Christopher Reeve: biography and films with his participation

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

For almost 10 years, a popular, talented, hardworking and very handsome actor has not been with us. Despite this, Christopher Reeve remains in the memory of millions of people. The actor's fans remember him as the beautiful Superman, for whom nothing is impossible in life. This strong-willed man was a superhero not only on the screen, but also in life. Despite the terrible illness, he did not give up, he believed to the end that he would win. Reeve is a role model, a symbol of unbending will, optimism and courage.

Childhood of an actor

Christopher Reeve was born in New York (USA) on September 25, 1952. When he was 4 years old, his parents divorced, and the boy, along with his younger brother, moved to live in Princeton, where his mother remarried. Christopher often came to visit his father, with whom he learned to sail and scuba dive. Having matured, the boy received the professorial library of the parent at full disposal. Franklin Reeve taught his son everything he knew himself, although he constantly scoffed at his clumsiness and stupidity.

From childhood, Christopher was fond of creativity, from the age of 9 he performed inthe McCarter Theater in Princeton. The young talent even received an invitation to practice at the Old Vic Theater in London. Reeve also completed an internship at the Comedie Francaise. After studying in Europe, Christopher returned to New York, where he entered the Juilliard School of Art, but soon had to quit his studies, as his stepfather was unable to pay for his stepson's expensive lessons. Already at the age of 16, Reeve was thinking about how to feed himself and his family.

First steps towards success

In 1974 Christopher Reeve makes his television debut. The filmography of the actor opens with the first work - the hyped and quite popular TV series "Love of Life" in America. The young man starred in the film for two years. His talent did not go unnoticed, so Reeve soon received an invitation to take part in the Broadway production of A Matter of Attraction. Christopher played there with Katharine Hepburn. Then there was the play "My Life".

At the end of the 70s, Riva's career is developing rapidly, directors notice the young actor, and offers are constantly received. Basically, Christopher played minor, small roles, but that was just the beginning. The actor appeared in the series "Great Performances", the television film "Enemies", the film "The Gray Lady Goes Deep".

Global Glory

Christopher had everything that an actor needs - popularity, talent, excellent external data, but he was not offered significant roles. He came to auditions, but in return he receivedrefusal, because in those days thin and nondescript intellectuals were more valued than muscular handsome men like Christopher Reeve. A photo of those times confirms that the actor was unusually handsome, tall and playing sports made his figure courageous. That all changed in 1978 when Reeve was offered the lead role in Superman.

A screen version of comics about a superhero brought the actor worldwide love of the audience, positive reviews from film critics, and huge fees. After the release of the film, Reeve woke up rich, famous and happy, because his talent was appreciated. After that, the actor had no end to offers to star in various films. Christopher Reeve is a superman that the audience loved with all their hearts. The release of the subsequent parts of the film was awaited with great impatience. The continuation of the film adaptation of the comics did not disappoint. The second, third and fourth parts were warmly received.

In the early 80s, Reeve continued to act actively. He played in film adaptations of Jack London's The Sea Wolf and Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. There was also a very successful film "Deathtrap", an interesting historical picture "Bostonians". Many liked the films "Village of the Damned" and "At the end of the day." A handsome talented actor was at the peak of popularity, but suddenly trouble crept up.

Accident

Christopher Reeve never forgot about sports. As a child, he spent his free time on the football field, then he became interested in hockey and tennis. Interested in flying at an older ageby plane, and at the age of 33 he discovered the beauty of horseback riding. On May 27, 1995, the Culpeper race was to take place. Reeve trained very hard for them for several hours a day, but on the day of the competition, misfortune happened. Christopher's horse refused to jump over the obstacle, suddenly stopping. Reeve himself flew over the head of the animal and fell to the ground.

Doctors managed to save the popular actor, but a terrible injury - a fracture of the vertebrae of the spine - forever made him disabled. Christopher has become a motionless statue in need of outsiders' help. The support of his family helped the actor not to lose the remnants of his fighting spirit. His wife Dana was always there, sharing with him all the hardships and pain.

Life after paralysis

Despite the serious injury and complete helplessness, Christopher Reeve continued to do what he loved. The biography of the actor is very difficult, it has ups and downs, joys and disappointments. Paralysis did not break Riva, in 1997 he made his directorial debut, the audience warmly received the film "At Twilight". In 1998, Christopher starred in the film Rear Window, which he also produced. The work was very liked by both the audience and critics, the actor was nominated for the Golden Globe.

Christopher Reeve appeared on television from time to time, was actively involved in social activities, drew attention in every possible way to research that could help people with spinal injuries, he financed them.

Riva's personal life

During filmingin Superman, Christopher met Gay Axton. Already in 1979, the couple had their first child, Matthew, and in 1983, their daughter, Alexander. Exton and Reeve were not married. Together they lived for 9 years, after which they parted. In 1987, Christopher began a romantic relationship with dancer Dana Morosini. The romance lasted 5 years, after which the lovers got married. In 1992, the couple had a son, Will. It was Dana who had to endure all the hardships, help her paralyzed spouse in every possible way.

Christopher never gave up. He was sure that he would be able to defeat the disease. In 2000, the actor even gained the ability to move his index finger. Unfortunately, Superman's heart stopped on October 10, 2004. His wife Dana died on March 6, 2006 from lung cancer.