Actors - Christopher Reeve

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	Actors - Christopher Reeve

Christopher Reeve (September 25, 1952 – October 10, 2004) was an American actor, director, producer and writer renowned for his film portrayal of Superman/Kal-El/Clark Kent in four films from 1978-1987.

In 1995, Reeve was rendered a quadriplegic during an equestrian competition and was confined to a wheelchair for the remainder of his life. He became a spokesman for disabled people and a vocal supporter of stem cell research. He died on October 10, 2004 after suffering cardiac arrest.

His widow, Dana Reeve, died on March 6, 2006, of lung cancer.

Acting career

He was born in New York City to writer Franklin Reeve and journalist Barbara Johnson. Reeve graduated from Princeton Day School in Princeton, New Jersey. He attended Cornell University as a member of the class of 1974, but left before earning his degree and began studying at the Juilliard Drama School under John Houseman. While at Juilliard, he became friends with Robin Williams, as well as with Kevin Conroy (who would later be the voice actor for the animated Batman television series).

Reeve's first big break as an actor came in 1975 when he was selected to co-star opposite Katharine Hepburn in the Broadway play A Matter Of Gravity. Reeve stayed with the play throughout its year-long run and was given very favorable reviews. He and Hepburn became very close and stayed in contact until her death in 2003. A romance was rumored, but Reeve laughed it off saying, "That was wild, that thought. She was 66 and I was 22. But that, you know, that could be fun." He did admit to having a boyhood crush on her. "When I was a kid I would have crossed the country on my hands and knees just to say hi." Reeve credited the legendary actress with giving him many valuable lessons on acting. Hepburn in turn praised her young co-star. She predicted great things for him and joked that he would "support me in my old age." Reeve is reported to have joked back, "I don't think I'll live that long Miss Hepburn."

Reeve continued to work on the stage, as well as on the soap opera Love of Life. His first role in a Hollywood film was a small part as a submarine officer in the disaster movie Gray Lady Down
in 1977.

Superman

With his stunning good looks and tall stature at 6 ft 4 in, Reeve is said to have drawn eyes when walking into auditions. This paid off when he beat out thousands of others for the role of Superman in the 1978 film directed by Richard Donner. This film was an enormous success and inspired three sequels. Coincidentally, Christopher Reeve's good friend Robin Williams also became a star that same year with the television show Mork & Mindy. Contrary to myth, Christopher Reeve is not related to George Reeves, who played Superman on television in the 1950s. George Reeves' real name was, in fact, George Brewer, and the similarity in their names is only coincidental.

Although he was certainly tall enough for the role, Reeve's build was decidedly unmuscular, and he began a training regimen under former British weightlifting champion Dave Prowse, who, a short time later, would gain fame as the man who would give physical form to Darth Vader in George Lucas' immensely popular Star Wars films. Reeve had a driver who was paid to take him to the gym no matter how much he cursed and resisted. The training regimen consisted of several hours at the gym every day, and eating two of everything; two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners. Reeve put on 30 pounds of muscle to his thin 180 lb frame, and put on even more for Superman III
. Once he reached the peak of his bulk, he decided to put more emphasis on cardiovascular workouts and became leaner.

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Actors - Christopher Reeve

Acting career

Superman

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