Beginning in the 1980s, Reeve was an activist for environmental and human-rights causes and for artistic freedom of expression. In 1995, Reeve was paralyzed from the neck down after being thrown from a horse during an equestrian competition inCulpeper, Virginia. He used a wheelchair and ventilator for the rest of his life. After his accident, he lobbied for spinal injury research, including human embryonicstem cell research, and for better insurance coverage for people with disabilities. His advocacy work included leading theChristopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and co-founding the Reeve-Irvine Research Center.[4]
Reeve later directedIn the Gloaming (1997), acted in a television remake ofRear Window (1998), and made two appearances in the Superman-themed television seriesSmallville (2003). He also wrote two autobiographical books:Still Me (1998) andNothing Is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life (2002). He died in 2004 from cardiac arrest at a hospital near his home in Westchester County, New York.
Franklin and Barbara divorced in 1956, and she moved with Christopher and his younger brother Benjamin toPrinceton, New Jersey, where they attended Nassau Street School and thenPrinceton Day School (PDS).[11] Reeve's parents both remarried; he had five half-siblings and several step-siblings. Reeve excelled academically, athletically, and onstage; he was on thehonor roll and playedsoccer, baseball, tennis, andhockey. He also played the piano and sang in thechoir as asoprano.[12]
Reeve had a difficult relationship with his father, Franklin. He wrote in 1998 that his father's "love for his children always seemed tied to performance"[13] and he put pressure on himself to act older than he actually was to gain his father's approval.[14] Between 1988 and 1995 the two barely spoke to each other, but they reconciled after Reeve's paralyzing accident.[15]
Late in his first year, Reeve received a letter from Stark Hesseltine, a high-powered New York City agent who had discoveredRobert Redford and who represented actors such asRichard Chamberlain,Michael Douglas, andSusan Sarandon. Hesseltine had seen Reeve inA Month in the Country and wanted to represent him. Reeve was excited and kept re-reading the letter to make sure of what it said. Reeve was impatient with school and eager to get on with his career. The two met, but Reeve was surprised to find Hesseltine strongly supported his promise to his mother and stepfather to complete college. They decided instead of dropping out of school, Reeve would come to New York once a month to meet casting agents and producers to find work for the summer vacation.[20]
Reeve received favorable responses to his introductions and auditions arranged by Hesseltine but had to forgo several desirable opportunities because they began before school ended. In the summer, he toured in a production ofForty Carats withEleanor Parker.[21] The next year, Reeve received a full summer contract with the San Diego Shakespeare Festival, with roles asEdward IV inRichard III, Fenton inThe Merry Wives of Windsor, and Dumaine inLove's Labour's Lost at theOld Globe Theatre.[22]
Before his third year of college, Reeve took a three-month leave of absence. He traveled toGlasgow, Scotland, and saw theatrical productions throughout the United Kingdom. He was inspired by the actors there, and often had conversations with them in bars after their performances. He helped actors atThe Old Vic with their American accents by reading the newspaper aloud for them. He then flew to Paris to study the French theater. Reeve spoke fluent French, having studied it from the third grade through his first year in Cornell. While there he spoke only French to immerse himself in French culture, and watched many performances.[23]
After returning from Europe, Reeve chose to focus solely on acting, although Cornell had several general education requirements for graduation he had yet to complete. He managed to convince theater director John Clancy and thedean of the College of Arts and Sciences, as a theater major, he would achieve more atJuilliard (Group 4, 1973–1975) in New York City than at Cornell. They agreed his first year at Juilliard would be counted as his senior year at Cornell.[24]
In 1973, approximately 2,000 students auditioned for 20 places in the freshman class at Juilliard. Reeve's audition was in front of 10 faculty members, includingJohn Houseman, who had just won anAcademy Award forThe Paper Chase. Reeve andRobin Williams were the only students selected for Juilliard's Advanced Program. They had several classes together in which they were the only students. In theirdialects class with Edith Skinner, Williams had no trouble mastering all dialects naturally, whereas Reeve was more meticulous about it. Williams and Reeve developed a close friendship.[25] Reeve was agodfather to Williams' eldest son Zachary.[26]
In a meeting with Houseman, Reeve was told, "Mr. Reeve. It is terribly important that you become a serious classical actor. Unless, of course, they offer you a shitload of money to do something else."[27] Houseman then offered him the chance to leave school and join the Acting Company, among performers such asKevin Kline,Patti LuPone, andDavid Ogden Stiers. Reeve declined, as he had not yet received his bachelor's degree.[28]
In early 1974, Reeve and other Juilliard students toured the New York City junior high school system and performedThe Love Cure. In one performance, Reeve, who played the hero, drew his sword out too high and accidentally destroyed a row of lights above him. The students applauded and cheered. Reeve later said this was the greatest ovation of his career.[29] After completing his first year at Juilliard, Reeve graduated from Cornell in the Class of 1974 as adouble major in English and music theory.[30]
In 1974, Reeve auditioned for the soap operaLove of Life to pay tuition fees at Juilliard. Initially, he was promised a schedule that would not interfere with his studies. However, his character quickly gained popularity, leading to increased screen time. When Reeve reminded the producers of their agreement, they responded that it wasn't set in writing. The following year, Reeve had to leave Juilliard to fulfill his contract withCBS.[31] He received an honoraryDoctor of Fine Arts degree from Juilliard in 1997.[32]
In between filming for the soap opera, Reeve took acting classes at theHB Studio and appeared in anOff-off-Broadway production ofBerchtesgaden at theTheater for the New City. The play was directed byBarbara Loden, who became Reeve's mentor. She coached him not to play "on the nose", and he often followed that advice over the years. After that, he starred in a limited run ofBerkeley Square at theManhattan Theatre Club.[33][34]
In late 1975, Reeve auditioned for theBroadway playA Matter of Gravity.[35]Katharine Hepburn watched his audition and cast him as her character's grandson. With Hepburn's influence over CBS, Reeve worked out the schedules of the soap opera and the play so he would be able to do both. Because of his busy schedule, he ate candy bars and drank coffee in place of meals and experienced exhaustion andmalnutrition. At one of the performances, Reeve entered the stage, said his first line, and then promptly fainted. Hepburn turned to the audience and said, "This boy's a goddamn fool. He doesn't eat enough red meat." Theunderstudy finished the play for Reeve, and a doctor treated him. The doctor advised Reeve to eat a healthier diet. He stayed with the play for nine months and was given favorable reviews.[36]
Reeve and Hepburn became very close. Some gossip columns rumored a romance between the two. Reeve said, "She was 67 and I was 22, but I thought that was quite an honor. ... I believe I was fairly close to what a child or grandchild might have been to her." She told him, "You're going to be a big star, Christopher, and support me in my old age." He replied, "I can't waitthat long." Reeve said his father, who was a professor of literature and came to many of the performances, was the man who most captivated Hepburn. When the play moved to Los Angeles in June 1976, Reeve—to Hepburn's disappointment—dropped out. They stayed in touch for years after the play's run. Reeve later regretted not staying closer and just sending messages back and forth.[37]
