This blog mourns the passing of Chris Reeve. He truly made us believe a man could fly, in terms of spirit if not in body.
I keep thinking of that commercial where, through computer imagery, he was shown getting up out of his chair. I always thought how magnificent that would be if he was actually able to accomplish it. Instead a runner who couldn’t walk has fallen. Let’s hope that others pick up the baton.
Kathleen has a number of personal recollections of him, having actually met Reeve early in his career. She’ll be posting them up later on her blog.
PAD
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I just heard as well. A terrible tragedy that he never completed his goal to walk again. Sure bet Smallville will have a dedication to him. We shall miss you, Clark… Superman… Dr. Swann… Your contributions will always be remembered.
Very sad news. A great actor and a great man. Good-bye, Chris.
I learned of this on, of all places, the Drudge Report radio show (couldn’t get ‘Coast to Coast A.M.’ last night 🙂
I had always held out hope that someday soon the restrictions on stem cell research would be lifted, and Mr. Reeve would be one of the first recipients of the perfected process to repair spinal damage with such cells.
His role as Superman will always be a cherished part of my childhood; he will be missed.
I’m extremely saddened by the loss of Christopher Reeve, not just because of his outstanding performance as Superman, but because he was an inspiration. After everything he’d been through, it would have been easy to just give up, but he didn’t.
He kept fighting. He used his voice to champion important research.
Now, he’s walking again. But I’m incredibly sad that we won’t be able to see it. 🙁
PAD:
>I keep thinking of that commercial where, through computer imagery, he was shown getting up out of his chair. I always thought how magnificent that would be if he was actually able to accomplish it.
“Always thought… if”?, hëll, I expected that it would happen. Given the man’s attitude, courage and physical accomplishments since the accident, I figured it was only a matter of time.
I still have the old metal waste basket that I got as a kid. The powerful pose and determined glare were aweinspiring to me everytime that I looked at it. It is especially meaningful now.
Fred
Man this is really sad, he always stroke as truly the world’s greatest superhero, and I mean that in the greates way possible… further thoughts in my blog….
Never try to write something late at night on the other side of the world, incomprehensible stuff comes out.. this is what I meant to say…
Man this is really sad, he always seemed to me as truly the world’s greatest superhero, and I mean that in the greates way possible… further thoughts in my blog….
Oh my God. I hadn’t heard. Goodbye Chris. I’m sure that you’re flying for real now.
So sad…may he Rest In Peace…..anyone know if he has a place in NYC?
I just heard about it a couple of minutes ago. This is truly sad news. I wish I could say more but my mind is numb right now, nothing else comes up. My condolences and deepest sympathies to his Family, Friends, and Fans.
Raphy
This is sad. I seldom cry about celebrities that pass on, but this one makes me cry. Chris Reeve was Superman outside the comics. I was thrilled to see him on Smallville and I am sad that I will not get the chance again. Goodbye, Mr. Reeve, I’ll miss you.
I must admit, I never cared for him as an actor.
But, he never gave up, and because of that, he got more years than this cruel world would have given him otherwise.
I heard about Mr. Reeves passing first thing this morning listening to the Fox 5 news in NYC.
I am saddened by the loss of a man with such a strong will to live and excel.
He will forever be an icon to me and I still consider Superman II to be the best comic book movie of its time.
He will be missed.
Regards:
Warren S. Jones III
I read this last night on Yahoo news. My immediate reaction, on another thread, was, I hope where ever he is he is finally running after all these years. He gave so much hope to people. He must have had bad days, but had me convinced it was just a matter of time before he was walking. His attitude gave so much to peole who suffered from spinal cord injuries, and it spread to anyone who heard his determination.
Rest in Peace
Had George W. Bush allocated money to support Stem Cell research, Christopher Reeves would be alive today.
Christopher Reeves played Superman.
Lex Luthor always wanted to kill Superman.
Lex Luthor is a Billionaire.
George W. Bush is a Billionaire.
George W. Bush is Lex Luthor?
This is the first time I will legitimately morn someone
I’m sitting here at my desk in my classroom crying now while my students work on The Crucible.
Superman is still one of my top 3 movies of all time (#2, if you’re wondering), and Christopher Reeve made the 8-year old me believe a man could fly. Thank you for your bravery, Sir. I doubt we’ll see your kind again for a long time.
Dave
Sudden and sad. He’ll be missed.
“I’ve seen first hand how Superman actually transforms people’s lives. I have seen children dying of brain tumors who wanted as their last request to be able to talk to me, and have gone to their graves with a peace brought on by knowing that their belief in this kind of character is intact. I’ve seen that Superman really matters. They’re connecting with something very basic: the ability to overcome obstacles, the ability to persevere, the ability to understand difficulty and to turn your back on it.”
