Actor Christopher Reeve, who became famous for portraying Superman in 4 movies, died October 10, 2004.

On Saturday October 9, Reeve fell into a coma after going into cardiac arrest while at home. Reeve was being treated for a pressure wound that he developed, a common complication for people living with paralysis. In the past week, the wound had become severely infected, resulting in a serious systemic infection. Reeve was admitted to Northern Westchester Hospital on Saturday evening and never regained consciousness. His family was at his side at the time of death.

Christopher Reeve was born in Manhattan, New York on Sept. 25, 1952. Following his parents divorce, when he was 4 he moved with his mother and brother to Princeton, New Jersey. He appeared in a school play at age 8, and soon began appearing at the McCarter Theater in Princeton. At age 15, he joined Actors Equity and worked as an apprentice at a Theater Festival.

He graduated from Cornell University and studied at Juilliard. While at Juilliard he began the role of Ben Harper in the soap opera Love of Life. His first Broadway role was in the play A Matter of Gravity.

His most famous role was as Superman in the 1978 movie Superman: The Movie and its three sequels. His other best known fantasy role was opposite Jane Seymour in the 1980 time travel movie Somewhere in Time.

Reeve broke his neck in a fall during an equestrian event in 1995. The accident left him without the use of his arms or legs, unable to breathe without a ventilator.

Reeve inspired the world and surprised his doctors through his determination to walk again. Through thousands of hours of hard work, treatment using electrical stimulation of his muscles and specialized surgery he first was able to move one of his fingers in 2000. Over time he regained sensation in other parts of his body, as well as improved muscle strength, and vowed he would walk again.

Reeve is survived by his mother Barbara Johnson and his father Franklin Reeve, his brother Benjamin Reeve, his wife Dana, their twelve year old son Will and his two children from a former relationship, Matthew (25) and Alexandra (21).

No plans for a funeral have been announced. Memorial information is being made available at http://www.christopherreeve.org/.

Posted October 12, 2004