Thoughts About Christopher Reeve

I miss my friend Christopher Reeve. It is difficult to believe that this world has been without him now for 20 years. His spirit is very strong, and his tremendously powerful and positive impact on the world is forever.

Chris is my Hero, my Inspiration and the Symbol of Hope in my blessed life. He has taught me a whole new meaning of Family, Strength, Determination and a Positive Attitude. I am reminded each day when I look at the photo of Chris and me of how fortunate I am to be able to get out of bed and make each day count.

How fortunate I was to have met and known Chris. I followed his life’s work, watched every TV and theatrical movie he was in, and bought every photo, magazine, newspaper and clipping I could find about him. I never imagined in 1978 as a 17-year-old young man that someone like Chris would come along and make such a significant and positive impact on my life…and that it would stay with me all of the years following. Chris was the big brother I never had…a true role model in every sense of the word.

Like so many other fans, I stuck with Chris through thick and thin because I knew he was a straight arrow, a doer, a teacher, a perfectionist, a giver, a gentleman, and a devoted husband and father. His “failure is not an option” and hopeful attitude, even when the odds were stacked against him, I often emulated. He believed in himself, and in others who also had goals, dreams and focus.

All of us wanted so much for Chris to walk with his family again, but he was freed from his wheelchair to do more incredible things in the spirit world for everyone. My wife, Sallie, feels that Chris is possibly an Archangel, a highly evolved Angel; and that he is with his wife, Dana, and continuing his mission. Sallie also said that Chris is definitely a Lightbearer. Indeed. He is a unique and unstoppable Force in the Universe who will live on infinitely in our hearts. Many people in the world are walking again and live more fulfilling lives because of Chris and his foundation’s efforts and Guiding Light…and what a bright light it is.

Will, Matthew, and Alexandra are a testament to selfless devotion and support to their father and mother’s mission. They are rare and special people whom I admire so much.

Christopher Reeve was truly Someone To Believe In. I will remember him forever.

Thank you friends, family and fans for the hundreds of e-mails and telephone calls that I received in 2004 following Christopher Reeve’s passing.

–Jim Bowers

Christopher Reeve’s Legacy: He Made Playing A Superhero Respectable

Superfan Karl Heitmueller, Jr. wrote this great article on October 11, 2004, the day after Christopher Reeve passed away.

One Legacy of Christopher Reeve

Cinema in 1978 was in a state of flux. The 1970s saw the rise of talented, maverick auteurs like Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola and Peter Bogdanovich working with a new breed of actor (think Robert De Niro and Al Pacino) to create films that had more grit and innovation than Hollywood had seen in decades. But then the one-two punch of “Jaws” in 1975 and “Star Wars” in 1977 ushered in the era of the Hollywood blockbuster, an era in which financial stakes were more important than artistic standards.

So when Richard Donner’s “Superman: The Movie” hit the screens on December 15, 1978, many critics and filmgoers were startled by a seeming confluence of flash and substance. The flash was provided by the (then) groundbreaking special effects that made us “believe a man can fly,” while the substance came from the surprisingly sincere and multilayered performance of the actor playing the title role.

Christopher Reeve may have had third billing in “Superman” (behind Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman), but he was the star. The then-unknown 24-year-old was chosen from hundreds of actors for a role that was not exactly coveted.

The producers had considered giving the part to Robert Redford, Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood, Sylvester Stallone — and even to Charles Bronson, Burt Reynolds and Kris Kristofferson. Those big-name stars who were offered the part all turned it down cold. In the late ’70s, no serious actor would be caught dead in red, yellow and blue tights. Prior to “Superman,” every costumed hero brought to life was played with one note, whether it was the square-jawed seriousness of TV’s Superman, George Reeves, or the slightly more round-jawed campiness of Adam West’s Batman. And nobody had ever made a big-budget superhero movie for the big screen. It just didn’t seem like a movie anyone could take seriously.

Luckily, Richard Donner could. When the director (then best known for “The Omen”) came on board, he brought a new sensibility to the project. He eschewed the campiness in favor of a more respectful, but not overly reverent, tone for “Superman.” He wanted to play it straight, and part of the key would be casting someone the audience could buy as the Man of Steel. To Donner, that meant casting an unknown.

Christopher Reeve was a struggling young actor with a slight résumé and an even slighter build. But Donner and casting director Lynn Stalmaster saw something in him that rang true. He was able to say lines like “I’m here to fight for truth, justice and the American way” without eliciting (too many) snickers. Once the suits at Warner Bros. were convinced that he could fit the red boots, Reeve underwent an intensive physical regimen with bodybuilder David Prowse (who played Darth Vader in “Star Wars”) to achieve the look of the part.