–Christopher Reeve.
I got no idea why his death is hitting me as hard as it is.
“Had George W. Bush allocated money to support Stem Cell research, Christopher Reeves would be alive today.
Christopher Reeves played Superman.
Lex Luthor always wanted to kill Superman.
Lex Luthor is a Billionaire.
George W. Bush is a Billionaire.
George W. Bush is Lex Luthor? “
You forgot, Lex is also President.
I keep thinking about a scene from on of the last movies I saw Mr. Reeve in before his accident. It’s the romantic comedy Speechless. The scene I keep thinking of is when M. Keaton is trying to figure out if Christopher Reeve has the tatoo on the inside of his lip that Geena Davis mentioned. In my opinion the understated comedy of that scene was wonderful, and I am profoundly saddened that we will not be seeing something like that with Christopher again.
WHAT??? He died?? Oh, god. I had no idea.
Really depressed. I know that the movies were sometimes corny, and their plots and writing weren’t anywhere near Oscar material, but I always loved them because Reeve was just so [b]*right*[/b] in the role. He got me to [b]really[/b] like a character whose comics I never read, and what’s more, he got me to like him in movies that clearly had flaws in them.
Well, Superman is dead.
Wow.
I mean, look at this. What else can you say?
Superman is dead.
The world keeps on moving, and stars come and go
Wait, Batman and Superman were in the same movie together?
That’s giving me a much needed chuckle today. 🙂
Despite all the other actors in the role, Christopher Reeve is the only one (in MHO) that actually pulled off the “super” feat of portraying Clark Kent and his alter ego as two seperate people.
And his other film roles were memorable too.
Rest In Peace Mr. Reeve.
My wife told me this morning. So sad. I too was a kid once staring up at the screen in wonder. I loved Deathtrap and Somewhere in time as well. And I read his books in the last few years which also creates a certain ‘closeness’ if you will.
I always admired his determination, but wondered if he would truly walk again. Today, as I heard the news, I realized how much he had actually made me believe it after all, because my first thought was ‘but he was going to walk again!’…
Very sad day. But it’s touching to see how the entire world is feeling this. It’s everywhere.
I never got to see “Superman” in the theatres – my first exposure to it was in 1979 when it was broadcast on HBO for the first time. Which in a way was good, as I got to watch it by myself, without anyone in the theatre spoiling it by talking.
I was never able to get over the scene where Chris Reeve appears as Superman for the very first time, swooping up and catching first Lois Lane, then the plummeting helicopter. When you follow that with the scene in Lois’ apartment when Clark Kent takes off the glasses, and for just a second becomes Superman just by straightening his shoulders and dropping his voice…for me, that was the epitome of the Superman comics, and from then on I couldn’t ever really see anyone else in the role (hëll…I even managed to forgive him for “Superman IV – The Quest For Peace”).
Mr. Reeve is at peace now, so I find it hard to truly mourn for him. My sadness is reserved for everyone here that has to go on without his example of bravery and perserverence.
(And in a last and slightly bitter note, am I the only one disappointed that DC Comics hasn’t put up any sort of notice on their website?)
–Alex B.
The song “Superman” by Five For Fighting has been playing in my mind for awhile now. “I’m only a man…” Somewhere Superman is flying through the clouds today.
But, let’s not forget others with Spinal Cord Injuries and other debilitating conditions. Vote!
Votr for John Kerry and other candidates who support stem cell research. Support science and
education.
Rest in Peace, Chris. You really were a Man of Steel.
I read his book “Still Me” a few years ago and was quite impressed by how evocative his writing was. Perhaps if any “good” could be said to come out of his accident, it’s the fact that it turned a sports-obsessed, slightly shallow prettyboy into an introspective, compassionate human being. Godspeed.
P.S. My radio tribute to Chris tomorrow night will be “Wish I Could Fly Like Superman” by the Kinks.
P.P.S. Any bets as to whether John Kerry references Chris Reeve Wednesday night during the invariable stem-cell research question?
**(And in a last and slightly bitter note, am I the only one disappointed that DC Comics hasn’t put up any sort of notice on their website?)
–Alex B.
***
Expect a tribute soon… most likely (I’m guessing here)… what would be cool if they donated the profits from it to the Reeve foundation…
Travis
Howie wrote:
“Had George W. Bush allocated money to support Stem Cell research, Christopher Reeves would be alive today.”
Do you seriously believe this? If so, you are definitely out of touch with reality.
I was very sad last night to hear about his death. I can still remember the first time I saw Superman, and my favorite, Superman II.
