Rest in Peace Chris...





`Superman' Star Christopher Reeve Dies

BEDFORD, N.Y. - Christopher Reeve, the star of the "Superman" movies whose near-fatal riding accident nine years ago turned him into a worldwide advocate for spinal cord research, died Sunday of heart failure, his publicist said. He was 52.

Reeve fell into a coma Saturday after going into cardiac arrest while at his New York home, his publicist, Wesley Combs told The Associated Press by phone from Washington, D.C., on Sunday night.

Reeve was being treated at Northern Westchester Hospital for a pressure wound, a common complication for people living with paralysis. In the past week, the wound had become severely infected, resulting in a serious systemic infection.

"On behalf of my entire family, I want to thank Northern Westchester Hospital for the excellent care they provided to my husband," Dana Reeve, Christopher's wife, said in a statement. "I also want to thank his personal staff of nurses and aides, as well as the millions of fans from around the world who have supported and loved my husband over the years."

Reeve broke his neck in May 1995 when he was thrown from his horse during an equestrian competition in Culpeper, Va.

Enduring months of therapy to allow him to breathe for longer and longer periods without a respirator, Reeve emerged to lobby Congress for better insurance protection against catastrophic injury and to move an Academy Award audience to tears with a call for more films about social issues.

He returned to directing, and even returned to acting in a 1998 production of "Rear Window," a modern update of the Hitchcock thriller about a man in a wheelchair who becomes convinced a neighbor has been murdered. Reeve won a Screen Actors Guild (news - web sites) award for best actor in a television movie or miniseries.

"I was worried that only acting with my voice and my face, I might not be able to communicate effectively enough to tell the story," Reeve said. "But I was surprised to find that if I really concentrated, and just let the thoughts happen, that they would read on my face. With so many close-ups, I knew that my every thought would count."

In his public appearances, he was as handsome as ever, his blue eyes bright and his voice clear.

"Hollywood needs to do more," he said in the March 1996 Oscar awards appearance. "Let's continue to take risks. Let's tackle the issues. In many ways our film community can do it better than anyone else. There is no challenge, artistic or otherwise, that we can't meet."

In 2000, Reeve was able to move his index finger, and a specialized workout regimen made his legs and arms stronger. He also regained sensation in other parts of his body.

Reeve's support of stem cell research helped it emerge as a major campaign issue between President Bush (news - web sites) and John Kerry (news - web sites). His name was even mentioned by Kerry earlier this month during the second presidential debate.

As for the strain of traveling to Hollywood, Reeve said: "I refuse to allow a disability to determine how I live my life. I don't mean to be reckless, but setting a goal that seems a bit daunting actually is very helpful toward recovery."

His athletic, 6-foot-4-inch frame and love of adventure made him a natural, if largely unknown, choice for the title role in the first "Superman" movie in 1978. He insisted on performing his own stunts.

Although he reprised the role three times, Reeve often worried about being typecast as an action hero.

"Look, I've flown, I've become evil, loved, stopped and turned the world backward, I've faced my peers, I've befriended children and small animals and I've rescued cats from trees," Reeve told the Los Angeles Times in 1983, just before the release of the third "Superman" movie. "What else is there left for Superman to do that hasn't been done?"

Though he owed his fame to it, Reeve made a concerted effort to, as he often put it, "escape the cape." He played an embittered, crippled Vietnam veteran in the 1980 Broadway play "Fifth of July," a lovestruck time-traveler in the 1980 movie "Somewhere in Time," and an aspiring playwright in the 1982 suspense thriller "Deathtrap."

"After the first `Superman,' I had the compulsion to do parts that were really weird," Reeve told The Associated Press in 1987. "That freaked people out. I've passed that."

More recent films included John Carpenter's "Village of the Damned," and the HBO movies "Above Suspicion" and "In the Gloaming," which he directed. Among his other film credits are "The Remains of the Day," "The Aviator," and "Morning Glory."

Yet Reeve always will be known to movie fans as the strapping, boyishly handsome stage veteran whose charm and humor brought a new dimension to the characters of Superman and his alter-ego, Clark Kent. The film co-starred Margot Kidder as Lois Lane.

Reeve said in public appearances promoting the "Superman" films, he tried to get children to better themselves.

"They should be looking for Superman's qualities — courage, determination, modesty, humor — in themselves rather than passively sitting back, gaping slack-jawed at this terrific guy in boots," Reeve said.

Reeve was born Sept. 25, 1952, in New York City, son of a novelist and a newspaper reporter. He in around 10 when he made his first stage appearance — in Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Yeoman of the Guard" at McCarter Theater in Princeton, N.J.

