Out Prison Break Star Wentworth Miller Reveals Autism Diagnosis

Wentworth Miller, the gay actor who found fame on the TV drama Prison Break before becoming a mainstay on superhero shows like Flash and DC's Legends of Tomorrow, announced his autism diagnosis last week.

Miller posted the diagnosis with a photo-less post on Instagram, writing in the caption that the quarantine gave him time to contemplate his life.

"This fall marks 1 year since I received my informal autism diagnosis," Miller wrote. "Preceded by a self-diagnosis. Followed by a formal diagnosis. It was a long, flawed process in need of updating. IMO. I'm a middle-aged man. Not a 5-year-old. And (it's a "both/and") I recognize access to a diagnosis is a privilege many do not enjoy. Let's just say it was a shock. But not a surprise."

The actor admitted he is not yet informed enough about autism to be a public advocate for people with the disability.

"Right now my work looks like evolving my understanding. Re-examining 5 decades of lived experience thru a new lens. That will take time. Meanwhile, I don't want to run the risk of suddenly being a loud, ill-informed voice in the room. The #autistic community (this I do know) has historically been talked over. Spoken for. I don't wish to do additional harm. Only to raise my hand, say, 'I am here. Have been (w/o realizing it).'"

Miller recommended that others living with autism search out creators on TikTok and Instagram who are adding to the thoughtful discourse on the subject. Miller ended his post by expressing gratitude to those who were patient with him and even thanked those not as kind.

"Oh - this isn't something I'd change. No. I get - got - immediately being autistic is central to who I am. To everything I've achieved/articulated. Oh - I also want to say to the many (many) people who consciously or unconsciously gave me that extra bit of grace + space over the years, allowed me to move thru the world in a way that made sense to me whether or not it made sense to them... thank you. And to those who made a different choice... well. People will reveal themselves. Another gift."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes autism spectrum disorder as a "developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges."