Norman Bates is a character.
Norma Bates is a fictional character created by Robert Bloch in his 1959 novel Psycho , and the 1960 film of the same name directed by Alfred Hitchcock , its sequels , and the prequel television series Bates Motel portrayed by Vera Farmiga . Norman Bates is a fictional character created by Robert Bloch as the main antagonist in his 1959 novel Psycho , and portrayed by Anthony Perkins in the 1960 film of the same name directed by Alfred Hitchcock and its sequels , and by Freddie Highmore in the television series Bates Motel . The character was inspired by Wisconsin murderer Ed Gein .