Celibate Eccentric Genius
In Fiction Land, being very smart can damage your social prospects. This can hold particularly true in the area of sex and dating. However, this character doesn't care about driving off potential suitors with their intelligence or unusual interests. The Celibate Eccentric Genius knows that there are many more interesting and intellectually stimulating activities in this world than dating.
The Celibate Eccentric Genius is Exactly What It Says on the Tin - an intellectually brilliant, eccentric character who does not, in canon, engage in sexual or romantic entanglements. They may or may not be considered a potentially desirable partner by others, but to count as this trope, their celibacy must be, to some degree, voluntary - an eccentric genius who just can't get a date does not qualify.
Possibly due to the influence of Sherlock Holmes, these characters are usually introverts, often lack interest even in conventional social activities that don't involve the pursuit of romantic partners, and tend to suffer from Intelligence Equals Isolation.
These characters often lack a canonical sexual orientation, but are often perceived as Asexual by the fandom, or, for the ones involved in close same-sex platonic friendships, Ambiguously Gay. However, a heterosexual Celibate Eccentric Genius is possible. See also Celibate Hero and Intelligence Equals Isolation.
Anime and Manga
- Lloyd from Code Geass - an eccentric scientist known as the earl of pudding. He seems to show no interest in his fiancee and doesn't seem to mind when his engagement is broken off.
Film
- In Flash Gordon, Professor Zarkov, Half-Mad Scientist is the only named character in the entire movie who doesn't express interest in anything romantic or sexual at any point. This especially noticeable given that everyone around him is incredibly lustful, and even The Hero is Not So Above It All.
- This may be justified In-Universe. While his memories are being drained, one of the scenes is his beloved wife drowning in a pool accident and him mourning her. Watch it here.
- Emmett "Doc" Brown in Back to The Future finds the notion of Love At First Sight to be ridiculous, until he finally meets Clara Clayton in Part III.
- Ghostbusters: Egon Spengler is The Spock and a bit of an eccentric, though not nearly as eccentric as either Ray Stanz or Peter Venkmann. Yet he's the one their Sassy Secretary, Janine, has the hots for. Too bad Egon's married to science.
- The title character of Lawrence of Arabia.
Literature
- Sherlock Holmes, who may be the Trope Codifier, at least for English-language media. However, some adaptations that play up the Holmes/Irene Adler or Holmes/Watson subtext deemphasize the "celibate" part.
- Mycroft Holmes as well.
- Nero Wolfe. The "celibacy" part is due to being rather unsociable and not fond of women.
- Arguably, Granny Weatherwax in the Discworld novels is a variation of this trope. Celibacy: her known romantic history consists of an unconsummated youthful romance with Ridcully, and as an old woman she's still capable of attracting unicorns. Eccentricity: she's proud, intimidating, solitary, would have made an impressive Wicked Witch under different circumstances, and rides an alleged broomstick. Genius: she's a powerful witch and accomplished Guile Hero.
- Interestingly, both Weatherwax and Sherlock Holmes are thin and wiry, have intense light-colored eyes, and are interested in apiculture.
- This trope is discussed briefly in the Robert A. Heinlein novel Stranger in a Strange Land. Jubal Harshaw explains that Great Men, particularly the great founders or reformers of religions, are either completely celibate, like Jesus, or the complete opposite of celibate, like Mohammed and Joseph Smith.
Live-Action TV
- The title character of Sherlock. He considers himself married to his work, but that doesn't stop the Ho Yay.
- In The Big Bang Theory, Dr. Sheldon Cooper before Amy Farrah Fowler came along. Even his dynamic with Amy isn't particularly conventionally romantic.
- In the backstory Leonard's parents only had sex in order to procreate. Once that was done, they were done.
- This was essentially Gil Grissom for the first few seasons of CSI; he did make a few remarks to Sara that ship fans now adore, but he really didn't seem interested in romance at all up until it was revealed he was with Sara in the season 6 finale. We don't know the exact time they became an item, but we know it wasn't the entire series.
- In Seinfeld, George becomes extremely intelligent and analytical when he swears off women, reverting back immediately after an encounter with a Portuguese waitress.
Theatre
- In My Fair Lady, the linguist Henry Higgins has two whole musical numbers about how much he hates women and loves being a confirmed bachelor.
Video Games
- Prof. Mordin from the Mass Effect series. Eccentric genius: double check. Celibate: because his entire species has very little sexual drive.
Web Comics
- At the beginning of Chester 5000 XYV, The Scientist is so uninterested in sex that he builds his wife a Sex Bot so she'll stop pestering him. Later, he has a Green-Eyed Epiphany and tries to confiscate the robot and sell it to someone else. Drama Ensues.
- Professor Twiggit, from Eerie Cuties, is another female example of the trope. She appears to be middle-aged, and fairly attractive, but has yet to show any interest in romance. And calling her eccentric, would be putting it mildly.
Western Animation
- For a value of "genius" that includes "Crazy Awesome schemer," the Joker in Batman the Animated Series. He's too focused on his schemes to care that his minion is throwing herself at him.
- The Real Ghostbusters: Much like the film entry, Egon is still in it For Science! and still oblivious to Janine's affections. It's eventually subverted when he finally notices and reciprocates; likely helped by the fact that, here, Janine is a Sexy Secretary. Whereas her film counterpart is just sassy.
Real Life
- In general, not uncommon for people with Schizoid Personality Disorder.
- Nikola Tesla, real-life Mad Scientist and life-long bachelor.
- Isaac Newton supposedly said on his deathbed that his proudest accomplishment was managing to die a virgin.
- Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza.
- German philosopher Immanuel Kant.