During theOff-Broadway production ofMy Life, Stark Hesseltine told Reeve he had been asked to audition for the leading role asClark Kent/Superman in the big-budget filmSuperman (1978).Lynn Stalmaster, the casting director, put Reeve's picture and résumé on the top of the pile three separate times, only to have the producers throw it out each time. Through Stalmaster's persistent pleading, a meeting between directorRichard Donner, producerIlya Salkind, and Reeve was arranged.[39] The morning after the meeting, Reeve was sent a 300-page script. He was thrilled that the script took the subject matter seriously, and that Donner's motto wasverisimilitude. Hesseltine also told him thatMarlon Brando was going to playJor-El andGene Hackman was going to playLex Luthor. Reeve flew to London for ascreen test, but he still did not believe he had much of a chance. On the plane ride, he imagined his approach to the role. He later said, "By the late 1970s, the masculine image had changed. ... Now it was acceptable for a man to show gentleness and vulnerability. ... I felt that the new Superman ought to reflect that contemporary male image." He based his portrayal of Clark Kent onCary Grant's role in the 1938 filmBringing Up Baby. After the screen test, his driver said, "I'm not supposed to tell you this, but you've got the part."[40]
Portraying Superman would be a stretch for the 24-year-old actor. He was 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) tall, but his physique was slim. Reeve went through an intense two-month training regimen with former British weightlifting championDavid Prowse supervising. The training regimen consisted of running in the morning, followed by two hours ofweightlifting and 90 minutes on thetrampoline. He added 30-pound (14 kg) of muscle to his "thin" 188-pound (85 kg) frame.[41] He later made even higher gains forSuperman III (1983), though forSuperman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987), he decided it would be healthier to focus more oncardiovascular workouts.[42] One of the reasons Reeve could not work out as much forSuperman IV was an emergencyappendectomy that he had in June 1986.[43][44]
Reeve was never a Superman or comic book fan, though he had watchedAdventures of Superman starringGeorge Reeves. Reeve found the role offered a suitable challenge because it was a dual role. He said, "there must be some difference stylistically between Clark and Superman. Otherwise, you just have a pair of glasses standing in for a character."[45][46] Remembering Loden's earlier advice, Reeve also decided to "underplay" Superman: "I was six feet four, strong, and physically imposing; so I played against that, making him as casual as possible, letting the audience sense an implied power."[47]
On the commentary track for the director's edition ofSuperman II: The Richard Donner Cut, creative consultantTom Mankiewicz spoke of how Reeve had talked to him about playing Superman and then playing Clark Kent. Mankiewicz then corrected Reeve, telling him he was "always,always playing Superman" and when he was Clark Kent, he was "playing Superman who was playing Clark Kent." Mankiewicz described it to Reeve as a role within a role.
The film, made without the use of computers for special effects, was the first attempt to realistically show a person flying. Roy Field, the film's optical supervisor, said, "There were many techniques used to make Superman fly, but the best special effect of all was Christopher Reeve himself. We discovered very early on he, being aglider pilot, could hold his body aerodynamically. So when he got into the harness, the whole shot began to come alive."[48]
The film grossed $300.2 million worldwide (unadjusted for inflation).[49] Reeve received positive reviews for his performance:
"Christopher Reeve's entire performance is a delight. Ridiculously good-looking, with a face as sharp and strong as an ax blade, his bumbling, fumbling Clark Kent and omnipotent Superman are simply two styles of gallantry and innocence." –Newsweek
"Christopher Reeve has become an instant international star on the basis of his first major movie role, of Clark Kent/Superman. Film reviewers—regardless of their opinion of the film—have been almost unanimous in their praise of Reeve's dual portrayal. He is utterly convincing as he switches back and forth between personae." –Starlog
For his performance, Reeve won aBAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles. Reeve described Superman as "the closest opportunity I've had to playing a classical role on film, the closest expression to something of mythical dimension."[50] His co-starMargot Kidder said after his death that, with theSuperman films, Reeve "knew he'd done something meaningful. He was very aware of that and very happy with that role."[51]
Much ofSuperman II was filmed at the same time as the first film. In fact, the original plan had been for the film to be a single three-hour epic comprising both parts. After most of the footage had been shot, the producers had a disagreement with Donner over various matters, including money and special effects, and Donner was fired. DirectorRichard Lester, who had worked with the producers previously on the two-parterThe Three Musketeers (1973) andThe Four Musketeers (1974), replaced Donner. Lester had the script changed and re-shot some footage. The cast was unhappy, but Reeve later said he liked Lester and consideredSuperman II to be his favorite of the series.[52] Donner's version ofSuperman II, titledSuperman II: The Richard Donner Cut, was released onDVD in November 2006 and was dedicated in memory of Reeve.
Lester directedSuperman III, released in 1983, solo. Reeve believed the producersAlexander Salkind, his son Ilya Salkind, andPierre Spengler had decreased the credibility ofSuperman III by turning it into aRichard Pryor comedy rather than a proper Superman film. He missed Donner and believedSuperman III's only really good element was the automobilejunkyard scene in which Evil Superman fights Good Clark Kent in an internal battle.[53] Reeve's portrayal of the Evil Superman was highly praised, though the film was critically panned.
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace was released in 1987. AfterSuperman III, Reeve vowed he was done with Superman.[54] However, he agreed to continue the role in a fourth film on the condition he would have partial creative control over the script. Thenuclear disarmament plot was his idea.Cannon Films purchased the production rights to the character of Superman from the Salkinds in the mid-1980s.[55] Cannon Films were known for low-budget, poorly acted, poorly scripted action films.[56] They cut the budget ofSuperman IV in half to $17 million. The film was both a critical failure and abox-office disappointment, becoming the lowest-grossingSuperman film to date. Reeve later said, "the less said aboutSuperman IV the better."[57] Both of Reeve's children from his relationship with Gae Exton had uncredited appearances in a deleted scene in which Superman rescues a girl, played by his daughter Alexandra, and reunites her with her brother, played by his son Matthew, after Nuclear Man creates a tornado inSmallville.
Reeve would have made a fifthSuperman film after the rights to the character reverted to the Salkinds and Spengler if the film had a budget of the same size asSuperman: The Movie. Although there was potential for such a film in the late 1980s after Cannon Films went bankrupt, Reeve never received a script.[58]
In 1993, two years before Reeve's accident, the Salkinds sold the rights to the character of Superman again, this time toWarner Bros. "There was supposed to be a fifthSuperman movie titledSuperman Reborn, but because of studio shifts, the terrible box office [Superman IV] got, and ... Reeves's [sic] accident, it never saw the light of day."[59]
Reeve's first role after 1978'sSuperman was in the 1980 time-travel mystery/romantic fantasySomewhere in Time. Reeve as playwright Richard Collier romanced Elise McKenna, a popular stage actress from the early 20th century, played byJane Seymour. The film was shot onMackinac Island using theGrand Hotel in mid-1979, and was Reeve's favorite film to shoot.
The original plan was for a limited release and to build word of mouth, but early test screenings were favorable and the studio decided on a wide release, which proved to be the wrong strategy. Early reviews savaged the film as unduly sentimental and melodramatic, and anactors' strike prevented Reeve and Seymour from doing publicity. The film quickly closed, althoughJean-Pierre Dorléac was nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Costume Design in 1980. However, thanks to screenings on cable networks andvideo rentals, the film became acult classic.[60] INSITE (International Network of Somewhere in Time Enthusiasts) did fundraising to sponsor a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame for Reeve in 1997, and raised over $20,000 for theChristopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.[61][62] Seymour became a friend of Reeve and in 1995 named one of her twin sons Kristopher in his honor (Reeve also became his godfather).[63] The Grand Hotel and Mackinac Island has become a popular tourist site for film fans.