He starred in virtually all of the theatrical productions at the exclusive Princeton Day School. By age 16, he had joined the actors' union.

After graduating from Cornell University in 1974, he landed a part as coldhearted bigamist Ben Harper (news) on the television soap opera "Love of Life." He also performed frequently on stage, winning his first Broadway role as the grandson of a character played by Katharine Hepburn (news) in "A Matter of Gravity."

Reeve's first movie role was a minor one in the submarine disaster movie "Gray Lady Down," released in 1978. "Superman" soon followed. Reeve was selected for the title role from among about 200 aspirants.

Active in many sports, Reeve owned several horses and competed in equestrian events regularly. Witnesses to the May 1995 accident said Reeve's horse had cleared two of 15 fences during the jumping event and stopped abruptly at the third, flinging the actor headlong to the ground.

Doctors said he fractured the top two vertebrae in his neck and damaged his spinal cord. When he finally was released from a rehabilitation institute in December 1995, he thanked staffed members "who have set the stage for my continued journey." He underwent further rehabilitation at his home in upstate New York.

While filming "Superman" in London, Reeve met modeling agency co-founder Gae Exton, and the two began a relationship that lasted several years. The couple had two sons, but were never wed.

Reeve later married Dana Morosini; they had one son, Will, 11. His wife became his frequent spokeswoman after the accident.

Reeve also is survived by his mother, Barbara Johnson; his father, Franklin Reeve; his brother, Benjamin Reeve; and his two children from his relationship with Exton, Matthew, 25, and Alexandra, 21.

No plans for a funeral were immediately announced.

A few months after the accident, he told interviewer Barbara Walters that he considered suicide in the first dark days after he was injured. But he quickly overcame such thoughts when he saw his children.

"I could see how much they needed me and wanted me ... and how lucky we all are and that my brain is on straight."

Oh noooo
I always felt he was going to reach his goal of walking again someday.

conch5184 said:

What a turn of events... I too thought he'd walk again one day... he had such drive.

Soo soo sad.

That's two... Rodney, Christopher... who's next.

June7 said:

OMG that's so sad!!

No way...

R.I.P Superman.

How sad...

I really did think he'd live a full life, in spite of his injuries.

conch5184 said:

I did too!

Aww man!



He was one of my heroes growing up, who couldn't admire ?

To me the man lived his life in that same fashion even after facing the most adverse obstacles in his life.

I think that attitude and mindset is inspiring to hold onto-that even in your hardest moments you never lose that spirit.

Christopher Reeve will always be and not just because of a film role.

subhuman09 said:

Beautifully said.

Christopher Reeve was an inspiration. Not only to people with the same affliction.

My thoughts are with his family and friends.

How sad is this, and after reading the news it was a pressure wound that killed him, after all his fight..

He was a real life superman

He will be greatly missed

how terribly sad.

for his family and friends.

My tribute to Christopher Reeve ...

I rarely (actually, never) post a full article from my page, but this is the exception. I loved Christopher Reeve and I really feel like I lost a lifetime friend, tonight. Here's the tribute I wrote for him:

"To walk again. That’s my New Year’s resolution for 2003. Just as it was for 2002, 2001 and every year since I suffered my spinal cord injury. I don’t want to be the only one to take those new steps this year, so I also resolve to do everything in my power to help find the cure for paralysis — and make it available to the millions of people confined to wheelchairs."
-Christopher Reeve

An On-Screen Superman

A Real-Life Hero

A TRIBUTE TO CHRISTOPHER REEVE
Written by: Alex Sandell

"Stand up for those who can't" has been the motto of the Christopher Reeve paralysis Foundation. Since being confined to a wheelchair, after being thrown off a horse in 1995, Christopher Reeve has made the most of his life and stood up and become a champion for the disabled. It's fitting he played Superman on screen, because in real life, Christopher Reeve was a hero. And, like humans do with heroes, we cheered him on.

A hero always beats the odds, and for years Christopher Reeve was living the part. He was exercising his legs, he was keeping himself in the best shape he could, he moved his index finger on his own, all because he had hope. He had a hope so huge, most of us will never come close to believing in the way he believed. Christopher Reeve genuinely believed he would step out of that wheelchair.

And although he's passed on, his hope survives. Christopher Reeve didn't fail. Although he never walked again, he stood taller than most of us ever will. He was a fighter. He was a superman. He was my childhood hero on the big screen and a role-model throughout my adult-life. If Christopher Reeve could keep going, then I could too. How many felt this way? How many carried on because Christopher gave them strength?

