Christopher Reeve was born in 1952 in New York City. By the age of eight, he had appeared in school plays. Reeve was also quite interested and talented in music and piano. At nine, he was picked to be in an operetta for Princeton's professional theater. By 16, he had an agent. In 1974, Chris received his BA from Cornell University (English and Music theory). He later attended the Juilliard School in New York City where he roomed with Robin Williams.
In 1978, with his strikingly good look and incredible talent in acting, Chris was picked out of 200 hopefuls for the role of Superman. In 1979, Reeve won the British Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Superman.
Being the well-known Superman in the Century, Christopher indeed has his brilliant way of living. Besides his performing career, he was also very successful in many other aspects, such as his profound interest and talents in various sports which made him an expert. He earned his pilot's license in his early twenties and twice flew solo across the Atlantic in a small plane. He also flew gliders and was an expert sailor, scuba diver, skier and horse riding.
1995, Christopher Reeve cannot possibly forget this year. All of a sudden, his career fell from summit. In a riding show, Reeve's horse balked at a 3-foot-3-inch fence and made an abrupt stop. Reeve landed on his head and got a broken spinal cord, he has been paralyzed from the neck down ever since.
Awaking for the first time immobilized in a hospital bed and unable to breathe without a machine bumping his lungs, Christopher Reeves looked into the eyes of his wife, Dana, and mouthed " maybe we should let me go" In that critical moment, with the choice of life and death in the balance, she unhesitatingly responded, " You are still you, and I love you. "
Christopher Reeve's Family (his son William with Dana, and two children from his former wife) gave him much support. They contributed a lot to the rehabilitation of Reeve's Spinal cord injury.
When he did survive, the myth of Superman becomes reality!!!
He did get frustrated at times, he admits that he cried every time dealing with the reality of being in a wheelchair, but after his long hard cry each day, he tells himself, " AND NOW, FORWARD "!!!!!!!!!!!
Christopher has made numerous public appearances around the US since his accident. He has been a proponent for medical research to help quadriplegics. He received the honor as 'Hollywood walk of fame'. He has been giving speeches around universities, urging medical graduates to " show us the cures".
He never gives up hope that he can walk, though now he is confined to a wheelchair that he operates by sipping or puffing on a straw.
This former superman was also given the National Courage Award at the Minnesota Courage Center. He set up the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation and the Reeve-Irvine Research Center. He's the vice chairman of National Organization of Disability. He's also the Chairman of American Paralysis Association. His effort gained him a 10 million fund from Bill Clinton for research in 1996. Besides, he has just published an autobiography called Still Me (1998) and his acting life started again. In short, his efforts in both the private and public sectors have met with considerable success both in raising money and awareness of the needs and desires of disabled people.
For a person who has once been physically in healthy condition, it is absolutely hard for him to face the fate of disablement. Nevertheless, Reeve was fortunate to have his family's encouragement. Reeve's optimism is paid when there was a hope rose in 1998 when there's an approval for the first human test on the antibody that can start the healing. Also, he started to gain sensation in his left leg and left arm.
In 1999, he was selected as one of the 20 most influential people. His life of endless spirit and courage will go on.
