Shirl Jennings
Encyclopedia
Shirley "Shirl" Jennings (1940 – October 26, 2003) was one of only a few people in the world to regain his sight after lifelong blindness and was the inspiration for the character of Virgil Anderson in the movie At First Sight
(1999) starring Val Kilmer
and Mira Sorvino
.
, a progressive, untreatable disease of the retina that causes blindness. By the time he was 10, he could distinguish only light from dark. He attended the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind
and later the YMCA
School of Swedish Massage."
The surgery did restore some of Shirl Jenning's vision, however he was overwhelmed with visual sensory data and was unable to connect what he was seeing with his visual memory, which had all but disappeared. The family contacted Dr. Oliver Sacks
, a famous neurologist known for his book "Awakenings
," who, along with other physicians concluded that he would need to re-learn how to identify objects that he could feel and smell with their visual cues. His extraordinary metamorphosis was featured in a 1995 article in The New Yorker magazine, "To See or Not See" by Dr. Sacks.
In 1996 Jennings began taking painting lessons and became a painter. His first one-man art show was held in 2002 at the Center Street Arts Gallery in Conyers, Ga.
(1999) starring Val Kilmer
and Mira Sorvino
. Val Kilmer spent time with Shirl Jennings in preparation for portraying him in the film.
in 2003 at the age of 63.
At First Sight
At First Sight is a 1999 American film starring Val Kilmer and Mira Sorvino, based on the essay To See and Not to See in neurologist Oliver Sacks' book An Anthropologist on Mars and inspired by the true life story of Shirl Jennings.-Plot:...
(1999) starring Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer
Val Edward Kilmer is an American actor. Originally a stage actor, Kilmer became popular in the mid-1980s after a string of appearances in comedy films, starting with Top Secret! , then the cult classic Real Genius , as well as blockbuster action films, including a supporting role in Top Gun and a...
and Mira Sorvino
Mira Sorvino
Mira Katherine Sorvino is an American actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Mighty Aphrodite and is also known for her role as Romy White in Romy and Michele's High School Reunion.- Early life :Sorvino was born in Tenafly, New Jersey...
.
Early life
Born in Bedford County, Va., at age 3, Shirl became dangerously ill with three illnesses at once: meningitis, polio and cat scratch fever. "His sickness plunged him into a coma, from which he emerged after two weeks with paralyzed legs and damaged eyesight. When he was 7 or 8, Jennings was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosaRetinitis pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of genetic eye conditions that leads to incurable blindness. In the progression of symptoms for RP, night blindness generally precedes tunnel vision by years or even decades. Many people with RP do not become legally blind until their 40s or 50s and retain some...
, a progressive, untreatable disease of the retina that causes blindness. By the time he was 10, he could distinguish only light from dark. He attended the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind
Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind
The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind, located in Staunton, Virginia, USA, is an institution for educating deaf and blind children, first established in 1839 by an act of the Virginia General Assembly.- History :...
and later the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
School of Swedish Massage."
Treatment and return of sight
In 1991, at the urging of his then girlfriend, Barbara, Shirl visited ophthalmologist Dr. Trevor Woodhams to investigate opportunities to restore his sight. Woodhams suggested surgery to remove his dense cataracts and to determine the true underlying condition of his retinas. Woodhams believed that the removal of the cataracts would return some of Shirl's vision.The surgery did restore some of Shirl Jenning's vision, however he was overwhelmed with visual sensory data and was unable to connect what he was seeing with his visual memory, which had all but disappeared. The family contacted Dr. Oliver Sacks
Oliver Sacks
Oliver Wolf Sacks, CBE , is a British neurologist and psychologist residing in New York City. He is a professor of neurology and psychiatry at Columbia University, where he also holds the position of Columbia Artist...
, a famous neurologist known for his book "Awakenings
Awakenings
Awakenings is a 1990 American drama film based on Oliver Sacks's 1973 memoir Awakenings. It tells the true story of British neurologist Oliver Sacks, fictionalized as American Malcolm Sayer and portrayed by Robin Williams who, in 1969, discovers beneficial effects of the then-new drug L-Dopa...
," who, along with other physicians concluded that he would need to re-learn how to identify objects that he could feel and smell with their visual cues. His extraordinary metamorphosis was featured in a 1995 article in The New Yorker magazine, "To See or Not See" by Dr. Sacks.
Re-loss of sight
In February 1992, Jennings contracted pneumonia, which led to respiratory failure that deprived his brain of oxygen. After recovering, while he could still see some colors and movement, his sight virtually vanished.Personal life
Shirl reconnected with his future wife in 1988 after learning that Barbara, a woman he had dated 20 years earlier, had since divorced and moved back into the Atlanta, Ga. area. They were married in 1991.In 1996 Jennings began taking painting lessons and became a painter. His first one-man art show was held in 2002 at the Center Street Arts Gallery in Conyers, Ga.
Film
Shirl and Barbara Jennings became the inspiration for the characters of Virgil Anderson and Amy Benic in the movie At First SightAt First Sight
At First Sight is a 1999 American film starring Val Kilmer and Mira Sorvino, based on the essay To See and Not to See in neurologist Oliver Sacks' book An Anthropologist on Mars and inspired by the true life story of Shirl Jennings.-Plot:...
(1999) starring Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer
Val Edward Kilmer is an American actor. Originally a stage actor, Kilmer became popular in the mid-1980s after a string of appearances in comedy films, starting with Top Secret! , then the cult classic Real Genius , as well as blockbuster action films, including a supporting role in Top Gun and a...
and Mira Sorvino
Mira Sorvino
Mira Katherine Sorvino is an American actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Mighty Aphrodite and is also known for her role as Romy White in Romy and Michele's High School Reunion.- Early life :Sorvino was born in Tenafly, New Jersey...
. Val Kilmer spent time with Shirl Jennings in preparation for portraying him in the film.
Death
Shirl Jennings died from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseChronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , also known as chronic obstructive lung disease , chronic obstructive airway disease , chronic airflow limitation and chronic obstructive respiratory disease , is the co-occurrence of chronic bronchitis and emphysema, a pair of commonly co-existing diseases...
in 2003 at the age of 63.
External links
- To See and Not See, excerpted in The New YorkerThe New YorkerThe New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, 1993