Don't give up. That's the last thing Christopher Reeve would have wanted. He would have demanded you carry on to the point where you feel like you can't give another inch ... and then he'd ask you to give that extra mile. He wouldn't have wanted you to give up because his body gave out. He did his all, and he'd expect the same from you.

Only two days ago, Presidential hopeful, John Kerry, brought Christopher Reeve up in the second Presidential Debate with George W. Bush. Senator Kerry said, "Chris Reeve is a friend of mine. Chris Reeve exercises every single day to keep those muscles alive for the day when he believes he can walk again, and I want him to walk again." The Senator was referring to embryonic stem-cell research.

John Kerry isn't the only one supporting it. Republican Nancy Reagan thinks it could save millions from her husband's fate. Her son Ron Reagan spoke at the Democrat Convention in support of this scientific breakthrough. If your son or daughter, mother or father could be saved, wouldn't you support this, too? If Christopher Reeve could have walked again, wouldn't it be worth it?

Christopher Reeve swore he would stand up and walk on his own two feet, once again. He didn't break his promise. I refuse to believe that he failed. The wheelchair was his Kryptonite, and Christopher Reeve has broken free. Right now, he is in the Heavens, and he's flying. As he soars above us, we must never forget all that he worked for. We must never lose faith in a cure. As is said on Chris's own website, "We must. We can. We will."
Supermen don't die. They continue the fight in a different form. Christopher Reeve, 1952 - Forever.

©copyright 2004 Alex Sandell [All Rights Reserved].

As I said before, Excellent

Thank you for sharing

That's a very nice tribute, Alex.

You have to wonder how his parents are feeling...it must be terrible to lose a child (no matter their age)

No one expects their offspring to pass on before they do.

Such a great article, Alex.

Glad I read it again.

conch5184 said:

i did as well

Raine said:

That's because we all root for a hero.

Luv & Peace,
Alex
Remembering Christopher Reeve

I was very sad to wake up to this news this morning.

Christopher Reeve as Superman was such a major part of my growing up, as I'm sure he was for many people on the org and the world over.

sloopydrew4u said:

Great article!

RONNYRON

I've collected/read SUPERMAN comic books since I was about 7 (I'm 34 now and I still do), I thought Chris would live 4ever... and I guess he will thanx to those 4 SUPERMAN movies.

Rest in Peace KAL-EL.



from CINCESCAPE.com


Christopher Reeve, the actor who attained worldwide celebrity by portraying the iconic superhero SUPERMAN through four feature films in the 1970s and 80s, and who later became a shining ray of hope for millions more, has died. He was 52.


Reeve was suffering from a severe systemic infection as a result of a pressure wound, a common complication for people who are paralysed. On Saturday, October 9, Reeve suffered a cardiac arrest and fell into a coma. He was admitted to Northern Westchester Hospital that day but never regained consciousness before passing away in the afternoon of October 10.


Reeve was a young actor with a short list of theater and television credits before landing the role of the Man of Steel in Richard Donner's 1978 motion picture SUPERMAN. The film was a worldwide hit and cemented the blue-eyed, six-foot-four handsome man as a screen star. Reeve went on to star in three more SUPERMAN films as well as other films such as the fantasy time travel love story SOMEWHERE IN TIME, the suspense thriller DEATHTRAP, Merchant/Ivory's THE REMAINS OF THE DAY and John Carpenter's remake of VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED.


In May of 1995 Reeve was competing in an equestrian contest and riding one of his horses when the animal suddenly stopped while approaching a fence, throwing Reeve to the ground. The accident damaged Reeve's spinal cord and vertebrae, leaving him paralysed from the neck down and relying on a respirator to breathe for him.


Supported by the love of his family and tapping an inner reserve of strength, Reeve immediately put his mind to work on finding a way to regain his ability to walk. Undaunted by his injury, the actor became a public champion for paralysis victims and brought a spotlight to research and awareness for his affliction. He also returned to the world of film, launching a new career as a director and starring in a television remake of REAR WINDOW. He also returned to the franchise that first brought him stardom by accepting a role as a mentor to the next generation's Superman, appearing in two episodes of SMALLVILLE as scientist Dr. Virgil Swann.


Reeve is survived by his wife Dana, his three children and his parents. His family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, any donations be made in Reeve's honor to the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.


We here at CINESCAPE would like to pass along our condolensces to Reeve's family, and to express our thanks to someone that we never met but who nevertheless showed us, with or without a cape, how to fly.

such a shame.

Greatly missed.