Had George W. Bush allocated money to support Stem Cell research, Christopher Reeves would be alive today.
Christopher Reeve did much to bring this issue to the forefront. Whether you agree with Reeve’s view or not, the statement above is totally false and is inappropriate. There is hope that stem cell research might help, but many scientists, including those who support such research, do not think it would have helped in this case. Bush did not kill Chris Reeve, and it is wrong to even suggest such is the case even in jest.
Jim in Iowa
On Friday I went to the funeral of a friend I’d known since I was eighteen and he was sixteen. He was forty-nine, which is too young to die. I complained to all my friends that people younger than me aren’t supposed to go first.
So now this man, this hero, who was one year older than me, fifty-two, too young to die, is gone.
I feel like Joan Girardi. “Very funny, God. That’s not what I meant.”
But somewhere in Heaven a man is walking through the gates and declining the offer of wings. Doesn’t need them. I believe that man can fly. Though I’m sure he’s happy just to walk for now.
Bye Mr Reeve.
It’s been interesting reading these comments and going over my own feelings. The depth of my own sadness puzzled me–one can hardly call this a shock, yet it hit us in the way that a sudden, unexpected death does.
I never considered reeve a great actor but he was undeniably great in Superman. The scene Alex B mentioned, where for a moment he “becomes” Superman by just dropping the Clark facade–that was amazing. he did what nobody else has managed to do in a half century–convince us that Superman could really pull off the masquerade with just a pair of glasses.
I think the reason he was not regarded as a great actor was that, having once successfully defined an archetype, one could never again look at him on the screen without seeing it.
It hits us hard that a man who spent the nearly last decade on life support, always at death’s door has died, because he made us see Superman, in the flesh. And Superman doesn’t die.
Originally posted by Travis:
“Expect a tribute soon… most likely (I’m guessing here)… what would be cool if they donated the profits from it to the Reeve foundation…”
They really, REALLY ought to. I know DC execs have hearts; look what they did for Julie Schwartz. There should be another full-page notice, maybe tribute comics, maybe a TPB collecting comic adaptations of the movies?
Dana Reeve could pick out her favorite Superman stories, and DC could publish that as a collection, with ALL profits going to the Reeve foundation.
Other charity options could be reissuing those black armbands we got with Superman #75 back in the day.
Christopher Reeve was such an inspiration; his perseverance and confidence in himself despite his handicap are something that we all need a little bit of. He had the bravest heart I’ve ever seen, and so much of that is due to the unwavering love and support of his family.
The Reeves are truly courageous people, and my heart is breaking for them.
Rest In Peace, Mr. Reeve. You ARE a Superman.
Fred Chamberlain: “‘Always thought… if’?, hëll, I expected that it would happen. Given the man’s attitude, courage and physical accomplishments since the accident, I figured it was only a matter of time.”
You hit on the one thing that’s bothered me the most about Reeve’s passing: it’s so much harder to accept Christopher Reeve’s death, because we all *knew* that given the time, effort, and research, he *would* walk again. Like you said, it seemed only a matter of time. If he had lived for another twenty years, there’s no doubt in my mind it would have happened. To have that potential triumph –the incredible, inspiring story that could have been– cut short is the root of most of the grief I’ve been feeling today over his death. He will be missed.
That OTHER John Byrne
What gets me is that we lost Jor-El and Superman the same year.
I remember back in 1978 or perhaps 1977, the Hamilton Spectator (my hometown newspaper for a city about an hour to an hour-and-a-half’s drive from Niagara Falls) ran a photo of Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder on location in Niagara Falls. (Much of Superman II was filmed before Superman the Movie came out, and I’m guessing that was the case here. Because I saw the first Superman film on opening night.)
I didn’t know who the actors were. I didn’t even know they were making a movie about Superman. But my mom said “Who do you think they are?”
I looked at the picture and said quickly and with absolute certainty “Clark Kent and Lois Lane.” And so it was.
There will never be a more perfect Superman/Clark Kent than Christopher Reeve. Ever. And I think a large part of the reason has to be the basic humanity that he’s shown throughout his life.
Allen
I feel real empty. One of the local channels ran one of the last speechs he gave, he said that he was so grateful, he had lost a lot, but had gained so much more. I can’t imagine the courage the man must have had. Goodbye Chris, the great man and Superman both…
I recommend going to the library and checking out the audio version of “Still Me” read by Christopher Reeve. Definately worth it.
It was a shock to learn of Chris’ passing early Sunday night. To me it became one of those moments when you will always remember exactly where you were and what you were doing. Like the December night when the news of John Lennon’s death was announced by Howard Cosell. Like the rainy August afternoon when the news of Elvis’ death spread around the world. And on and on.
