Christopher Reeve

Christopher Reeve (September 25, 1952 – October 10, 2004) was an American actor, director, producer and writer renowned for his film portrayal of Superman/Clark Kent.

Later life

On May 27, 1995, Reeve was paralyzed from the neck down after being thrown from his horse, "Eastern Express," in a cross country riding competition in Culpeper, Virginia. Reeve later admitted that he briefly thought of suicide after realizing the extent of his disability. He credits his wife Dana Reeve with pulling him out of his depression. She told him, "I still love you no matter what. You are still you." Reeve has often said that these were the words that literally saved his life. He largely retired from the production of films after his paralysis, instead devoting his time to rehabilitation therapy. With his wife Dana, he opened the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center, a facility in Short Hills, New Jersey, devoted to teaching paralyzed people to live more independently. He and Dana also chaired the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, which funds research on paralysis and works to improve the lives of the disabled. To date, the Foundation has awarded $55 million in research grants and $7.5 million in quality-of-life grants. After Chris' death, Dana continued to chair the Foundation. Reeve also lobbied against the U.S. government's restrictions on stem cell research (and, based on this, his widow endorsed John Kerry for president in 2004 shortly after his death). http://www.accessibility.com.au/news/internat/reeve_vs_biggies.htm

Related Topics:
May 27 - 1995 - Paralyzed - Horse - Cross country - Culpeper, Virginia - Suicide - Dana Reeve - Short Hills - New Jersey - Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation - Stem cell - John Kerry - 2004

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Reeve also appeared in television movies after his accident. For example, in 1998 he appeared in a remake for TV of the famous film Rear Window, originally directed by Alfred Hitchcock. This remake is set in the time in which it was made and is characterized by its depiction of adaptive devices for wheelchair users. This clearly distinguishes the film from the original. For example, in the new film he sends emails by using speech recognition software (instead of the telephone used in the original).

Related Topics:
Television movie - 1998 - Rear Window - Alfred Hitchcock - Speech recognition

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On April 25, 1998 Random House published Reeve's autobiography, Still Me.

Related Topics:
April 25 - 1998 - Random House - Still Me

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On February 25, 2003, he appeared in the television series Smallville as Dr. Swann, who provides young Clark Kent with insightful clues as to his origins. The episode, "Rosetta", was warmly received by critics and the viewing public as a fitting connection from one generation's Superman to the next. Reeve appeared in the role again in the April 14, 2004 episode "Legacy". The character of Dr. Swann died in the episode "Sacred," which aired on February 23, 2005. Margot Kidder, who played Lois Lane in the Superman films continued the plot as Swann's assistant. Her character, Dr. Bridgette Crosby, was eventually killed in the episode entitled "Spirit", which aired on April 20,2005.

Related Topics:
February 25 - 2003 - Smallville - Clark Kent - April 14 - 2004 - February 23 - 2005 - Margot Kidder - Lois Lane - April 20

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On October 25, 2004, A&E aired Reeve's second directorial project, "The Brooke Ellison Story." The film, starring Lacey Chabert and based on a true story, is about the life of an 11-year old girl who becomes a quadriplegic in a car accident (and becomes the first quadriplegic to graduate from Harvard University.)

Related Topics:
October 25 - 2004 - Brooke Ellison - Lacey Chabert - Harvard University

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Reeve died of heart failure on October 10, 2004 after suffering cardiac arrest and falling into a coma the previous day. He was 52 years old. In the week prior to his death, Reeve was being treated at Northern Westchester Hospital for a pressure ulcer, a common ailment for paralytics, that had subsequently become seriously infected.

Related Topics:
Heart failure - October 10 - 2004 - Cardiac arrest - Coma - Northern Westchester Hospital - Pressure ulcer - Paralytics

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