Kim Peek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kim Peek
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Peek in 2007
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Laurence Kim Peek
November 11, 1951 Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
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| Died | December 19, 2009 (aged 58) Murray, Utah, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Megasavant |
| Parent(s) | Fran Peek, Jeanne W. Buchi |
Laurence Kim Peek (born November 11, 1951 – died December 19, 2009) was an American man with amazing abilities. He was known as a "megasavant" because he had an incredible memory. He could remember almost everything he read or heard.
Kim also had some social challenges. These were likely due to differences in his brain from birth. He was the real-life inspiration for the character Raymond Babbitt in the famous 1988 movie Rain Man. Even though the movie character was shown with autism, scientists later thought Kim Peek might have had a rare condition called FG syndrome. Today, the Utah Film Center gives out the Peek Award to honor his special legacy.
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Kim's Early Life
Laurence Kim Peek was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He had some unique brain differences. For example, the main connection between the two halves of his brain was missing. This part is called the corpus callosum. Scientists think that because this part was missing, his brain might have made other unusual connections. These connections could have helped him develop his amazing memory.
Kim's father, Fran Peek, said that Kim started memorizing things when he was only about 16 to 20 months old. Kim had a special way of showing he finished a book: he would read it, memorize it, and then place it upside down on the shelf. He did this his whole life!
He could read a whole book in about an hour. He remembered almost everything he read. This included huge amounts of information about history, literature, geography, numbers, sports, music, and dates. Kim read by looking at the left page with his left eye and the right page with his right eye at the same time. One newspaper article said he could remember the details of at least 12,000 books.
Kim lived in Murray, Utah. He spent a lot of time reading at the Salt Lake City Public Library and showing his skills at schools. His father helped him a lot with these activities.
Kim didn't start walking until he was four years old. Even then, he walked in a unique way. He also found simple tasks like buttoning his shirt very difficult. This was probably because of differences in his cerebellum, the part of the brain that helps with movement.
The Movie Rain Man
In 1984, a writer named Barry Morrow met Kim Peek in Arlington, Texas. This meeting led to the 1988 movie Rain Man, which won an Oscar. The character Raymond Babbitt in the movie was inspired by Kim. However, Raymond was shown as having autism.
Dustin Hoffman, the actor who played Raymond, met Kim Peek and other savants. He studied their actions and personalities to make his role as real as possible. The movie made Kim Peek very famous. He started getting many requests to appear in public, which helped him feel more confident.
Barry Morrow even let Kim Peek carry his own Oscar statuette to these appearances. People called it the "Most Loved Oscar Statue" because so many people got to hold it. Kim also loved to meet strangers and show them his talent for calendar calculations. He could tell them what day of the week they were born and what news was on the front page of newspapers that day. Kim also appeared on television. He traveled with his father, who helped him with daily tasks that were hard for him.
Scientific Studies of Kim's Brain
In 2004, scientists at NASA's Ames Research Center studied Kim Peek. They used special tools like CT scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These tests helped them create a 3D view of his brain. They wanted to compare these new images to older MRI scans from 1988. This was an early step in using technology to learn more about Kim's amazing abilities.
A study in 2008 suggested that Kim Peek likely had FG syndrome. This is a rare genetic condition. It can cause physical traits like low muscle tone and an unusually large head.
Kim Peek's Appearances
Kim Peek was featured in many documentaries and TV shows:
- The Boy with the Incredible Brain, a BBC documentary
- Brainman, a Discovery Channel documentary
- Inside the Rain Man, a Discovery Channel documentary
- Everything You Need to Know – The Brain, a Discovery Channel documentary
- Human Computer, a Discovery Channel documentary
- Medical Incredible, a Discovery Health Channel documentary
- The Real Rain Man, a Discovery Health Channel documentary
- Ripley's Believe It or Not!
- CNN interview by Richard Quest
- "The Real Rain Man". Focus Productions. Extraordinary People. RTL Group. Five.
- World's Smartest People on The Learning Channel
- Kim and his father spoke at the first meeting of the Athanasius Kircher Society.
- Speaker at the Oxford Union
- 60 Minutes
- Accidental Genius, a National Geographic Channel documentary
- Superhuman, "Genius" episode, a Science Channel special
- Den Riktiga Rain Man (The Real Rain Man), a Swedish documentary
- Michael Vey 4
Kim's Death
Kim Peek passed away from a heart attack at his home on December 19, 2009. He was 58 years old.
Tributes to Kim
Barry Morrow, the screenwriter for Rain Man, loaned his own Oscar statuette to Salt Lake City forever. He did this to remember Kim Peek. Barry also provided money for the Peek Award. This award honors artists, media makers, and film subjects who help change how society sees people with disabilities. The Utah Film Center gives out this special award.
See also
In Spanish: Kim Peek para niños
