Actor Christopher Reeve Dead at Age 52
According to a statement issued by his publicist: "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."
Best known for playing the title character in four Superman films, Reeve began his career onstage, studying his craft at Juilliard under John Houseman. He appeared on Broadway in A Matter of Gravity before the first Superman hit the big screen in 1978 and, after he became a star, returned to the Great White Way in Fifth of July and The Marriage of Figaro. His off-Broadway credits include My Life, The Winter's Tale and Love Letters. He also spent a lot of time on the regional stage, including appearing in many productions at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
In May 1995, Reeve suffered a near fatal injury while competing in a horse steeple jump event. Getting thrown over the horse, Reeve broke his top two vertebrae, causing permanent paralysis from the neck down. Instead of disappearing from the public eye, Reeve used his high profile to become a determined champion for medical treatments for spinal cord injuries--including controversial stem cell research--as well as an outspoken critic of the health care and insurance systems, speaking before lawmakers and dignitaries including the U.S. Senate and the United Nations. He and his wife, actress Dana Reeve who is cast in the upcoming Broadway play Brooklyn Boy, established the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, which is committed to funding research that develops treatments and cures for paralysis caused by spinal cord injuries. Last year Reeve underwent a surgical procedure called diaphragm pacing, which involves threading tiny wires through small incisions in the diaphragm, allowing him to breathe without a ventilator for hours at a time.
Known for his courage, Reeve continued to work despite his paralysis. In 1997 HBO aired his directorial effort In the Gloaming, an AIDS drama. He then returned before the cameras for ABC's TV movie remake Rear Window. Last season he appeared on the WB Superman series Smallville playing a character written for him.
Reeve is survived by his mother, father, brother, wife and three children.