Christopher Reeve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Christopher Reeve
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Reeve after the opening night of The Marriage of Figaro at the Circle in the Square Theatre, New York City, 1985
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Christopher D'Olier Reeve
September 25, 1952 New York City, U.S.
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| Died | October 10, 2004 (aged 52) Mount Kisco, New York, U.S.
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| Years active | 1970–2004 |
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Full list |
| Board member of | Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation |
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| Partner(s) | Gae Exton (1978–1987) |
| Children | 3, including Matthew |
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Christopher D'Olier Reeve (September 25, 1952 – October 10, 2004) was an American actor, film director, author, and activist. He is most famous for playing the superhero Superman in the movie Superman (1978) and its three follow-up films.
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Becoming an Actor
Christopher Reeve was born in New York City on September 25, 1952. His mother, Barbara Pitney Lamb, was a journalist. His father, Franklin D'Olier Reeve, was a teacher, writer, and poet. His parents divorced when he was young. Christopher and his younger brother moved to Princeton, New Jersey, with their mother.
Christopher was a good student and athlete. He played soccer, baseball, tennis, and hockey. He found his love for acting at age nine in a school play. When he was fifteen, he spent a summer learning about theater at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
After finishing high school in 1970, Reeve wanted to become an actor. His mother suggested he go to college first. He was accepted into several top universities. He chose Cornell University because it was far from New York City. This helped him focus on his studies before starting his acting career.
While at Cornell, a famous agent named Stark Hesseltine wanted to represent him. Hesseltine had discovered other well-known actors. Reeve was excited but agreed to finish college first. He would travel to New York once a month to meet casting agents. This helped him find acting jobs during his summer breaks. He performed in plays like Forty Carats and at the San Diego Shakespeare Festival.
Career Highlights
Reeve's first small role in a Hollywood movie was in Gray Lady Down (1978). Soon after, he got the role that made him famous: Clark Kent/Superman. He was 24 years old and very tall, but he was slim. To play Superman, he trained hard for two months. He lifted weights and worked out to gain muscle.
Reeve was not a big fan of Superman comics before getting the role. But he liked the challenge of playing two different characters: the clumsy Clark Kent and the powerful Superman. He said there had to be a clear difference between them.
The movie Superman was made without computers for special effects. The filmmakers had to find ways to make Superman look like he was really flying. They used many tricks, but the best part was Christopher Reeve himself. He was a glider pilot and knew how to hold his body to look like he was flying. This made the scenes very realistic.
The film was a huge success, earning over $300 million worldwide. Critics praised Reeve's performance. They said he was convincing as both Clark Kent and Superman. He won an award for "Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles."
After his success as Superman, Reeve chose to act in different kinds of movies and plays. He wanted to play more complex characters. He appeared in films like The Bostonians (1984) and The Remains of the Day (1993). He also performed in plays on Broadway and in London.
Life After the Accident
On May 27, 1995, Christopher Reeve had a serious accident. He was riding a horse in a competition when he was thrown off. He broke his neck, which left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. He needed a wheelchair and a machine to help him breathe for the rest of his life.
Even after his accident, Reeve continued to work. He directed a movie called In the Gloaming (1997). He also acted in a TV movie called Rear Window (1998). He even appeared in the TV series Smallville, which was about a young Superman.
Reeve also wrote two books about his life: Still Me and Nothing Is Impossible. Throughout his career, he won many awards for his acting and directing.
Activism and Personal Life
Before his accident, Christopher Reeve was already an activist. He supported environmental causes and human rights. After his injury, he became a strong voice for people with disabilities. He worked to raise money for research into spinal cord injuries. He also fought for better health insurance for people with disabilities. He helped lead the Christopher Reeve Foundation.
While filming the first Superman movies, Reeve had a relationship with Gae Exton. They had two children, Matthew and Alexandra. They later separated, and the children lived in London with their mother. They often visited Reeve for holidays.
In 1987, Reeve met Dana Morosini, a singer and actress. They fell in love and got married in 1992. They had a son named William. They were very happy together until Reeve's death.
Death and Legacy
Christopher Reeve passed away on October 10, 2004. His family held a memorial service for him.
After his death, his wife, Dana Reeve, continued his work. She led the Christopher Reeve Foundation. Sadly, Dana passed away in 2006. The foundation was then renamed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.
Christopher's children, Matthew, Alexandra, and William, are now part of the foundation's board. They continue their father's important work. In 2015, Alexandra had a son and named him Christopher.
In 2021, Google honored Christopher Reeve with a special "Doodle" on his 69th birthday.
Filmography
Images for kids
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Christopher Reeve as Superman
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Christopher Reeve, Frank Gifford, and Ronald Reagan at a Special Olympics event in 1983
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Reeve discussing stem cell research at MIT in 2003
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See also
In Spanish: Christopher Reeve para niños
