspergacting-20130724-2qi45.html | work=Sydney Morning Herald | title=From Rain Man to The Bridge -- the art of Aspergacting | first= David | last=Dale | date=2013-07-27 }}| Plank introduced a variety of autistic tendencies into Kruger's character of Sonya Cross, including stimming, awkwardness around eye contact, and a flat affect.
The way in which Plank got hired to work on The Bridge was somewhat unconventional. He was reportedly called out of the blue by an executive at FX who had heard of Plank. The executive proceeded to ask him questions about his experiences and his knowledge of autism. After this, Plank was contacted by the showrunner, Elwood Reid, who invited him to the writers room to talk with the team of writers. It wasn't until after he met with Diane Kruger that Plank was offered a full-time position on the show.{{cite episode |title=Creating Authentic Autistic TV Characters |series=The Business |date=28 October 2013 |url=http://www.kcrw.com/news-culture/shows/the-business/creating-authentic-autistic-tv-characters |network=KCRW |last=Masters |first=Kim (host)}}
=''The Good Doctor''=
In 2019, Plank guest starred in season 2 of The Good Doctor as Javier Maldonado, the roommate of Lana Moore, a patient who needs to undergo brain surgery. While Javi initially denies being Lana's boyfriend, it is later revealed that they have a relationship that is more than platonic.
Plank's character's help is needed in the operating room to save Lana but Javi is sensitive to light (Plank wears progressively tinted glasses due to Javi's sensory processing disorder, a common condition comorbid to autism) and he refuses to help with the surgery. While Dr. Shaun Murphy, the show's autistic surgeon, tries to get Javi to overcome his fear by appealing to Javi's affinity for his ritual of playing insect trivia with Lana, Dr. Morgan Reznick appeals to Javi's emotions, insisting that Javi does indeed love Lana. But Javi replies that he does not love her. However, he later unexpectedly shows up during the surgery and saves Lana by overcoming his fear and going into the brightly lit operating room. After surgery, he confesses his love for her.{{cite news | url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/01/the-good-doctor-sex-love-romance-xin-melissa-reiner-1202039446/ | work=IndieWire | title='The Good Doctor' Upends Misconceptions About Sex and Relationships on the Spectrum | first=Hanh | last=Nguyen | date=2019-01-28 }}|
=Filmography=
Other autism advocacy
{{autism rights movement|people}}
Plank gave the keynote speech at the Autism Society of America's national conference in 2010.{{cite web|title=Making Connections Online|format=Keynote speech|url=http://www.autism-society.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=16342&news_iv_ctrl=1882|access-date=2010-11-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727174921/http://www.autism-society.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=16342&news_iv_ctrl=1882|archive-date=2010-07-27|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://asa.confex.com/asa/2010/webprogram/Session5186.html|title=Webprogram Unavailable|website=asa.confex.com|accessdate=29 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://lbnuke.com/2010/07/22/autism-society-conference-keynote-with-alex-plank/|title=Autism Society Conference Keynote with Alex Plank - LoriB.me|date=22 July 2010|publisher=|accessdate=29 January 2018}} He also gave the keynote at the ASCEND conference in San Francisco.{{cite web|url=http://blog.sfgate.com/lshumaker/2014/10/02/autism-employment-and-more-at-aascend-conference-oct-18/|title=Autism, employment and more at AASCEND Conference Oct. 18|date=3 October 2014|publisher=|accessdate=29 January 2018}} According to People Magazine, Plank spoke at a conference in San Diego during which he was also involved in the first "all-autism" wedding where he served as DJ and best man.{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/article/all-autism-wedding-san-diego|title=Meet the First Couple to Have an All-Autism Wedding: 'Autistic Children Can Grow Up and Have a Happy Life,' Says the Bride|publisher=|accessdate=29 January 2018}}
In 2010, Plank started an Internet television program called Autism Talk TV. The venture is sponsored by Autism Speaks.{{cite web|title=Introducing Autism Talk TV|date=March 15, 2008|publisher=Autism Speaks|author=Marc Sirkin|url=http://blog.autismspeaks.org/2010/08/13/autismtalktv//}} Rosie O'Donnell and John Elder Robison talked about the show on Rosie Radio.Rosie Radio, September 9, 2010 A front-page article from The New York Times, entitled "Navigating Love and Autism", written by Amy Harmon, was published in December 2011 about the romantic relationship between his two autistic co-hosts Jack Robison and Kirsten Lindsmith. Alex Plank, Wrong Planet, and Autism Talk TV were discussed.Harmon, Amy. [https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/26/us/navigating-love-and-autism.html Navigating Love and Autism] "The New York Times", December 26, 2011
Plank traveled to France in February 2012 to direct a documentary exposé, entitled Shameful, concerning the way in which autism is viewed and treated in France. When the film was in post-production it was covered by publications in both France and the United States, including L'Express and Vivre FM, a radio station in Paris; a trailer was released in July 2012.Didier, Arthur [http://www.vivrefm.com/infos/lire/365?fb_comment_id=fbc_10152020961535594_34760064_10152033318135594#f2af77ec692c462 "Shameful", la honte, le documentaire choc réalisé Alex Plank et Noah Trevino sur l'autisme en France] July 16, 2012
Along with French activist David Heurtevent, Plank founded Autism Rights Watch, an NGO for which he serves as president.Pignard, Magali [http://blogs.lexpress.fr/the-autist/2012/09/27/autisme-une-ong-intervient-sur-le-sol-francais-pour-denoncer-la-responsabilite-de-letat/ Autisme: une ONG intervient sur le sol français pour dénoncer la responsabilité de l'État.] September 27, 2012
Controversies
In 2006, Plank was sued by the victims of a 19-year-old member of the site, William Freund,Hann, Michael. [https://www.theguardian.com/usguns/Story/0,,1642081,00.html A loaded discussion.] The Guardian, November 14, 2005. Retrieved on 2008-03-07. who shot two people and himself in Aliso Viejo, California.Tran, Mia [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-nov-18-me-asperger18-story.html Relatives sue over shotgun slayings] "Los Angeles Times", November 18, 2006 Plank appeared on Good Morning America and Fox News discussing the incident.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|2420485}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Plank, Alex}}
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:Actors from Charlottesville, Virginia
Category:Male actors from Virginia
Category:American activists with disabilities
Category:American actors with disabilities
Category:American disability rights activists
Category:American health activists
Category:American male television actors