In that same year, Reeve made a guest appearance onThe Muppet Show, where he performed "East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)" on a piano forMiss Piggy, who had a crush on him. Reeve denied being Superman but displayed the character's superpowers throughout the episode. He then returned to continue filming on the not yet finished production ofSuperman II.
After finishingSuperman II, Reeve calledNikos Psacharopoulos, the artistic director of theWilliamstown Theatre Festival, whom he knew since his apprentice days, and asked if he could join the company. Reeve did two plays that season:The Front Page andThe Cherry Orchard. The former, directed byRobert Allan Ackerman, became one of the biggest successes of the summer.[64][65] From then on, he was a regular at the festival. Later in the year, Reeve played a disabled Vietnam veteran inLanford Wilson's playFifth of July on Broadway to excellent reviews. To prepare for the role, he was coached by an amputee on how to walk on artificial legs. The production was nominated for fiveTony Awards, includingBest Play.[66][67] In 1981, Reeve returned to Williamstown to playAchilles in the two-part, six-hour production ofThe Greeks.[68]
In 1982, Reeve stretched his acting range further and played a devious novice playwright with questionable motives regarding his idol and mentorMichael Caine, inSidney Lumet's suspenseful dark comedyDeathtrap, based on the play byIra Levin. The film was well received, but a major plot twist was spoiled by the press, affecting its box office performance.[69] The same year, Reeve portrayed corrupt Catholic priest John Flaherty making challenging decisions duringWorld War II inFrank Perry'sMonsignor. Reeve felt this gave him the opportunity to play "a morally ambiguous character who was neither clearly good nor clearly bad, someone to whom life is much more complex than the characters I've played previously." Reeve blamed the failure of the film on poor editing. He said, "the movie is sort of a series of outrageous incidents that you find hard to believe. Since they don't have a focus, and since they aren't justified and explained, they become laughable."[70]
In 1983, Reeve appeared inShelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre, playing the dual roles of Prince Charming and the cowardly prince inSleeping Beauty.[71] In Williamstown, he acted in the playHoliday.[72] Later that year, Reeve went toKranjska Gora, Slovenia, to work on the filmThe Aviator. The producers approached him without knowing he could fly aStearman, the vintage biplane used in the film. He readily accepted the role and volunteered to do his own piloting to achieve a more realistic look.[73] The film was released in March 1985.
Reeve was then offered the role of Basil Ransom in 1984'sThe Bostonians alongsideVanessa Redgrave. Though Reeve ordinarily commanded over one million dollars per film,Ismail Merchant could only afford to pay him one-tenth of that. Reeve had no complaints, as this was exactly the kind of film he wanted to do. In a 2005 interview,James Ivory said thatMerchant Ivory Productions didn't have good representatives at the time, so Reeve "brokered" the arrangements with theCAA to get them into the agency.[74] The film exceeded expectations and performed well at the box office for what was considered to be anart house film.[75]The New York Times ranked it "among the finest film adaptations of a classic novel that anyone has yet made."[76]
Ivory thought that Reeve was "wonderful" inThe Bostonians, but that he was "really undervalued by the critics and even the awards" because "they were so used to thinking of him as Superman."[77] Hepburn called Reeve to tell him he was "absolutely marvelous" and "captivating" in the film. When he told her he was currently shooting the 1985 version ofAnna Karenina, she said, "Oh, that's a terrible mistake."[78] Reeve reunited with Redgrave in the playThe Aspern Papers during its 1984 run inLondon's West End.[79] In Williamstown, he played the title role inRichard Cory.[80]
In March 1985, Reeve starred as Count Vronsky in the television filmAnna Karenina, oppositeJacqueline Bisset. Reeve's daughter, Alexandra, also appeared in the film as his character's 10-month-old daughter, taking her first steps. It was for this film that Reeve learned to ride horses and decided to take up the sport seriously upon returning home.[81] In April, Reeve hosted an episode ofSaturday Night Live.[82] He then returned to the stage, playing Tony inThe Royal Family in Williamstown[83] and the Count in a modern adaptation ofThe Marriage of Figaro on Broadway.[84] Reeve also hosted the television documentaryDinosaur!, which was filmed at theAmerican Museum of Natural History. It was one of the earliest prime-time specials on prehistoric life and won theEmmy Award forOutstanding Special Visual Effects. Also in 1985,DC Comics named Reeve as one of the honorees in the company's 50th-anniversary publication,Fifty Who Made DC Great, for his work on theSuperman film series.[85]
In 1986, he was still struggling to find scripts he liked. A script namedStreet Smart had been lying in his house for years, and after re-reading it, he took it to Cannon Films. They agreed to produce it on the condition that he play Superman in at least one more sequel for them. Reeve starred oppositeMorgan Freeman, who was nominated for his first Academy Award for the film. It received excellent reviews but performed poorly at the box office, possibly because Cannon Films had failed to properly advertise it.[86] Back in Williamstown, he began building a house and starred inSummer and Smoke alongsideLaila Robins.[87][88]
After the filming ofSuperman IV in February 1987, Reeve and Exton separated and Reeve returned to New York.[89] In a depression over his personal life, he thought doing a comedy might be good for him and agreed to appear inSwitching Channels. However,Burt Reynolds andKathleen Turner had a feud during filming, which made the time even more unbearable for Reeve. He later stated that he made a fool of himself in the film and most of his time was spent refereeing between Reynolds and Turner. In her 2008 memoir, Turner wrote, "Burt and I were sworn enemies. ... It was not happy shooting at all. I was absolutely miserable. If the crew hadn't been so kind, and Chris Reeve, who was so very nice, hadn't been there in the cast, it might have been impossible."[90] The film did poorly, and Reeve believed it marked the end of his movie star career. In June, he appeared in the British television special charity eventThe Grand Knockout Tournament[91] and then went to Williamstown to rehearse for the playThe Rover.[92] On June 30, Reeve met his future wifeDana Morosini.[93]
In 1988, Reeve played MajorJohnnie Dodge in the two-part television filmThe Great Escape II: The Untold Story. Like the1963 film, the first part tells the story of the mass escape of Allied POWs from a German camp in 1944. The second part depicts the search and prosecution of those responsible for themurder of 50 escapees, which was not covered in the 1963 film.[94] But for most of 1988 and 1989, Reeve worked onstage. He starred in another production ofSummer and Smoke, this time withChristine Lahti, at theAhmanson Theatre.[95] In Williamstown, he reunited withMadeleine Potter in Joel Gross' new play,Mesmer, and performed in astage reading of the same play on Broadway.[96][97]
In 1989, Reeve played Polixenes in an Off-Broadway production ofThe Winter's Tale.[98] In Williamstown, he played the lead inJohn Brown's Body, in which Dana also had a small role.[99][100] Reeve was part of a rotating cast inJohn Tillinger's production ofLove Letters at the Promenade Theatre;[101] withJulie Hagerty, he also performed in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Boston in 1989 and 1990. He auditioned for theRichard Gere role inPretty Woman but walked out on the audition because they had a half-hearted casting director fill in forJulia Roberts.[102]
