Christopher Reeve

Christopher Reeve, 11-13-2001

Christopher Reeve. When you hear the name, most people think of him as the man who played Superman in the 70's and 80's. But he was more than just an actor/director/writer. He was the superhero he portrayed, and still had his super strength. Although, he didn't use it to lift buildings or anything. He used the emotional strength to make people believe that they can do most anything they want to. Especially those with paralysis.

Christopher Reeve was born in Manhattan, New York on September 25, 1952. He was born to Franklin Reeve and Barbra Johnson Reeve, into a family of two siblings as well as his parents. His parents divorced when he was four years old. As for school, he grew up near Princton, and attended the Julliard School in New York. After graduating from Highschool he was chosen to attend Cornell University. During his last year he was admitted to the Julliard School of Performing Arts, where he studied with his roomate, Robin Williams.

Reeve's first Hollywood role ever, was in 1974 in the TV Series Love of Life, as Ben Harper. He was in Love of Life until 1776. But the role that made him a star was made in 1978. Christopher Reeve was CLark Kent in Superman. The movie grossed an estimated $134,218,018! In 1980, Reeve continued his work with Superman, and continued with the role until 1987, in Superman IV. Then tragedy struck.

In May of 1995, Christopher Reeve fell off his horse, breaking his neck when he landed on it. Reeve continued to do his work as an actor, coming back in Above Suspicion in 1995 as his first role since the accident. He also started to think about other people that were in the same condition as himself. He started the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, and up until his death has continued working with it, to help others to succeed.

One of the most inspiring things he's done, is direct a movie based on a teenager strugling to continue school with a paralysis problem. Like Reeve, the girl breathes through a tube in her neck. Christopher Reeve died on October 10th, 2004. When his family was beside him, he went into a coma on October 9th. After a while, he died of heart failure. Dana Reeve, his wife, was named Chairman of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation. He left behind three children. Although Christopher Reeve passed away, his memory will live on forever.