Norman Bates

Norman Bates is a fictional character from Robert Bloch's novel "Psycho," famously portrayed by Anthony Perkins in Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 film adaptation. Bates is a troubled man who runs a secluded motel and struggles with his identity and mental health, particularly influenced by his domineering mother. He exhibits signs of dissociative identity disorder and becomes a notorious figure in horror literature and film, representing themes of madness, isolation, and the impact of childhood trauma. His character has had a lasting impact on popular culture, becoming synonymous with psychological horror and the archetype of the "madman."