Actor, director and activist are just some of the words used to
describe Christopher Reeve. From his first appearance at the
Williamstown Theatre Festival at the age of 15, Reeve established a
reputation as one of the country’s leading actors. However, ever
since he was paralyzed in an equestrian competition in 1995, Reeve
not only put a human face on spinal cord injury but he motivated
neuroscientists around the world to conquer the most complex
diseases of the brain and central nervous system.
After graduating from Cornell University in 1974, Reeve pursued his
dream of acting, studying at Juilliard under the legendary John
Houseman. He made his Broadway debut opposite Katharine Hepburn in
A Matter of Gravity in 1976 and then went on to distinguish himself
in a variety of stage, screen and television roles with passion.
Film credits include: “Superman” in 1978 and its subsequent
sequels, “Deathtrap,” “Somewhere in Time,” “The Bostonians,”
“Street Smart,” “Speechless,” “Noises Off,” “Above Suspicion” and
the Oscar-nominated “The Remains of the Day.” Stage credits
include: The Marriage of Figaro, Fifth of July, My Life, Summer and
Smoke, Love Letters and The Aspern Papers.
Reeve made his directorial debut with “In the Gloaming” on HBO in
April 1997. The film was met with rave reviews, was nominated for
five Emmys and won six Cable Ace Awards, including Best Dramatic
Special and Best Director. Reeve’s autobiography, Still Me, was
published by Random House in April 1998 and spent 11 weeks on the
New York Times Bestseller List. His audio recording of Still Me
earned Reeve a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album in February 1999.
In his first major role since becoming paralyzed, Reeve starred in
an updated version of the classic Hitchcock thriller “Rear Window,”
for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and won the
Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor in a Television Movie or
Miniseries. He also served as Executive Producer of the film.
Reeve continued his directing work in television and film as well
as his arts-advisory service as a board member of the Williamstown
Theatre Festival. In early 2001, Reeve began combining his
directing efforts with his activism when he directed four
commercials featuring Ray Romano, Randy Newman, Toni Morrison and
himself for Johnson & Johnson that focused on helping parents talk
to their kids. The same year he filmed a spot for the American Red
Cross that celebrated volunteerism.
In 1999, Reeve became the Chairman of the Board of the Christopher
Reeve Paralysis Foundation (CRPF). CRPF, a national, nonprofit
organization, supports research to develop effective treatments and
a cure for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury and other central
nervous system disorders. CRPF also allocates a portion of its
resources to grants that improve the quality of life for people
with disabilities.
As Vice Chairman of the National Organization on Disability
(N.O.D.), he worked on quality of life issues for the disabled. In
partnership with Senator Jim Jeffords of Vermont, he helped pass
the 1999 Work Incentives Improvement Act, which allows people with
disabilities to return to work and still receive disability
benefits. Reeve served on the Board of Directors of World T.E.A.M.
Sports, a group that organizes and sponsors challenging sporting
events for athletes with disabilities; TechHealth, a private
company that assists in the relationship between patients and their
insurance companies; and LIFE (Leaders in Furthering Education) a
charitable organization that supports education and opportunities
for the underserved population.
In addition to his work on behalf of CRPF, Reeve’s advocacy efforts
included:
·Lobbying on behalf of the National Institutes of Health to double
the NIH budget in five years. In part because of his leadership,
the NIH budget grew from 12 billion dollars in 1998 to nearly 27.2
billion dollars in fiscal 2003;
·Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor,
Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies in favor
of federally funded stem cell research;
·Providing instrumental and crucial support for the passage of the
New York State Spinal Cord Injury Research Bill (7287C), landmark
legislation that makes available up to $8.5 million annually in
funds collected from violations of the state’s motor vehicle laws
to be appropriated among the leading research facilities in New
York. Reeve was also involved in lobbying efforts for similar bills
in New Jersey, Kentucky, Virginia and California;
·Working tirelessly to obtain increased funding from both the
public and private sectors to cure Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, MS,
ALS, stroke, as well as to repair the damaged spinal cord; and
·Helping to establish the Reeve-Irvine Research Center at the UCI
College of Medicine. The center supports the study of trauma to the
spinal cord and diseases affecting it, with an emphasis on the
development of therapies to promote the recovery and repair of
neurological function;
While Reeve raised public awareness about the significance of
medical research and the challenges facing those with disabilities,
he also educated families about the importance of having adequate
health and disability coverage. In 1997, Reeve joined with
HealthExtras, the first company to offer subscribers a tax-free
non-accountable payment of 1 million dollars in the event of a
permanent accidental disability. The cost of this policy is a mere
$10 a month and is available through Visa, American Express or via
the Internet. Reeve serves as company spokesman.
