“The Crowded Room” is generating significant buzz in the world of cinema due to its intriguing premise and stellar cast, including Tom Holland in the lead role. As with any biographical or psychological drama, viewers are often left wondering whether the narrative is grounded in reality or purely a work of fiction.
In this article, we explore the intriguing backstory of “The Crowded Room” and the extent to which it is based on a true story.
Is the Crowded Room Based on a True Story?
Yes, The Crowded Room is based on the true story of Billy Milligan, who was acquitted of a slew of heinous murders. He was the first person ever ruled not guilty in the United States because of multiple personality disorder (now known as dissociative identity disorder).
The series was inspired by Daniel Keyes’ 1981 book The Minds of Billy Milligan, a non-fiction novel that recounts the very real case of Billy Milligan, a man who was arrested for three rapes on a university campus and was found not guilty by reason of insanity after being diagnosed with disassociative identity disorder (DID).
Milligan’s attorneys contended that he was not the perpetrator of his crimes but rather two of his other personas. This landmark case was the first time DID was utilized as part of a plaintiff’s defense in a criminal court, and it also resulted in an acquittal.
The plot of The Crowded Room is based on Milligan’s case and Keyes’ book, but Goldsman modified some essential aspects for dramatic purposes. Holland plays Danny Sullivan in the series, and the story is set in New York City rather than Columbus, Ohio.
Several major dates have also been modified, and it is likely that creative license has been granted in other areas of the story, implying that The Crowded Room should be understood as a work of fiction rather than an accurate depiction of actual events.
Is Danny Sullivan a Real Person?
Milligan was acquitted of his major offenses (a total of nine criminal charges), but he spent a decade in psychiatric facilities. Milligan was reported to have ten separate personalities while in prison, but an additional 14 were later discovered and dubbed “The Undesirables.”
Milligan is thought to have had many personalities as early as the age of five, with his subsequent trial defense and physicians claiming that severe physical and sexual abuse perpetrated on him as a kid by his stepfather, Chalmer Milligan, triggered the emergence of separate personalities. Milligan’s mother, sister, and brother all testified about Chalmer Milligan’s aggressive behavior, which he denied.
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Billy Milligan was freed in 1988 and was diagnosed with cancer in 2012. He died in a nursing facility in Ohio in 2014 at the age of 59.
You are not mistaken if you think Milligan’s account sounds familiar outside of The Crowded Room. Split, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, stars James McAvoy as Kevin Crumb, who is based entirely on Milligan.