But it wasn’t Reeve’s 6’4″, 225 lb. physique that made him so convincing as Superman and Clark Kent. He brought a true duality to the role, making you believe not only that he could bend steel with his bare hands, but that Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen didn’t recognize that Clark and Superman were one and the same. Reeve claimed to base his Clark on Cary Grant’s bumbling Dr. David Huxley from the 1938 screwball comedy “Bringing Up Baby.” Hunching his shoulders, raising his voice, getting caught in revolving doors and using colloquialisms such as “golly” and “swell,” Reeve played Clark Kent as a slightly pitiable everyman, a very square peg who just couldn’t seem to fit into the world’s round holes.

When the horn rims and blue suit came off to reveal the Superman uniform underneath, everything fell into place. But unlike the actors portraying superheroes before him, Reeve played Superman with something that had previously been lacking: humility. Reeve was smart enough to know that the iconic costume of Superman would do most of the acting for him, so he played it low-key. This was not a god, standing with puffed chest, arms akimbo and brow furrowed, lording over the inferior humans he could conquer if he desired. This was simply — as Superman answers Lois Lane when, after being rescued by him for the first time, she asks, “Who are you?” — a friend.

Christopher Reeve proved that wearing colored spandex doesn’t have to be at odds with giving a nuanced performance as an actor. His sensitive portrayal of the last son of Krypton earned acclaim even from critics who didn’t like the film. Pauline Kael panned “Superman” in The New Yorker but praised its star, writing, “Reeve plays innocent but not dumb, and the combination of his Pop jaw line and physique with his unassuming manner makes him immediately likable.”

Without Reeve’s Superman, we wouldn’t have had Michael Keaton’s Batman, Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man or even Tom Welling’s version of a young Clark Kent in “Smallville.” While, because of the actor’s real-life heroism over the past nine years, “Superman” is destined to be only a part of his legacy, Christopher Reeve single-handedly made playing a superhero respectable.

–Karl Heitmueller, Jr.

Christopher Reeve – Hero and Icon

“It was an ongoing theme for Chris before his accident that he wanted to make a real difference in the world, leave a legacy. He wanted to leave the world a better place for his having lived in it. There is no question that he achieved that goal. And happily, he became well aware of the fact that he was leaving a legacy, that his life did have an impact on the betterment of the world. This sense of accomplishment was one of the tremendous gifts he was given.”

— Dana Reeve, October 29, 2004.

Christopher Reeve passed away on October 10, 2004. In the many months following, I was very touched by the many letters and art I received from fans who were deeply affected by Chris, his life, and his amazing quest to find a cure for paralysis. I welcome you and others you know to send me more letters and art for this tribute section. All new letters will be posted on the first “Letters” page under Michael Caine’s quote.

Click here to see the Christopher Reeve Tribute Gallery.
Click here to read the Christopher Reeve Tribute Letters.

Goodbye Dana Reeve

7 March 2006 — We have lost yet another Shining Spirit and Symbol of Hope…Dana Reeve. Dana leaves her loving family in this physical world, and has reunited with her true love, Christopher Reeve, in the spirit world. Together, I know they will send loving energy and protective white light to their children each and every day to help guide them through their own wonderful journey of life.

Actor Robin Williams, a close friend of both the Reeves, laments, “The brightest light has gone out. We will forever celebrate her loving spirit.”

Actress Jane Seymour, who co-starred with Christopher in 1980 movie Somewhere in Time, says, “She showed us all the true power of love. (She was) an unflinching optimist, who never let anything get her down, and if she did she never showed us.”

“It is impossible to overstate the goodness of this beautiful young woman, and the challenge to faith that is involved in trying to understand her death. Every minute of her life for the past decade and more has been spent doing everything she could for other people. Even the moments she took for herself, to sing, were about giving us joy. Chris was my friend; I only got to know Dana later. But I came to see her as perhaps the most extraordinary person I’d ever met. Her radiance as a woman was fueled by her love. Her love was immeasurable and generously, tirelessly given. We will miss her so, so much.” — Meryl Streep

“Dana Reeve had a fierce grace. Under pressure, she embraced her personal struggles with dignity and humor. And always with the focus on the greater good. She filled her life with a love as clear and unflinching as her beautiful voice. Dana made the world a better place and we all shall miss her song terribly.” — Susan Sarandon

Former President Bill Clinton and his wife Senator Hillary Clinton add, “Despite the adversity that she faced, Dana bravely met these challenges and was always an extremely devoted wife, mother and advocate.”

Invitation to Chris’ Memorial Service

I was deeply honored with an invitation to Christopher’s memorial service at Julliard in New York City on Friday, October 29, 2004.

Dana’s Thoughts at Chris’ Memorial Service

Superfan Bill Williams sent me this exerpt from People magazine, dated November 15, 2004, of some of Dana Reeve’s thoughts from Chris’ memorial service at Julliard.