My dream is that this somehow acts as a catalyst, a nexus if you will where America changes course for the better and the research goes forward. The breakthrough occurs. The promise is fulfilled and mankind is made all the better for it.
So Chris’ memory will live on not just in and of itself, but as a testament that one individual’s guts and perseverance really can make a difference for the betterment of the human race.
I still remember how amazed I was when the first Superman film came out: His performance impressed me so much that I thought, yes, he is indeed Superman.
After his accident he showed that he has been a Superman in so many ways, someone who will also be an inspiration in future because of his courage, determination and spirit. I have at least some idea how difficult it must have been for him because I narrowly escaped the wheelchair after an accident more than 10 years ago and it took me many years to be where I am now. I most definitely also had my bad days and I also know I would never have achieved what I did without the help of my husband. He will always be a role model for the disabled like me.
My condolences to Mr. Reeve’s family. Last night, as a sort of memorial to him, I watched “Superman” and “Somewhere in Time”- two movies in which he’d expressed a great deal of pride- back to back.
Rick
First Rodney Dangerfield then Christopher Reeve,what a dreadful week or so it has been.While not as big a Superman fan as a kid(DC’s Captain marvel and Batman being my choices)
The Superman movie was one of my favorite moments of childhood ,being able to believe a man could fly and do incredible things.What’s sad for me is that I honestly believed he would walk again somehow.Dana Reeves is a saint ,there are a lot of people who would not have been able to deal with all this and hopefully after being able to mourn and let her emotions go she will have a wonderful and beautiful life with her children and the memories of the Superman who was her husband .Jeez, i need to go cry now 🙁
It’s a sad day indeed for comics fans in general, and Superman fans (comics, movies, and tv series) in particular.
Channel 23 here in the Philippines has just broadcasted the Smallville episode with Chris Reeve as Dr. Virgil Swan. Great ‘origin’ episode. ‘Superboy’ Tom Welling meets the real Supes (Reeve). And Swann (a nod to longtime Superman artist Curt Swan?) was even referred to as [a] “Man of Tomorrow” for the character’s trailblazing space research.
But what really brought the house down for me was the ‘Superman: The Movie’ theme / music playing in the background in the Welling/Reeve scenes, and the at the end when Welling/Reeve were plugging for paralysis research. Brilliant!
Thanks for the movie (and tv!) memories Mr. Reeve!
The Drudge Report has John Edwards saying, quote: “When John Kerry is president, people like Christopher Reeve are going to walk. Get up out of that wheelchair and walk again’…
This CAN’T be true…I’m no fan of Edwards but this seems way too beyond the pale, even for a politician.
Drudge doesn’t always get things right. Here’s hoping this is one of those times.
Could we please, PLEASE keep politics out of this? Just once? I don’t want the eulogizing of a great and courageous man to be sullied with political arguments.
Just pretend it’s not an election year and remember Mr. Reeve with dignity.
I met Christopher Reeve once. I even had to ask him for his autograph (as a favor, and she was a bigger fan than I was). I was enjoying his discussion of politics – the issues of free speech, of his activity with amnesty and human rights. A group of curious onlookers (including myself) were held captivated by his anecdotes and passion for the better part of an hour.
I saw him speak after the accident. Broken, but heroic, and he talked about hope and about science and about research. Stem cells weren’t an issue yet – it was in 1997, I think. Here’s the thing about politics and Christopher Reeve: when he spoke, there was always a message.
I’m sure that in his every day dealings with close friends and loved ones, he considered baseball and movies and – yes – maybe even comic book heroes. But in public, he was a chapion in the truest sense of the word. When we talk about an issue as relevant and divisive and important as stem cell research, Christopher Reeve’s voice and image has become inextricable with the call to arms.
It is an inherently political issue, because we’ve got one group (Pres. Bush & co.) who’s basically against it and another (Sen’s. Kerry & Edwards) who are actively for it. Supporting his causes is honoring his memory.
He played a role that got under our skin, though I truly think his best work as a professional actor was in “Noises Off” and “Remains of the Day.” But in real life, he was dignified, articulate, aware, and active. Guys, I think everyone is too quick to forget that Superman is always Clark Kent, and the depth of the metaphor holds.
Talk politics, talk science, promote awareness, engender discussion. These were (and I think are) his values. We could not honor his memory more than with informed, active discussion and support of the issues and concerns he proactively advocated.
But what I would have given to see him walk again. Let’s drink to heroes and dream of better days.
I kept hoping and praying for the day that
he would walk. I am sad that it didn’t.
Goodbye Superman.