Huntington's disease (HD) has been shown in numerous formats, more so as awareness of the condition has increased. Here is a list of references to it in popular culture;
Books Ann Brashares's 2011 novel Sisterhood Everlasting (later found one of the four "sisters", Tibby Rollins, had HD) James S. A. Corey's 2015 novella The Vital Abyss, part of The Expanse book series (reveals the backstory of the former Protogen researcher Paolo Cortázar, whose mother was diagnosed with "Type C Huntington's" in his adolescence, which was the primary impetus for his becoming a research scientist). Lisa Genova's 2015 novel Inside the O'Briens (relates the slow development of HD in the main character, a Boston police officer, and its effects on his identity, work, and family) Joe Klein's Woody Guthrie: A Life: The book discloses the effects of the disorder in both Woody Guthrie and his mother. Ian McEwan's 2005 novel Saturday. The character of Baxter is negatively portrayed in his affliction. Charity Norman's 2022 novel Remember Me, in which Huntington's is a central plot element. Nick O'Donohoe's Crossroads books (BJ Vaughan has HD). Charlotte Raven's 2021 memoir Patient 1 which describes her becoming affected by Huntington's and participating in a clinical trial of the drug tominersen. Kathy Reichs' 2020 novel A Conspiracy of Bones Ruth Rendell, writing as Barbara Vine, 1989 British novel The House of Stairs (main character Elizabeth Vetch is at risk). Robert J. Sawyer's 1997 novel Frameshift (main character Pierre Tardivel). Steven T. Seagle's autobiographical 2004 graphic novel It's a Bird... features the author coming to grips with the presence of HD in his family. Dorothy Norvell Snyder's semi-autobiographical 1980 novel Heirloom: A Novel, How One Family Lived with One of Life's Cruelest Diseases—Huntington's. Mary Helen Specht's 2015 novel Migratory Animals. Jacqueline Susann's 1966 novel Valley of the Dolls (night club singer Tony Polar). Diane Tullson's 2001 novel Saving Jasey (Trist, Jasey and their grandfather). Kurt Vonnegut's 1985 novel Galapagos. Nancy Werlin's 2004 novel Double Helix (Ava Samuels (mother of the protagonist), Kayla Matheson and others). Walter Jon Williams' 1986 cyberpunk novel Hardwired features a genetically engineered, virally-transmitted version of Huntington's.
Films In the 1967 film Valley of the Dolls, Tony Polar, the singer married to Jennifer North, has Huntington's Chorea. Arlo Guthrie's 1969 film Alice's Restaurant, which depicts Guthrie's father Woody suffering from what was then called "Huntington's Chorea", and features numerous mentions of the condition by the younger Guthrie to his peers and the draft board's medical staff. Broken Elf, a 2010 documentary by Robert Ciesla featuring Jukka, an alcoholic man with advanced Huntington's disease. Screened at Reikäreuna Film Festival, September 7, 2013 Do You Really Want to Know?, a 2013 documentary by John Zaritsky featuring Huntington's disease researcher Jeff Carroll Huntington's Dance a 2014 release by Chris Furbee an 18-year-long journey with a family affected by Huntington's Disease. World Premiere at Slamdance, January 19, 2014 The Lion's Mouth Opens, a 2014 documentary by Lucy Walker (director) featuring filmmaker Marianna Palka The Inheritance, a 2014 documentary film The Faith of Anna Waters, a 2016 horror movie released in the U.S. as The Offering, depicts a crime reporter whose sister dies of Huntington's and whose niece inherits it as does, eventually, she as well. In the 2024 crowdfunded science fiction film Space Command Redemption, Vonn Odara tells Captain Kemmer that she was diagnosed with Huntington's Chorea before they found a cure. The 2024 Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown depicts Woody Guthrie as he suffers from Huntington's disease.
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