20 Physically Disabled Characters Played by Able-Bodied Actors (Photos) “Ironside” star Blair Underwood isn’t the first able-bodied actor to play a disabled character on television or film Greg Gilman May 20, 2013 @ 6:51 PM Share on Social Media Share on Facebook Share on X (formerly Twitter) Share on LinkedIn Share on Email John Hawkes played Mark O’Brien, a poet paralyzed from the neck down due to polio, in 2012 drama “The Sessions.” Read Next The 7 Best Comedy Movies on Prime Video Right Now Comments