In the early 1990s, Reeve was cast as a villain in three television films almost in a row:Bump in the Night (1991),Death Dreams (1991), andNightmare in the Daylight (1992). The most notable of these wasBump in the Night, in which Reeve played a child molester who abducts a young boy. The movie received fair to positive reviews.[104][105] Reeve felt it was important for parents of young children to see the film.[106]
In 1992, Reeve played one of the leads inPeter Bogdanovich's comedyNoises Off. In a 2020 bookPicturing Peter Bogdanovich: My Conversations with the New Hollywood Director, Bogdanovich said, "[Reeve] was very good in that. He was good at comedy. I could tell that from the firstSuperman. He was my only choice for that part."[107] In another television film,Mortal Sins, Reeve for the second time played a Catholic priest, this time hearing the confessions of a serial murderer in a role reminiscent ofMontgomery Clift inAlfred Hitchcock'sI Confess. He also acted in the short filmLast Ferry Home.[108] His last performance in a proper stage production wasThe Guardsman in Williamstown that year.[109]
In the spring of 1992, Reeve attended the US premiere ofHowards End where he met Ivory again. The next day Ivory called him and offered him a role in his new film,The Remains of the Day (1993). The script was one of the best he had read, and he unhesitatingly took the part. The film was deemed an instant classic and was nominated for eight Academy Awards.[110] At the 2024 screening of the film, Ivory praised Reeve's performance, saying, "He was a great guy... a very, very good actor who got trapped in Superman."[111] According to Reeve's son Will,The Remains of the Day is the film that his father was most proud of.[112]
In 1993, Reeve starred oppositeCharles Bronson in the television filmThe Sea Wolf, based onJack London's novel of thesame name.[113] After that, he traveled to Canada to shoot a miniseries,Black Fox, co-starringTony Todd. CBS released it as three films two months after Reeve's accident in 1995. Scenes of Reeve riding are featured heavily in the story. Reeve's children, Matthew and Alexandra, appear briefly in the background in the first film.[114]
During this period, Superman's grip on Reeve's career gradually began to loosen. In a review forMorning Glory (1993), one critic wrote: "Those who can't take Reeve seriously unless he's wearing a blue suit and a red cape will find themselves pleasantly surprised by the heft and subtlety he brings to his [role]. … This movie isn't big enough to make Reeve a star again. But the impression he makes here is good enough to suggest that a reversal of perception—and fortune—won't be long in coming."[115] Another critic said in a review forSpeechless (1994): "Mr. Reeve has quietly evolved into a versatile character actor… It's only a matter of time before he is 'officially' rediscovered and celebrated, like John Travolta inPulp Fiction."[8] Reeve consideredThe Rose and the Jackal,Morning Glory, andThe Sea Wolf some of his best work.[116]
In 1994, Reeve did a reading ofLove Letters in Williamstown, and also appeared as a narrator in a concert version of the musicalAllegro at theNew York City Center.[117][118] These became his last performances onstage.
In 1995, Reeve starred inJohn Carpenter'sVillage of the Damned, a remake of the 1960 British movie of the same name. Both films were based on the 1957 novelThe Midwich Cuckoos byJohn Wyndham. For Carpenter, the film was a contractual obligation, but "it has a very good performance from Christopher Reeve, so there's some value in it."[119]Village of the Damned was Reeve's final feature film to be released in theaters. Shortly before his accident, Reeve played a paralyzed police officer in theHBO movieAbove Suspicion. He did research at arehabilitation hospital inVan Nuys "on what it would be like to be a paraplegic."[120] His injury occurred less than a week after the premiere of the film.
Reeve also made several guest appearances in television shows:Carol & Company in 1991,Road to Avonlea andTales from the Crypt in 1992. He accepted an offer to appear inRoad to Avonlea without reading the script becauseColleen Dewhurst, with whom he was close, spoke highly of the show.[121] His episode inTales from the Crypt,"What's Cookin'", is considered one of the best in the series.[122] He was also one of the celebrity guest callers onFrasier in 1993.[123]
Before his injury, Reeve was offered the lead in the 1995 filmKidnapped. He also planned to direct his first film for the big screen, a romantic comedy entitledTell Me True.[124] Both plans were cancelled as a result of a horse riding accident that left him paralyzed.
In early 1998, Reeve persuadedMichael Eisner, the CEO ofDisney at the time, to give a two-hour prime-time slot onABC to a spinal cord research fundraiser. The special focused on inspiring stories of people with disabilities, as well as performances by disabled artists. Reeve said, "To put two hours about spinal cord injury on prime-time TV is unheard of. We wanted to make it a celebration of life. Show the triumphs that can happen."[127] Numerous celebrities lent their support, includingRobin Williams,Tom Hanks,Meryl Streep, Glenn Close,Stevie Wonder,Willie Nelson,Gloria Estefan, and many others.A Celebration of Hope received an Emmy nomination forOutstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special.[128]
In 2000, Reeve made guest appearances on thePBS seriesSesame Street. In September 2002, Random House published Reeve's second book,Nothing Is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life. This book is shorter thanStill Me and focuses on Reeve's world views and the life experiences which helped shape them. The book spent three weeks on theNew York Times Best Seller list.[133] Reeve narrated an unabridged audiobook for which he received his second Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word Album.[134]
In 2001, Reeve's son Matthew began filming a three-part series detailing Reeve's recovery process and advocacy for spinal cord injury research. The first film,Hope in Motion, aired on ABC in September 2002 under the titleCourageous Steps. It received an Emmy nomination forOutstanding Nonfiction Special. In February 2003, it was broadcast onBBC One under its original title. Following Reeve's death in 2004, a third film was never made, whileHope in Motion and its follow-up,Choosing Hope, were released on DVD in 2007.[135][136]
In 2003, Reeve guest-starred in an episode ofThe Practice. He submitted a story treatment to the show's creator,David E. Kelley, that addresses the issues of health insurance policy andcaregiver burnout. Kelley liked the idea and wrote an episode based on it.[137]
Reeve's final acting role was in the television seriesSmallville portrayingDr. Virgil Swann. On February 25, 2003, he made an appearance in the episode "Rosetta", in which Dr. Swann informs Clark Kent (Tom Welling) about his origins. The scenes of Reeve and Welling feature music cues from 1978'sSuperman, composed byJohn Williams and arranged byMark Snow. At the end of the episode, Reeve and Welling appeared in a short spot inviting people to support the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.[note 1] "Rosetta" set ratings history forThe WB.[138] Thefan community met the episode with rave reviews and praised it as being among the series' best to this day.[139] Reeve also appeared in the episode "Legacy", in which he reunited with fellow stage actorJohn Glover, who playedLionel Luthor in the show.
