Five TV characters who have struggled with autism

Shaun Murphy of "The Good Doctor" isn't the first TV character to deal with autism:

"St. Elsewhere" (1983-88)

St. Eligius' director of medicine (Minneapolis-born Ed Flanders) had a son with autism who was a minor player in the quirky medical drama — until the finale revealed that the entire series unfolded in his vivid imagination.

"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (2000-2015)

It's never confirmed, but all signs point to the forensic entomologist — and former employee of the Hennepin County Crime Lab — having Asperger's syndrome, which helps explain his loner tendencies, stilted speech and hyperactive behavior.

"Parenthood" (2010-2015)

The preteen's struggle with Asperger's was a moving story line throughout the series, with an emphasis on how his parents (Monica Potter and Minnesotan Peter Krause) attempted to keep their cool — and sometimes failed.

Longtime residents of the New York neighborhood may have suspected that Bert was on the spectrum, but there's no doubts when it comes to the 4-year-old charmer performed by Stacey Gordon, who in real life is raising a child with autism.

"Atypical" (2017- )

This teenager's autism isn't keeping him from pining over a girlfriend, even if it is his 26-year-old therapist. Mom (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is reluctant to let her son spread his wings. The critically acclaimed Netflix series was recently renewed for a second season.

NEAL JUSTIN