ABOUT
Christopher Reeve
Born on September 25, 1952, in New York City to Barbara Pitney Lamb, an associate editor, and Franklin D’Olier Reeve, a novelist and scholar, Christopher’s parents divorced when he was four and he moved to Princeton, New Jersey with his mother.
Christopher’s passion for performance began early – by age nine he was performing in Gilbert & Sullivan operettas at the McCarter Theatre, and by 15 he was an apprentice at the renowned Williamstown Theater Festival, where he continued to perform on stage even at the height of his film career.
After graduating from Cornell University in 1974 with degrees in English and music theory, Christopher was one of only two students (along with Robin Williams) selected for Juilliard’s prestigious Advanced Program. To pay tuition, he landed a role on the soap opera “Love of Life” in 1974, eventually leaving Juilliard to fulfill his CBS contract. In 1976, he made his Broadway debut opposite Katharine Hepburn in “A Matter of Gravity.”
Christopher’s breakthrough came in 1978 when he was cast as Superman after an extensive search that considered over 200 actors, including major stars like Robert Redford and Paul Newman. Director Richard Donner wanted an unknown actor, and despite being initially dismissed as “too young and skinny,” Christopher’s screen test convinced producers he could make audiences believe a man could fly. The film’s massive success launched him to international stardom and established the template for modern superhero movies.
Beyond acting, Christopher was a licensed pilot who made solo Atlantic crossings, an accomplished pianist, and an outdoor enthusiast who skied, sailed, and scuba dived. He was also a passionate and committed activist, fighting for environmental causes, arts education, nuclear disarmament, and supporting HIV/AIDS research. He also campaigned for human rights in Chile, earning Chile’s highest civilian honor.
Christopher’s life changed dramatically on May 27, 1995, when a horseback riding accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. Rather than retreat, he became one of the world’s most powerful advocates for spinal cord research and disability rights, while also continuing to act, take up directing, and writing two books. Christopher passed away on October 10, 2004, at age 52, but his legacy continues through groundbreaking research and the lives he inspired.
"When Dana whispered those life-saving words to me, ‘You’re still you. And I love you,’ it meant more to me than just a personal declaration of faith and commitment. In a sense it was an affirmation that marriage and family stood at the center of everything, and if both were intact, so was your universe."
Books by Christopher Reeve
Learn even more about Christopher Reeve’s life and journey as a hero both on the silver screen and off.