In 2004, Reeve directed theA&E filmThe Brooke Ellison Story. The film is based on the true story ofBrooke Ellison, the firstquadriplegic to graduate fromHarvard University.[140] Reeve during this time was directing the animated filmEveryone's Hero. It was one of his dream projects and he died during the middle of production for the film. His wife Dana helped out, and his son Will was a cast member in the film. Dana and Will also had small roles inThe Brooke Ellison Story.[141]
Following the firstSuperman movie, Reeve realized Hollywood producers wanted him to be an action star. He later said, "I found most of the scripts of the genre poorly constructed, and I felt the starring roles could easily be played by anyone with a strong physique." In addition, he did not feel he was right for the other films he was offered and turned down the lead roles inAmerican Gigolo,The World According to Garp,Splash,Fatal Attraction,Romancing the Stone,Lethal Weapon, andBody Heat. Hepburn recommended Reeve toDavid Lean for the role ofFletcher Christian inThe Bounty, starringAnthony Hopkins. After considering it, Reeve decided he would be miscast, and the film was eventually made withMel Gibson.[142] In the 1990s, Reeve received scripts forPicket Fences andChicago Hope and was asked by CBS if he wanted to start his own television series. This would have meant moving to Los Angeles, which he did not want to do. He declined the offers.[143] After his accident, Reeve was offered the role ofMason Verger inRidley Scott'sHannibal. He turned it down upon learning that the character was a paralyzed and facially disfigured child molester. The role went toGary Oldman.[144]
Reeve's first romantic relationship was at the age of 16 with a theater actress who was seven years his senior. Eventually, he began to feel that "something about it didn't feel right", and they split up.[145]
While filming the first twoSuperman movies in England, Reeve began a 10-year relationship with modeling executive Gae Exton.[8] In 2018,Jane Seymour revealed that Reeve and Exton had broken up prior to filmingSomewhere in Time, and during production, Reeve and Seymour fell in love.[146] However, Reeve returned to Exton upon learning that she was pregnant with their sonMatthew Exton Reeve, who was born on December 20, 1979. Their second child, daughterAlexandra Reeve Givens, was born on November 25, 1983. Both were born in London.[147] In February 1987, Reeve and Exton separated amicably with joint custody of their children, and Reeve returned to New York. Matthew and Alexandra remained in London with their mother and spent their holidays with Reeve. Matthew, who graduated fromBrown University in 2002, is a writer, director, and producer. Alexandra graduated fromYale University in 2005 and received aJuris Doctor fromColumbia Law School in 2008. She is a lawyer and CEO of theCenter for Democracy and Technology. Alexandra's son is named Christopher after her father.[148]
In June 1987, Reeve met his future wifeDana Morosini, a singer and actress. By 1990, they were living together but Reeve, remembering his parents' painful divorce and other failed marriages in his family, could not bring himself to commit. After they almost broke up, Reeve began about a year of therapy, primarily to talk through his fears about marriage. Then one night during dinner, he said, "I just put down my fork and asked her to marry me." They were married in April 1992,[149] and their sonWilliam Elliot "Will" Reeve was born on June 7, 1992. Will graduated fromMiddlebury College in 2014 and, as of 2025[update], he reports forABC News.[150] Christopher and Dana Reeve remained married until Christopher's death.[151]
WhenRobin Williams was filmingThe World According to Garp,Glenn Close recalled that Reeve would "literally swoop in, piloting his own plane, scoop Robin up, and away they would fly for the weekend."[157] During the shooting ofSuperman III, Reeve joined The Tiger Club, a group of aviators who pilot vintagede Havilland Tiger Moth biplanes. Reeve knew how to fly aStearman and did his own piloting in the filmThe Aviator.[158] He also enjoyedgliding; his personal record was 32,000 ft.[156]
Reeve was an avid sailor. While filmingThe Bostonians, he lived aboard hisSwan 40,Chandelle, and would take the cast and crew sailing on the weekends.[159] In 1989, he soldChandelle and bought asloop sailboat, Cambria 46, which he named theSea Angel. According to David Walters Yachts, "when Chris Reeve came to build a Cambria, he did not want a double entry 44. A new deck mold with a single entry was built, and was designated the new 46 model."[160][161]
He sailed in theCaribbean and toBermuda a few times. The coast ofNew England is what he knew best, sailing "all over the East, Nova Scotia, and Maine." His favorite ports wereNantucket,Yarmouth, and Christmas Cove in Maine.[113][162]
Reeve purchased a 12-year-old Americanthoroughbred horse named Eastern Express, nicknamed "Buck", while filmingVillage of the Damned. He trained with Buck in 1994 and planned to do Training Level events in 1995 and move up to Preliminary in 1996. Though Reeve had originally signed up to compete at an event inVermont, his coach invited him to go to the Commonwealth Dressage and Combined Training Association finals at the Commonwealth Park equestrian center inCulpeper, Virginia. Reeve finished in fourth place out of 27 in thedressage, before walking his cross-country course. He was concerned about jumps 16 and 17 but paid little attention to the third jump, which was a routine one-metre-tall (3.3 ft) fence shaped like the letter "W".[164]
On May 27, 1995, Reeve's horse made arefusal. Witnesses said the horse began the third fence jump and suddenly stopped. Reeve fell forward off the horse, holding on to thereins. His hands became tangled in them, and thebridle andbit were pulled off the horse.[note 2] He landed head first on the far side of the fence, shattering hisfirst andsecond vertebrae. The resultingcervical spinal injury paralyzed him from the neck down and halted his breathing. Paramedics arrived three minutes later and immediately took measures to get air into his lungs. He was taken first to the local hospital, before being flown by helicopter to theUniversity of Virginia Medical Center.[166] He had no recollection of the accident.[167]
After five days in which Reeve was heavily medicated anddelirious, he regained full consciousness. His doctor explained to him his first and second cervical vertebrae had beendestroyed and his spinal cord damaged.[168] He wasparalyzed from the neck down and unable to breathe without aventilator.
Reeve's first thoughts when informed about the seriousness of his injury was he had ruined his life, would be a burden on his family, and it might be best to "slip away". He mouthed to his wife Dana, "Maybe we should let me go." She tearfully replied, "I will support whatever you want to do, because this is your life and your decision. But I want you to know that I'll be with you for the long haul, no matter what. You're still you. And I love you."[169] In what she would later describe as a "sales ploy", she also told him that if he still wanted to die in two years they could reconsider the question.[170]
After this conversation, and visits from his children in which he saw how much they needed him, Reeve consented to lifesaving surgery and treatment forpneumonia.[171] He never consideredeuthanasia as an option again.[169][172]
Reeve went through inner anguish in theICU, particularly when he was alone during the night. His upcoming operation to stabilize his spine in June 1995 "was frightening to contemplate. ... I already knew that I had only a fifty-fifty chance of surviving the surgery. ... Then, at an especially bleak moment, the door flew open and in hurried a squat fellow with a blue scrub hat and a yellow surgical gown and glasses, speaking in a Russian accent. He announced that he was myproctologist, and that he had to examine me immediately." It was Robin Williams, reprising his character from the filmNine Months. "For the first time since the accident, I laughed. My old friend had helped me know that somehow I was going to be okay."[173][note 3] In addition to visits from friends and family, Reeve received over 400,000 letters from all over the world, which gave him great comfort during his recovery.[177][note 4]
John A. Jane performed surgery to repair Reeve's neckvertebrae. He put wires underneath bothlaminae and used bone from Reeve's hip to fit between the C1 and C2 vertebrae. He inserted atitanium pin and fused the wires with the vertebrae, then drilled holes in Reeve's skull and fitted the wires through to secure the skull to thespinal column.[178] To access the cord, the surgeon had to cut atendon on the right side of Reeve's neck, which became shorter and less flexible as a result, causing his head to tilt slightly to the right.[179]
After a month in the hospital, Reeve spent six months at theKessler Rehabilitation Center inWest Orange, New Jersey, to continue with his recovery and learn skills such as operating hissip-and-puff electricwheelchair by blowing air through a straw. In his autobiographyStill Me, he described initially not wanting to face the reality of his disability. Getting used to sitting strapped into a wheelchair or taking a shower was initially terrifying. Reeve developed a deep fondness for many of the staff at Kessler, and through conversations with the other patients gradually started to see himself as being part of the disabled community.[180][note 5]
For the first few months after the accident, Reeve relied on a ventilator, which was connected to his neck through atracheostomy tube, for every breath. With therapy and practice, he developed the ability to breathe on his own for up to 90 minutes at a time.[182]
At home, Reeve exercised for up to four or five hours a day, using specialized exercise machines to stimulate his muscles and preventmuscle atrophy andosteoporosis.[183] He believed that intense physical therapy couldregenerate thenervous system, and also wanted his body to be strong enough to support itself if a cure for paralysis were found.