“Chris frequently expressed that he wanted any memorial tribute for him to be a celebration of his life. And we will try to honor that today, I know, but I don’t think he realized at the time just how much he would be missed – how difficult it would be to feel celebratory when all we really want is to have him back. We didn’t get him here on Earth for long enough. But he had a powerful, mystical energy that I know I have felt since his passing, and I have a hunch that here today, in this theater filled with people he cared about, we’ll conjure up some of his amazing, beautiful spirit.

“A sharp wit, a great mind, genuine artistry and, as Will mentioned, a generous capacity to love were Chris’ salvation in the last, most challenging decade of his life. He got through every day calling upon these abundant inner resources and through the grace and steadfast commitment of those around him. You have never met a group of more dedicated people than the people who worked with Chris. His nurses, aides, doctors and personal assistants were also his dear and beloved friends. This blessed army, this family, made it possible for Chris to spend every day accomplishing what he wanted to accomplish with hopefulness and dignity. And they did it with great cheer and ironclad loyalty. Each and every one of them contributed a piece of their heart and soul to Chris’ daily life. There will never be a way to adequately thank them.

“Chris’ life was too short. He had much he still wanted to accomplish, his children had much they still wanted to learn from him, and although he would not have chosen to live life with a disability, he and I often spoke of the hidden gifts and precious life lessons learned by living with his disability’s daily challenges. The last 9 1/2 years had many, many moments of genuine pleasure and joy and laughter – moments uncompromised by his disability and, in some ways, even enhanced by it. Our life was a life lived with deep meaning and love, and I wish – as I know Chris did – that that life, complete with the challenges of living it, could have gone on for a much longer time. Over the past several years, Chris really came to feel at peace with his situation, and he was able to feel genuine gratitude for the insights and special appreciation for life’s gifts that his disability brought him.

“It was an ongoing theme for Chris before his accident that he wanted to make a real difference in the world, leave a legacy. He wanted to leave the world a better place for his having lived in it. There is no question that he achieved that goal. And happily, he became well aware of the fact that he was leaving a legacy, that his life did have an impact on the betterment of the world. This sense of accomplishment was one of the tremendous gifts he was given.”

And from his publicist Wes Combs:

“(They) spoke of a man who had every reason to feel sorry for himself but never let it stand in the way…. Will was exposed to many things children his age don’t have to think about, like the mortality of his own father…. Once you saw the impact that Chris had, you couldn’t help but ask, ‘Am I doing enough for others?’ People came in with heavy hearts. But they left uplifted.”

Thank You Card from Dana

On 19 January 2005, my family and I received a lovely thank you card from Dana Reeve and her family. How thoughtful of them to take the time to write to us. Thank you to the Reeve family…we will always remember your husband and father with love and inspiration.

Letter from Jo Addie of INSITE

I thank you for thinking of me and writing me this week. It has been a very shocking, sad and tragic time. I know we all feel the same feelings, and it’s nice that we can share them together, and comfort one another.

Dana’s loss is a profound one. She was just as the public saw her….bright, sparkling, warm and genuine through-and-through, always looking to brighten everyone else’s day. There was no “on-view persona” with Dana, she was the real deal. (She perfectly matched Chris in all his treasured qualities.) She was a rare and precious person.

I have been very moved by the world’s outpouring of grief over Dana. The media gave her what is usually reserved only for dignitaries, which goes to show how deeply her life touched people. The media have reported that emails have flooded news agencies, comparable to when Mother Theresa passed. We don’t often think of the many levels on which Dana inspired others, but this week we are realizing how she put a face to the trials and quiet dignity of those who care for seriously ill loved ones. Her death rippled through hospital and hospice corridors as well as private homes. Her dignity and grace amidst incredible challenges will remain a role model for all.

An INSITE member sent me a recording of Rush Limbaugh who talked this week about his meeting Dana some years back at a function. He had been seated next to her. All evening long, people kept coming up to Dana, saying how they admired her, and how so many people would have “bolted” from the situation with Chris. Dana seemed continually puzzled and embarrassed by the attention. When Rush expressed his own same sentiment, on her sacrifices of her own career, her reply was, “There haven’t been any sacrifices, I love this man.”

She had a heart so big, that she was able to fit in everyone else who has had to cope with disability. She is credited with creating the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center, a first-time place to acquire information and sources for improved day-to-day living. (By the way, the President has cut the funding for the budget that fed $6,000,000 to this facility.)

I hope you have seen the Message Board posted to the SIT Website, on Tuesday. I was unable to answer your emails until now, and I do hope you will take a look and maybe add something to the board.

We all are agonizing over this development and ache for Will. I ask that you keep him continually in your prayers, for the skills to cope with his incredible losses. He is a wonderful kid and is the product of two magnificently positive people, so I have little doubt he will be okay. Yet, we can do more than just hurt for him and hope for the best….we can also pray that the media leave him alone, and let him stay out of the public spotlight.

Again, I appreciate your sensitive comments, and your gestures of friendship.

Yours in time,

Jo Addie
INSITE President/Editor