| Show I Superman Christopher Reeve 52 Dies Eric Slater Los Angeles Times Actor Christopher Reeve the star of the Superman movies who became even more famous as an advocate for the disabled after he was paralyzed from the neck down in a 1995 horseback riding accident died Sunday He was 52 Reeve fell into a coma Saturday after going into cardiac cardiac cardiac car car- diac arrest while at his NewYork NewYork New NewYork York home his publicist Wesley Combs told The Associated Press on Sunday night Reeve had recently been being treated for a pressure wound a common complication tion of paralysis Combs said but the wound became infect infected ed and led to a systemic infer tion Reeve was admitted to Northern Westchester Hospital on Saturday evening and never regained conscious conscious- ness His family was at his side at atthe atthe atthe the time of death On behalf of my entire family I 1 want to thank Northern Westchester Hospital for the excellent care they provided to my husband husband husband hus hus- band his wife Dana Reeve said in a statement I also want to thank his personal staff of nurses and aides as well as the millions of fans from around the world who have supported and loved my husband over the years A tall haired dark-haired actor perfectly suited for the role of the Man of Steel Reeve took on an even than life role in reality as a who pledged he would one day walk again After his accident Reeve quickly became a powerful advocate for pushing the boundaries of modem modern medicine medicine medicine medi medi- cine frequently saying he believed that one day he would walk again His New Jersey-based Jersey Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation emerged under his star power and relentless fundraising as a leading source for research money giving out more than million to In recent days his struggle became a reference point for Democratic presidential candidate candidate candidate can can- Sen John F. F Kerry who said in Fridays Friday's debate that he believed embryonic stem cell research should be expanded saying it would be bethe bethe bethe the best way to give Reeve and others like him the chance for a better life Chris Reeve is a friend of mine Kerry said Chris Reeve exercises each and every day to keep those muscles muscles muscles mus mus- cles alive so that one day he can walk again Reeve was a frequent and forceful advocate for expanding expanding expanding expand expand- ing embryonic stem cell research and a critic of President Bushs Bush's decision in 2001 to limit federal funding to existing lines Even before that decision Reeve who could only speak briefly and haltingly because of his breathing tube testified before the Senate on what he saw as perhaps his best hope for recovery In his statement to lawmakers ers he said While we prolong prolong prolong pro pro- long the stem cell debate millions millions millions mil mil- lions continue to suffer We must harness the power of the government and go forward Reeve an accomplished horseman broke the top two cervical vertebrae and injured inured his spinal cord when he was thrown from his horse and landed on his head during competitive trials Saturday in inan inan inan an event in Culpepper Va in 1995 At the time doctors called the injury one of the worst possible But Reeve almost from the start was determined to prove experts wrong A few months after the accident Reeve protested tabloid reports saying he had been pleading to die I have not given up I 1 will never give up he said After months of therapy he was able to breathe for short periods without out a respirator and began to lobby Congress for better insurance Insurance protection against life life- changing injuries A year after his accident Reeve accepted an invitation to at the Academy Awards despite the dangers of airplane airplane airplane air air- plane travel and his still ous condition He received a prolonged standing ovation from the gathered stars and brought many in the audience to tears with a plea for more films that address social lems I think that setting challenges challenges challenges chal chal- lenges is a great motivator because too many people with disabilities allow that to become the dominating factor in their lives and I 1 refuse to allow a disability to determine determine determine deter deter- mine how I 1 live my life Reeve told the Los Angeles Times after his appearance I dont don't mean to be reckless but setting a goal that seems a abit abit abit bit daunting actually is very helpful toward recovery And he crisscrossed the country with an entourage of nurses as an advocate for the disabled and handicapped speaking to college students actors and almost anyone who would listen Born Sept 25 1952 in New York City to journalist Barbara Johnson and writer and professor Franklin Reeve Reeve began acting as a child and continued to perform professionally professionally professionally pro pro- as he studied at Cornell University and then New Yorks York's Juilliard School of Performing Arts In 1974 he began playing the role of Ben Harper in the television soap opera Love of Life He took other small roles in television theater and film and in 1976 made his Broadway debut opposite Katherine Hepburn in A A Matter of Gravity While performing performing performing per per- forming in another play in s x n wI f Jo A 1 U r p r p pl pr l r r P 5 J. J J JI r fr J I VI VIo a o ea 40 r u uE E New York in 1976 Reeve auditioned for the role that would make him a star With Marlon Brando playing his father and Gene Hackman as the evil Lex Luther Reeves Reeve's Superman became a blockbuster blockbuster blockbuster block block- buster when it was released in 1978 and Reeve a household name During the 18 months he spent shooting the film mostly mostly mostly most most- ly in England Reeve began a relationship with modeling executive Gae Exton The couple had Matthew and Alexandra Reeve returned to acting after the accident and in 1997 made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed film In The Gloaming With a long history of political political political ical activism working on behalf of such groups as Amnesty International Save the Children and the Natural Resources Defense League however he spent most of his time in his new role as an advocate Among his numerous numerous numerous numer numer- ous philanthropic pursuits Reeve helped establish the Reeve Reeve- Reeve Irvine Irvine research center at the University of California Irvine College of Medicine Reeve is survived by his mother Barbara Johnson and his father Franklin Reeve his brother Benjamin Reeve his wife Dana their year old son Will and his two children from his former fOlmer relationship with Exton Matthew 25 and Alexandra 21 Times staff writer Sue Fox contributed to this report |