Beginning in 2000, he started to regain the ability to make small movements with his fingers and other parts of his body. By 2002, he could feel the prick of a needle and sense hot and cold temperatures on 65% of his body.[184][185] He regularly exercised in a swimming pool and could push off with his legs from the side of a pool and make asnow angel movement with his arms. He also had a sense ofproprioception, which is critical for movement control.[186] Initially, Reeve was given an A grade on theASIA Impairment Scale, indicating no motor or sensory function. In 2002, his grade was changed to C, indicating some degree of muscle movement and sensation. Reeve's doctors were surprised by his improvements, which they attributed to his intensive exercise regimen. The degree of his recovery was reported in scientific journals.[187]
In February 2003, Reeve became the third patient in the United States to undergo an experimental procedure in which electrodes were implanted in his diaphragm to help him breathe without a ventilator.[188] Previously, he could force air into his lungs using his neck muscles, which required a lot of effort. With adiaphragm pacing device, he was able to breathe normally through his nose, regaining his sense of smell and normal speech.[189][190] At first, the device allowed him to breathe for 15 minutes an hour, but over time this increased up to 18 hours a day.[191] In November 2003, Reeve appeared in public without a ventilator for the first time since his accident.[192] In 2008, the device was approved by theFDA under aHumanitarian Device Exemption, and receivedpremarket approval in 2023.[193]
In December 1995, Reeve moved back to his home inBedford, New York. By two years after the accident, Reeve said he was "glad to be alive, not out of obligation to others, but because life was worth living."[194] He continued to require round-the-clock care for the rest of his life, with a rotating team of 10 nurses and five aides working in his home.[195][note 6]
In the aftermath of the accident, Reeve went through intense grief. He gradually resolved to make the best of his new life, with a busy schedule of activism, film work, writing and promoting his books, public speaking, and parenting. In 1998, he said in an interview:
Who knows why an accident happens? The key is what do you do afterwards. There is a period of shock, and then grieving, with confusion and loss. After that, you have two choices. One is to stare out the window and gradually disintegrate. And the other is to mobilize and use all your resources, whatever they may be, to do something positive. That is the road I have taken. It comes naturally to me. I am a competitive person and right now I am competing against decay. I don't want osteoporosis or muscle atrophy or depression to beat me.[8]
In another interview, Reeve said he drew on the self-discipline he had gained in his early years in the theater:
Nobody wants another actor. There's too many of them now already. ... To keep believing in yourself in spite of those kinds of obstacles is certainly good preparation for what I'm going through now.[172]
For most of his life, Reeve did not identify with any religion. He attended his stepfather's Presbyterian church as a teenager.[196] In 1975, he briefly exploredScientology but chose not to become a member. He subsequently voiced criticism of the organization.[197][198]
Reeve described his wedding in 1992 as his "first act of faith". After his accident, many well-wishers suggested that prayer would make him feel better, but he did not find it helpful. "I wondered what was wrong with me", he later wrote. "I had broken my neck and become paralyzed, possibly forever, but still hadn't found God."[199]
In his 2002 bookNothing Is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life, Reeve said that he and his wife had regularly attendedUnitarian services, starting in his late 40s. In the years following the accident, he had gradually come to believe that:
Spirituality is found in the way we live our daily lives. It means spending time thinking about others. It's not so hard to imagine that there is some kind of higher power. We don't have to know what form it takes or exactly where it exists; just to honor it and try to live by it is enough. ... As these thoughts unfolded in the process of learning to live my new life, I had no idea that I was becoming a Unitarian.[200]
At the age of 15, Reeve developed a passionate interest in political and social causes. He conducted a door-to-door campaign on behalf ofRobert F. Kennedy in 1968 and participated in protests against theinvasion of Cambodia in 1970.[201]
After the release ofSuperman, Reeve used his celebrity status to enable him to support several philanthropic causes. Through theMake-A-Wish Foundation, he visited terminally ill children. He joined the board of directors for the worldwide charitySave the Children. In 1979, he served as a track and field coach at theSpecial Olympics.[202]
Reeve atLife and Art rally in Chile, November 1987
In late 1987, inSantiago, Chile, the country's dictator,Augusto Pinochet, threatened to execute 77 actors.Ariel Dorfman asked Reeve to help save their lives. Reeve flew to Chile and helped lead a protest march.[208] A cartoon then ran in a newspaper showing him carrying Pinochet by the collar with the caption, "Where will you take him, Superman?" For his contribution to the protest, Reeve was awarded the Grand Cross of theOrder of Bernardo O'Higgins, the highest Chilean distinction for foreigners. He also received anObie Award and the Annual Walter Briehl Human Rights Foundation award.[209][210] The following year, Reeve was among the international stars for the No campaign in theChilean presidential referendum that marked the end of Pinochet's rule.[211][note 8]
Reeve spoke out againstDonald Trump's developing projects onWest End Avenue in the late 1980s. The 1991 documentaryTrump: What's the Deal?, which was suppressed for years, showed Reeve deliver a critical speech on the topic at a public event. The documentary also featured an interview in which Reeve called Trump's ambitions "the American dream gone berserk", adding, "You're allowed to dream as big as you want, but if your dreams step on the lives of ordinary people and ruin the quality of their life and their neighborhood, you have to be stopped."[213][214]
In 1993, a teacher atFlowing Wells High School was fired for staging a play with homosexual themes during the school's arts week. In response, People for the American Way held a forum on the issue of censorship inTucson, Arizona. Reeve and several other actors performed an impromptu reading of the play to a standing ovation. Representing the actors on the panel discussion, Reeve was heckled by some parents, to which he responded, "What I hear this lady saying is that she is uncomfortable with things that don't resemble her or her way of life. This country is founded on a completely different principle, which is tolerance and diversity." The dismissed teacher described the demonstration as "a healing experience".[215][216]
In 1989, Reeve's friendRon Silver started theCreative Coalition (TCC), a liberal organization aiming to teach celebrities how to speak knowledgeably about political issues. Reeve was an early member of the group, along withSusan Sarandon,Alec Baldwin, andBlythe Danner. The group's initiatives included environmental issues and defending theNational Endowment of the Arts, which was under attack from conservative Republicans who objected to taxpayer funding of art they considered offensive. Reeve was elected as a co-president of TCC in 1994. They were instrumental in starting residential recycling in New York, convincing thestate legislature to allocate $1 billion to protect the city's watershed area, and stopping the building of acoal-fired power station near Albany. The organization's work was noticed nationwide, and theDemocratic Party asked Reeve to run for theUnited States Congress. He replied, "Run for Congress? And lose my influence in Washington?"[217][8] In 1997, TCC established the Christopher Reeve First Amendment Award.[218]
