Kim Peek, the real-life individual who inspired the Academy Award-winning performance of Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man has passed away at the age of 58. Kim Peek was a mega-savant with an unparalleled memory, being able to memorize 12,000 books including the Bible in its entirety. His brain was a veritable encyclopedia of information, allowing him to quickly read and recall a page in just 8 seconds, and ask a stranger their date of birth and then correctly inform them what day of the week they had been born on, as well as what exactly had been written on the front page of major newspapers.
Kim Peek’s mental prowess extended far beyond his photographic memory; he was considered a genius by his peers in 15 different fields such as history, literature, geography and music – even though his IQ tests were still below average. It was this unique blend of abilities that attracted scriptwriter Barry Morrow to Kim Peek back in the early 1980s and motivated him to create Raymond Babbitt (Dustin Hoffman’s character) for Rain Man. Impressed by Kim Peek’s impressive intellect, Hoffman took it upon himself to meet him personally and used their conversations to help prepare for his role.
As time passed Kim Peek became more comfortable interacting with people around him and even started taking part in live performances where he amazed audiences with his mental feats – earning himself the moniker ‘the real Rain Man’. In 2004 NASA scientists began using specialized technology designed to assess any brain changes due to space exploration on Mr Peek; further evidence of his remarkable intelligence.
The passing of Kim Peek is truly a loss for all those whose lives he touched during his lifetime. His contribution is memorialized in several documentaries that have been released over recent years – giving viewers access into one of history’s most incredible minds. Fans can learn even more about this incredible man from these documentaries; an absolute must-watch for anybody looking to explore both the highs and lows a life like no other!
