Short Bio: Christopher Reeve was born on September 25th, 1952 in New York City to Franklin D'Olier Reeve (novelist and professor of creative writing) and Barbara Johnson (newspaper reporter). They divorced when Chris was about 3-4 years old. His mother then moved Chris and his brother Benjamin to Princeton, NJ and married a stockbrocker. Chris spent the majority of his schooling in private school and by the age of eight, he had appeared in school plays.
He was also quite interested and talented in music and piano. At nine, he was hand picked to be in a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta for Princeton's professional theater, the McCarter Theatre. At 15, he got an apprenticeship in Williamstown, MA, and by 16, he had an agent. In the year of 1974, Chris received his B.A. from Cornell University (English and Music Theory). He later attended the Juilliard School in New York City where he roomed with Robin Williams. In 1978, Chris was picked out of 200 hopefuls for the role of Superman. In 1979, Reeve won the British Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Superman: The Movie. During the 18 months of shooting (in England), Chris began a relationship with modeling executive Gae Exton. This relationship produced two children, Matthew and Alexandra. In 1987, still unmarried, Gae and Chris parted. And during the summer in Williamstown, Chris met Dana Morosini where she was performing a cabaret. In four months they were living together. In 1992 they were married and had a son, Will.
Christopher Reeve is involved with many charitable activities such as: The Actor's Fund of America, Special Olympics, American Paralysis Association, Save The Children Foundation, American Cancer Society, Save the Theaters, and is one of the founding fathers of the Creative Coalition.
SUPER QUOTES
(About being Superman):"I've seen first-hand how Superman actually transforms people's lives. I have seen children dying of brain tumors who wanted as their last request to be able to talk to me, and have gone to their graves with a peace brought on by knowing that their belief in this kind of character is intact. I've seen that Superman really matters. They're connecting with something very basic: the ability to overcome obstacles, the ability to persevere, the ability to understand difficulty and to turn your back on it."- Time Magazine, March 14,1988
"I am a very lucky guy," Reeve said without rancor or self-pity Wednesday. "I can testify before Congress. I can raise funds. I can raise awareness."~ Larry King Live
"This accident has been difficult for all of us. But it hasn't frightened anybody away. We all miss the activities. My daughter, Alexandra, and I loved to ride together. My son, Will, and I would play piano and sing together. Matthew and I loved to play tennis. We all used to sail together. I'd be kidding you if I said I didn't miss that. Ultimately, you have to accept that being together is more important than doing together."
"My spinal cord is ready below the injury. I'm realistically optimistic. I don't plan to spend the rest of my life like this."
To purchase the book (CLICK)
Personal Message to Chris:
One of the many things that I have learned through life is that we all have our choice of masks. From my earliest recollection, I remember a face. A persona. An image of what I want to be. Superman. I would tie a red pillow-case about my neck , stuff a towel in my shirt and tuck my shirt into my nickers. This was my childish effort to be more like the man I most admire. And as time passed I found that Superman was not what I was after. It was you all along. You are, by birth, by race, to the very marrow of your bones; an artist. And nowadays...as I am in my 20's, I fully understand why I thought the way I did, and why I still admire you the way I do. And like everyone in the world, I was crushed to hear of your injury. I have my own theories about the existance of God and the direction that life seems to turn, and hitherto I accept this for what it is; a way of hope. This injury, on the shoulders of any other well-known man would be extremely less significant.
Who knows how many lives you have saved just by being you...by being there for people with disabilities all over the world? Speaking about you raises huge amounts of emotion and I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for being such a good role model. I look forward to hearing you speak at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in St. Louis on April 10th, 1999. Get walking real soon!
With Love~
Michael Joyce (Winston-Salem,NC)
MAN OF STEEL GALLERY
Christopher Reeve's Vital Statistics
(From: "The Christopher Reeve Scrapbook")
(by:Margery Steinberg 1981)
Name: Christopher Reeve
Birthplace: September 25,1952
Place of Birth: New York
Astrological Sign: Libra
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 188 Ibs., 214 Ibs. (as Superman)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
Home: Manhattan and Los Angeles
School: Cornell University, Julliard School
Hobbies:Flying Sailing, Ice Skating, Skiing, and Tennis
Musical Instr: Piano
Favorite Foods: Oreos,Mars bars, Coffee milk shakes
and Sara Lee Buttercrumb Cake
Email me any questions or comments that you may have about Christopher Reeve. (Or any of my various other websites)
However...please do not ask me how to get in contact with Mr. Reeve. I am, in no way, able to forward any information his way.
Those people wishing to post an "ideas-/- information" about Spinal Cord Research, you may email me thie info, and it will be posted on the Message Board page. I will try my hardest to make sure that Mr. Reeve gets to read it. No guarantee though, mates.
