Michael Patrick Thornton's Wheelchair on 'The Good Doctor' Goes a Long Way Toward Representation

Does Michael Patrick Thornton use a wheelchair in actual existence? His use of a wheelchair on 'The Good Doctor' is essential. Learn extra about his story.
Actor and theater director Michael Patrick Thornton plays Dr. Clay Porter on The Good Doctor — and fanatics are wondering if the celebrity uses a wheelchair in actual existence. It seems that there's a very robust tale behind that question.
Michael has been a operating actor since 2003 in keeping with his IMDb page, however that also is the yr that his existence modified perpetually. Admirably, the Private Practice alum may be very open in talking about what he went thru. Read on for information about Michael’s journey and the way he’s living his best lifestyles today.
An sudden illness ended in Michael Patrick Thornton's the usage of a wheelchair.
The star of The Good Doctor talked to ABC 7 in 2015 about his ordeal. "I was on life support within about 30 minutes, was in a coma for a few days,” Michael confided, adding, "They ended up thinking that it used to be what they name a spinal stroke."
According to Heart.org, spinal strokes are exceedingly rare, and make up just 1 percent of all strokes. In Michael’s case, the situation was obviously very serious, and resulted in his being paralyzed after suffering not one, but two strokes at just 24 years old.
The star confessed to having “a pity party” at first, but seeing sick children at the rehabilitation center where he was recovering helped Michael see a brighter future ahead, which, for him, included acting.
"With the 2 spinal strokes and shedding everything, the power to move, the whole thing simply my eyeballs to talk, in that more or less cellar of your soul, to appreciate that the only thing that I'm willing to battle for is the power to stand up in entrance of other folks and communicate what it feels love to be a human being on this earth," he passionately stated in the interview.
Being on 'The Good Doctor' is still kind of ironic for Michael Patrick Thornton.
Michael and fellow cast members (including Jessica Chastain and Arian Moayed) of the play 'A Doll's House'
Michael now believes that his example can help uplift others who are experiencing dark times, saying in a 2022 interview with NBC News, “I’ve been there and you can get through it." He added, "There’s light on the other side.”
The actor went on to share that his representation on TV is important for other individuals with disabilities to see, going on to expand that he picks roles in which the disability is not “a plot point,” but instead, “is simply there.”
Still, Michael told Medium about his portrayal of Dr. Gabriel Fife on Private Practice: “It was the height of irony that after working so hard to get as far away as possible from anything resembling a hospital ever again that my biggest break, the ABC series Private Practice, cast me as a doctor, so a good amount of my scenes were in a hospital.”
Also ironically, he plays Clay on The Good Doctor, who is a love interest for the chief of surgery, Audrey Lim, played by Christina Chang. As fans know, Audrey was paralyzed after Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) performed surgery on her following a stabbing.
In the Season 6 fall finale, Clay showed his devotion to his female friend with a ring, professing he will be by means of her aspect regardless of her choice in regards to the surgery.
Catch new episodes of The Good Doctor on Mondays at 10 p.m. EST on ABC.
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