Superman in a wheelchair

WASHINGTON – Christopher Reeve earned fame playing Superman in the movies, then became a real-life hero confined to a wheelchair after a riding accident transformed his life nine years ago.

An actor, director, activist and author, Reeve died of heart failure on Sunday at the age of 52, after developing a serious systemic infection from a pressure wound, a common complication for people living with paralysis. Complications, in other words, from injuries sustained in May 1995 when he was thrown from his horse during an equestrian event in Virginia, and landed on his head.At the time the handsome, athletic Reeve was one of the leading actors in the United States, and was widely identified with the flying superhero he had portrayed in four hit movies.The near-fatal fall broke two cervical vertebrae and damaged his spinal cord, leaving him paralysed to the point where he could not breathe without a respirator.Ironically, Reeve had just played in a TV film about a paralysed man, ‘Above Suspicion’, which aired the week before his crash.It was the tale of a policeman who became paralysed after he was hit in the spine by a bullet.Born September 25 1952, Reeve studied acting at Cornell University and Julliard and made his Broadway debut opposite legendary actress Katharine Hepburn in ‘A Matter of Gravity’ in 1976.Two years later, after more stage roles and stints on daytime television soap operas, Reeve flew to fame as Superman.He was one of 200 actors producers seriously considered for the lead role.”The part came to me because …I have the look.It’s 90 per cent look.If I didn’t look like the guy in the comic book, I wouldn’t be here.The other 10 per cent is acting talent,” Reeves said in interview.The original ‘Superman’ was a box-office hit when it came out in 1978.Reeve reprised the role in ‘Superman II’ (1981), ‘Superman III’ (1983), and ‘Superman IV’ (1987).Dark haired, with a rugged chiseled-from-stone face, Reeve towered at 1,93 meters.When he was filming the Superman movies he would work out three hours a day, and eat four meals to bring his weight from 84 to 98 kilos.After the fall, Reeve had an entirely different look, which also struck a deep chord — he was confined to a wheelchair, his head propped on a headrest, a tube attached to his throat.He continued his artistic career, directing television and film to critical acclaim, and starring in a made-for-television version of Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Rear Window’ that netted a Screen Actors Guild acting award.But Reeve was far more visible as an activist on behalf of the disabled.He also championed improved quality of life for the disabled, leading efforts to organise challenging sports events for people with disabilities, and helping pass federal legislation enabling disabled people to return to work and still receive disability benefits.He was frequently seen on Capitol Hill and elsewhere drumming up funding for research into a variety of diseases, delivering gripping testimony even as his health deteriorated.He spoke forcefully in support of embryonic stem cell research, one of the hot button issues in this year’s presidential race after President George W Bush severely curtailed it on ethical grounds.Reeve authored two books after his accident:’Still Me’ (1998), which became a New York Times bestseller, and ‘Nothing is Impossible:Reflections on a New Life’ (2002).His audio recordings of the books were both nominated for Grammy Awards.- Nampa-AFPComplications, in other words, from injuries sustained in May 1995 when he was thrown from his horse during an equestrian event in Virginia, and landed on his head.At the time the handsome, athletic Reeve was one of the leading actors in the United States, and was widely identified with the flying superhero he had portrayed in four hit movies.The near-fatal fall broke two cervical vertebrae and damaged his spinal cord, leaving him paralysed to the point where he could not breathe without a respirator.Ironically, Reeve had just played in a TV film about a paralysed man, ‘Above Suspicion’, which aired the week before his crash.It was the tale of a policeman who became paralysed after he was hit in the spine by a bullet.Born September 25 1952, Reeve studied acting at Cornell University and Julliard and made his Broadway debut opposite legendary actress Katharine Hepburn in ‘A Matter of Gravity’ in 1976.Two years later, after more stage roles and stints on daytime television soap operas, Reeve flew to fame as Superman.He was one of 200 actors producers seriously considered for the lead role.”The part came to me because …I have the look.It’s 90 per cent look.If I didn’t look like the guy in the comic book, I wouldn’t be here.The other 10 per cent is acting talent,” Reeves said in interview.The original ‘Superman’ was a box-office hit when it came out in 1978.Reeve reprised the role in ‘Superman II’ (1981), ‘Superman III’ (1983), and ‘Superman IV’ (1987).Dark haired, with a rugged chiseled-from-stone face, Reeve towered at 1,93 meters.When he was filming the Superman movies he would work out three hours a day, and eat four meals to bring his weight from 84 to 98 kilos.After the fall, Reeve had an entirely different look, which also struck a deep chord — he was confined to a wheelchair, his head propped on a headrest, a tube attached to his throat.He continued his artistic career, directing television and film to critical acclaim, and starring in a made-for-television version of Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Rear Window’ that netted a Screen Actors Guild acting award.But Reeve was far more visible as an activist on behalf of the disabled.He also championed improved quality of life for the disabled, leading efforts to organise challenging sports events for people with disabilities, and helping pass federal legislation enabling disabled people to return to work and still receive disability benefits.He was frequently seen on Capitol Hill and elsewhere drumming up funding for research into a variety of diseases, delivering gripping testimony even as his health deteriorated.He spoke forcefully in support of embryonic stem cell research, one of the hot button issues in this year’s presidential race after President George W Bush severely curtailed it on ethical grounds.Reeve authored two books after his accident:’Still Me’ (1998), which became a New York Times bestseller, and ‘Nothing is Impossible:Reflections on a New Life’ (2002).His audio recordings of the books were both nominated for Grammy Awards.- Nampa-AFP

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