Christopher Reeve: 1952 - 2004

To millions around the world he was -- and will always be -- a Superman

By Patrick Sauriol     October 11, 2004

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.


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