Christopher D'Olier Reeve[Roberts, Gary Boyd. "Royal Descents, Notable Kin, and Printed Sources #77", New England Historic Genealogical Society. On-line source (NewEnglandAncestors.org); accessed 4 May 2007.] (September 25, 1952 – October 10, 2004) was an American actor,
director,
producer, and
writer. He established himself early as a
Juilliard-trained
stage actor before portraying
Superman in four films, from
1978 to
1987.
On May 27, 1995, Christopher Reeve was paralyzed in an accident during the cross country portion of an
Eventing competition. He was confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He lobbied on behalf of people with
spinal cord injuries, and for human embryonic
stem cell research after this accident. He founded the
Christopher Reeve Foundation and co-founded the Reeve-Irvine Research Center. Reeve died at age 52 on October 10, 2004 from
cardiac arrest caused by a
systemic infection.
[Christopher Reeve dies at 52. CNN, October 11, 2004, accessed November 3, 2006]