In 1996, 10 months after his injury, Reeve appeared at the68th Academy Awards to a long standing ovation. He used the occasion to encourageHollywood to make more films on social issues, saying, "Let's continue to take risks. Let's tackle the issues. In many ways our film community can do it better than anyone else."[219][220]
Reeve left the Kessler Rehabilitation Center feeling inspiration from the other patients he had met. Because the media was constantly covering him, he decided to use his name to put focus onspinal cord injuries. He traveled across the country to make speeches and also hosted the1996 Summer Paralympic Games inAtlanta and spoke at theDemocratic National Convention.[221][222] For these efforts, he was placed on the cover ofTime on August 26, 1996.[223]
Reeve was elected chairman of theAmerican Paralysis Association and vice chairman of the National Organization on Disability. WithJoan Irvine Smith, he co-founded the Reeve-Irvine Research Center, which is now one of the leadingspinal cord research centers in the world.[224] In 1999, the American Paralysis Association and Reeve's own foundation, established in 1996, were merged into theChristopher Reeve Foundation,[225] which aims to speed up research through funding and to use grants to improve the quality of lives of people with disabilities. The Foundation to date has given more than $140 million to research and more than $46 million in quality-of-life grants.[226][227] Reeve served as a board member for several organizations' aim to improve quality of life for people with disabilities.[228]
In the mid-1990s, Reeve established the Christopher Reeve Acting Scholarship, which is given to a young disabled actor at the Media Access Awards, sponsored by the Reeve Foundation. The scholarship changed its name to the Christopher Reeve Acting Award in 2023.[229]
Reeve's first effort to change disability legislation was in supporting a 1997 bill to raise the lifetime "cap" on insurance payments from $1 million to $10 million per person. For catastrophically injured people with one insurance policy, the $1 million limit often lasts just a few years. He said, "There are certain CEOs of insurance companies taking home $300 million a year in personal income. That is outrageous. We need to make insurance companies provide the benefits they are supposed to, and we shouldn't have to fight for necessities." The bill was narrowly defeated.[8][230] In 1999, he supported the Work Incentives Improvement Act, which allows people to continue to receive disability benefits after they return to work. This bill passed.[228]
Reeve discussing stem cell research at a conference atMIT, March 2, 2003
Reeve lobbied for expanded federal funding onembryonic stem cell research to include all embryonic stem cell lines in existence and for self-governance to make open-ended scientific inquiry of the research.[231] PresidentGeorge W. Bush limited federal funding to research only on human embryonic stem cell lines created on or before August 9, 2001, the day he announced his policy, and allotted approximately $100 million for it. Reeve initially called this "a step in the right direction", admitting he did not know about the existing lines and would look into them further. He fought against the limit when scientists revealed an early research technique involved mixing the human stem cells with mouse cells contaminated most of the old lines.[232]
In 2002, Reeve lobbied for theHuman Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001,[234] which would allowsomatic cell nuclear transfer research, but would banreproductive cloning. He argued stem cell implantation is unsafe unless the stem cells contain the patient's ownDNA and because somatic cell nuclear transfer is done without fertilizing an egg, it can be fully regulated.[235] In June 2004, Reeve provided a videotaped message on behalf of the Genetics Policy Institute to the delegates of the United Nations in defense of somatic cell nuclear transfer, which a world treaty was considering banning.[236] In the final days of his life, Reeve urged California voters to vote yes onProposition 71,[237] which would establish theCalifornia Institute for Regenerative Medicine and would allot $3 billion of state funds tostem cell research.[238] Proposition 71 was approved less than one month after Reeve's death.
In July 2003, Reeve's continuing frustration with the pace of stem cell research in the US led him to Israel,[239] a country that was then, according to him, at the center of research in spinal cord injury.[240][241] Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited him to seek out the best treatment for his condition. During his visit, Reeve called the experience "a privilege" and said, "Israel has very proactive rehab facilities, excellent medical schools and teaching hospitals, and an absolutely first-rate research infrastructure."[240][242] Israelis were very receptive to Reeve's visit, calling him an inspiration to all and urging him never to give up hope.[240]
In September 2003, Reeve was awarded theLasker Public Service Award "for his perceptive, sustained and heroic advocacy for medical research in general and victims of disability in particular."[243][244]
Commenting on Reeve's impact,Jerome Groopman said in 2003, "I think that people of prominence or great resources are the ones who act as catalysts in our society. ... There was essentially no substantial funding of spinal-cord research before Reeve's injury, and now it is one of the hottest areas in neurobiology. Scientists are flocking to work in it, because science follows the money."[186] Of Reeve,UC Irvine said, "in the years following his injury, Christopher did more to promote research on spinal cord injury and other neurological disorders than any other person before or since."[245]
During his teenage years, Reeve suffered from occasional bouts ofasthma and allergies.[246] He sustained injuries in various sports activities, such as a broken ankle while skiing and a fractured rib from a riding mishap while training forAnna Karenina.[247][248] At Kessler Rehabilitation Center, he discovered that he hadn't fully recovered frommalaria, which he contracted while scouting filming locations inKenya in 1993.[249]
He had a rare condition calledmastocytosis, which made him vulnerable toanaphylaxis, and more than once he had asevere reaction to a drug. While at Kessler, he tried a drug which was theorized to help reduce damage to the spinal cord. The drug caused him to go into anaphylactic shock, and his heart stopped. He said he had anout-of-body experience and remembered saying, "I'm sorry, but I have to go now", during the event. In his autobiography, he wrote, "and then I left my body. I was up on the ceiling. ... I looked down and saw my body stretched out on the bed, not moving, while everybody—there were 15 or 20 people, the doctors, the EMTs, the nurses—was working on me. The noise and commotion grew quieter as though someone were gradually turning down the volume." After receiving a large dose ofepinephrine, he woke up and stabilized later that night. Two days later, he gave it another try, but experienced the same anaphylactic reaction and was immediately given epinephrine.[250]
At age 16, he developedalopecia areata. Generally, he was able to comb over the bald spots and often the problem disappeared for long periods.[251] The condition became more noticeable after his paralysis. He was given a medication for it, but an adverse reaction caused all the hair on his body to fall out, including his eyebrows and eyelashes.[252]
During 1996 and 1997, Reeve was frequently hospitalized fordysreflexia, pneumonia, a collapsed lung, and two blood clots.[253] On one occasion, he was put incorrectly in a wheelchair, which caused him to fall and break his left arm. A titanium rod was inserted inside hishumerus bone to stabilize his arm.[254] In 1997, a small ulcer on his left ankle became infected, eventually spreading to the bone. He was warned that his leg might have to be amputated to prevent further spread of infection. Reeve sought help from specialists atAlbany Medical Center, who examined his leg,removing the dead tissue and putting him on powerfulantibiotics, although he developed an allergy after eight days. His leg fully healed a few months later.[255][179]