Reeve’s community and political involvement pre-dates his spinal
cord injury. Over the course of many years, he served as a national
spokesman on behalf of the arts, campaign finance reform and the
environment. A founder and Co-President of The Creative Coalition
he helped to create recycling in New York City and to persuade
state legislature to set aside one billion dollars to protect the
city’s water supply. Since 1976 he was actively involved with Save
the Children, Amnesty International, Natural Resources Defense
Council, The Environmental Air Force and America’s Watch. In 1987,
he demonstrated in Santiago, Chile on behalf of 77 actors
threatened with execution by the Pinochet regime. For this action,
Reeve was given a special Obie Award in 1988 and the annual award
from the Walter Briehl Human Rights Foundation.
His second book, Nothing is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life,
was published by Random House in September 2002. The audio
rendition of Nothing is Impossible garnered Reeve his second Grammy
nomination for Best Spoken Word Album. At the same time, a
documentary film about his advocacy and road to recovery entitled
“Christopher Reeve: Courageous Steps” aired on ABC television in
the United States. The documentary was directed by Reeve’s son
Matthew and has been distributed around the world.
In September 2003, Reeve was awarded the Mary Woodard Lasker Award
for Public Service in Support of Medical Research and the Health
Sciences from the Lasker Foundation. Recognized for perceptive,
sustained and heroic advocacy for medical research in general, and
people living with disabilities in particular, Reeve was selected
for this distinction by a jury of scholars and scientists.
In August 2004, Reeve completed directing his latest project, The
Brooke Ellison Story. This fact-based A&E cable television
movie, which will air October 25, 2004, is based on the book
Miracles Happen: One Mother, One Daughter, One Journey. Brooke
Ellison became a quadriplegic at age 11 but with determination and
the support of her family, Ellison rose above her disability and
went on to graduate from Harvard University. The film stars Mary
Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Lacey Chabert and John Slattery.
Christopher Reeve's last project before he died was with IDT
Entertainment, directing an animated 3D CGI feature film. "Yankee
Irving" the working title of the film, was close to his heart,
following the story of a boy who overcomes obstacles to realize his
potential.
Christopher Reeve died October 10, 2004 of heart failure. He was 52
years old. 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).
"Through his honesty, dignity, and clarity of purpose, Reeve has
created an involving book and a meaningful life."
--The New York Times Book Review
STILL ME "REDEFINES THE IDEA OF HERO . . . In this detailed and
well-written autobiography, Reeve proves that, in many ways, he has
transcended previous accomplishments through his courage and
character."
--The Boston Globe
"A REMARKABLE BOOK . . . Reeve's autobiography is distinguished not
only by the dignified candor with which he describes his utterly
changed world but also by his emotional directness. . . . Long
hours of soul-searching have resulted in a heightened eloquence. .
. . STILL ME may be the most important contribution Reeve could
ever make to his healing, to his family, to his public. . . . [He]
communicates so well, in fact, that it's easy to forget that every
word of STILL ME has been wrested from a body in revolt against a
mind clarified by adversity. This is a feat to daunt even
Superman."
--Entertainment Weekly
"BOLD AND UNFLINCHING."
--The Washington Post
"CAPTIVATING . . . AN EMOTIONAL MEMOIR . . . The author takes
readers on a roller-coaster ride from the height of Hollywood fame
to his darkest days . . . In one heartbreaking passage, Reeve
writes how he wanted to die after his Memorial Day accident until
his wife urged him to live."
--New York Daily News
"INSPIRING."
--Los Angeles Times
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