By early October 2004, he was being treated for an infectedpressure ulcer that was causingsepsis, a complication he had experienced many times before. On October 4, he spoke at theRehabilitation Institute of Chicago on behalf of its work; it was his last reported public appearance.[256] On October 9, Reeve attended his son Will's hockey game. That night, he went into cardiac arrest after receiving an antibiotic for the infection. He fell into a coma, and was taken toNorthern Westchester Hospital inMount Kisco, New York. Eighteen hours later, on October 10, Reeve died at the age of 52.[257] No autopsy was performed. However, both Reeve's wife, Dana, and his doctor, John McDonald, believed that an adverse reaction to a drug caused his death.[258]
His remains werecremated atFerncliff Cemetery,[259] where his ashes were sprinkled in the wind by his family.[260][261] A memorial service for Reeve was held at theUnitarian Church inWestport, Connecticut, which was officiated by Frank Hall.[262] Another private memorial service held at the Juilliard School three weeks later was attended by more than 900 people, with speakers.[263]
Reeve's widow Dana headed the Christopher Reeve Foundation after his death. Although a non-smoker, she was diagnosed with lung cancer on August 9, 2005. She died at age 44 on March 6, 2006,[264] and the foundation was subsequently renamed theChristopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.[265] Reeve's children serve on the board of directors of the foundation.[266]
Following Reeve's death, theSociety for Neuroscience added his name to their satellite symposium dedicated to stem cell research. The Annual Christopher Reeve "Hot Topics" in Stem Cell Biology is held almost annually, except for 2020, 2021, and 2024.[267]
In 2005,Princeton Day School established the Christopher Reeve '70 Sportsmanship Award that is awarded during the Invitational Ice Hockey Tournament.[268] In 2006,Cornell University dedicated aplaque to Reeve at the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts and established the Christopher Reeve '74 Scholarship that provides support to students majoring in theater, film, music, and English.[269]
In 2005, theWilliamstown Theatre Festival, where Reeve often performed during his career, announced that it would dedicate the final performance of every season to his memory and would establish a fund to support artists with disabilities.[270] In 2015,Princeton Public Library created the Christopher Reeve Theater and Dramatic Arts Collection that consists of books on acting, screenwriting, theater, filmmaking, cinema studies, music and Broadway. Reeve's books are also part of the collection.[271]
From 2004 to 2016, Heart of America Foundation presented the Christopher Reeve Award, an annual scholarship funded byMerriam-Webster, Inc., to "a student who has demonstrated outstanding compassion and caring by serving their community."[272] In 2018,Drexel University College of Medicine established the Christopher Reeve Endowment Award "as a scholarship fund for support of research and training of scientists and clinicians working in the area of spinal cord and brain injury research."[273]
In March 2009, PresidentBarack Obama signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act that aims "to enhance and further research into paralysis and to improve rehabilitation and the quality of life for persons living with paralysis and other physical disabilities."[274][275]
On September 25, 2021, Google celebrated Reeve's 69th birthday with aGoogle Doodle.[277][278]
A documentary about Reeve's life and the aftermath of his accident titledSuper/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story premiered at theSundance Film Festival on January 19, 2024.[279][280] On the 20th anniversary of Reeve's death, theEmpire State Building was lit in blue, yellow, red, and orange colors in honor of the foundation's work and the wide release of the documentary.[281][282] On October 25, 2024, a French documentary about Reeve titledChristopher Reeve: The Eternal Superman was released on TCM Cinéma.[283][284]
^Afterward, Buck was boarding at Gathering Farm inHamilton, Massachusetts. Reeve regularly called the stables to check on him and was sent videos of his training sessions. Later, Buck was sold to new owners. Reeve said, "He's a beautiful, sweet-natured animal. None of what happened was his fault. ... I'm hoping he'll have a long and happy life with his new owners. He's a wonderful horse."[165]
^After Reeve's accident, some media outlets published a story about a college pact in which the two vowed to take care of each other. Both Reeve and Williams said the story was untrue.[174][175] Williams also denied reports that he was paying Reeve's medical bills: "I've done some things, but [the press] made it seem like I'm footing all the bills."[176]
^In 1999, Dana published about 200 selected letters, with the permission of their authors, in her book,Care Packages: Letters to Christopher Reeve from Strangers and Other Friends.ISBN0-375-50076-6.
^In September 1995,The Journey of Christopher Reeve aired on ABC News'20/20. Featuring in-depth interviews with Reeve and Dana, and showing his rehabilitation process at Kessler, the special became a winner of thePeabody Awards.[181]
^The nursing care was covered by Reeve's insurance after much struggle with the insurance company, while he paid for the aides himself.[179]
^Reeve's daughter Alexandra served on theSenate Judiciary Committee under Leahy from 2011 to 2016. First as a Nominations Counsel, and then as Chief Counsel for IP and Antitrust.[204][205]
^Murabito, Jennifer (October 13, 2004)."Cornell Remembers Reeve '74".The Cornell Daily Sun.Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. RetrievedNovember 25, 2024.
^Harrington, Wallace; O'Connor, Michael George; Kavitsky, Joyce."Superman (1978)".Christopher Reeve Homepage.Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. RetrievedDecember 17, 2024.
^Harrington, Wallace; O'Connor, Michael George; Thomas, Judy; Kavitsky, Joyce."Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)".Christopher Reeve Homepage.Archived from the original on January 23, 2025. RetrievedDecember 17, 2024.
^Rossen, Jake (February 1, 2008).Superman Vs. Hollywood: How Fiendish Producers, Devious Directors, and Warring Writers Grounded an American Icon. Chicago: Chicago Review Press. p. 166.ISBN978-1-55652-731-9.
^Long, Robert Emmet (April 21, 2005).James Ivory in Conversation: How Merchant Ivory Makes Its Movies. University of California Press. p. 18.ISBN0-520-23415-4.
^Marx, Barry, Cavalieri, Joey and Hill, Thomas (w), Petruccio, Steven (a), Marx, Barry (ed). "Christopher Reeve Superman Becomes a Blockbuster" Fifty Who Made DC Great, p. 44 (1985). DC Comics.
^Kavitsky, Joyce."Bump in the Night (1991)".Christopher Reeve Homepage.Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. RetrievedJanuary 17, 2025.
^Tonguette, Peter (July 21, 2020).Picturing Peter Bogdanovich: My Conversations with the New Hollywood Director. University Press of Kentucky.ISBN978-0813147314.
^"Last Ferry Home".Northeast Historic Film.Archived from the original on January 16, 2025. RetrievedJanuary 17, 2025.
^"The Guardsman".Williamstown Theatre Festival.Archived from the original on January 16, 2025. RetrievedJanuary 17, 2025.
^The Zocalo Today. ISN News, February 8, 2003. Retrieved November 3, 2006 "Smallville set ratings highs Tuesday, hitting an all-time high for any program on the WB in the key 18–34demographic, with a 6.1 rating/15 share. According tofigures fromNielsen Media Research, Smallville attracted 8.1 million total viewers."
^Bailey, Neal."Superman on Television". Superman Homepage.Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. RetrievedOctober 10, 2012.
^The Brooke Ellison Story. Dir. Christopher Reeve. Perf. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, John Slattery, Lacey Chabert, and Vanessa Marano. A&E Television Networks, 2004.
^Andersen, Christopher (July 8, 2008).Somewhere in Heaven: The Remarkable Love Story of Dana and Christopher Reeve. Hyperion Books. p. 146.ISBN978-1-4013-2302-8.
^Vergano, Dan (November 15, 2003)."Reeve speaks after rare op".Irish Examiner.Archived from the original on December 26, 2024. RetrievedDecember 26, 2024.
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