Beyond the Cape: Celebrating Christopher Reeve's Film Legacy

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” — Christopher Reeve

It is rare to find an actor who inspires millions of people both on and off the screen, that makes us believe he can really fly; one who became a beacon of hope for people experiencing paralysis and spinal cord injuries. This prolific actor was Christopher Reeve, and while known for his iconic portrayal of Superman, his body of work was also marked by award-winning roles in television, film, and stage.

With the powerful documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story coming to theaters nationwide September 21 and 25, we wanted to go beyond the cape and explore the enduring legacy of Christopher Reeve.

Early Career

Born September 25, 1952, to journalist Barbara Johnson and writer/professor Franklin F.D. Reeve, Christopher Reeve always had a passion for acting. He made his professional debut at Princeton’s McCarter Theater at the age of nine [1]. Active in music and theater throughout school, he was accepted into a summer apprentice program at the Williamstown Theater at 15. The following year, Reeve’s dynamic range blossomed after being recognized by critics for his role in the Russian drama A Month in the Country. This led him to study at Cornell University, majoring in English and Music.

During this time, he actively spent his summers as a working actor, traveling to Europe to study classical acting. In 1973, he was only one of two applicants — the other being Robin Williams — to be accepted into Juilliard to study under the famed classical actor John Houseman. The pair formed a close friendship that lasted the remainder of Reeve’s life.

Reeve’s time at Juilliard was cut short, and he was forced to drop out after a year due to the intense demands of his first television role, in the soap opera Love of Life (1951 – 1980). This opportunity propelled him into more shows from 1974 to 1976, helping shape his screen acting career.

After his stint in television, Reeve returned to Broadway, starring alongside the wonderfully talented Katharine Hepburn in the 1976 production A Matter of Gravity. Running for a total of 76 shows, audiences were impressed by Reeve’s performances [2].

Transition to Film

Following the sweeping Broadway success, Reeve flew out to Los Angeles to audition for a submarine adventure film, Gray Lady Down (1978), landing a supporting role. Although not a commercial success, the film helped showcase the young actor’s dynamic range and became a cult classic.

After wrapping up production and while acting in an off-Broadway play opposite Jeff Daniels and William Hurt, Reeve was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime: an audition for a major film role as Superman. Competing against A-list actors such as Robert Redford and Sylvester Stallone, the young actor won over film director Richard Donner with his disarming sincerity and humor, drawing influence from Cary Grant.

Superman (1978) became a box office smash, grossing over $300 million worldwide and leaving audiences impressed with Reeve’s ability to bring life to the character. His performance made audiences around the world believe a man could fly and earned him international recognition with a BAFTA Award for Best Newcomer [3].

Reeve was flooded with offers to play action roles after Superman, but to avoid being type-cast, opted to star in the romantic period piece Somewhere in Time (1980), alongside co-star Jane Seymour. While the set design and character development were masterfully crafted, the film was less than a hit upon release. However, Somewhere in Time built a cult following over the years that no one involved could have predicted. Tourists from around the country still visit the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island to see where the film was shot. Reeve continued to challenge himself, taking on dynamic roles such as a gay priest in Monsignor (1982), a magazine writer in Street Smart (1987), and a sporting goods tycoon in Switching Channels (1988).

Super/Man

After suffering a near-death spinal cord injury during an equestrian competition in 1995, Reeve’s injury left him quadriplegic. But in the years following the accident, the actor became a true champion for scientific research and care and support within the paralysis community. Making his first public appearance just five months after the accident on 20/20, the touching interview inspired the country, and in 1996 he made another groundbreaking appearance at the Academy Awards ceremony.

Reeve went on to win an Emmy® for narrating the TV special Without Pity: A Film about Abilities (1996), made his directorial debut in 1997 with In the Gloaming, and won a Screen Actors Guild Award® for his performance in the 1998 remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window. Despite all the adversity he faced, Reeve continued his Hollywood career while being a beacon of hope for millions. In 1999, he and his wife, Dana Reeve, founded The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, with the goal of “curing spinal cord injury by advancing innovative research and improving quality of life for individuals and families impacted by paralysis” [4].

Beyond the Cape

The profound legacy of Christopher Reeve goes far beyond the cape. Throughout his life, he delivered dynamic performances in 17 feature films, a dozen television shows, and over 150 plays [5]. But it was his ability to overcome adversity and demonstrate the power of the human soul that still inspire us today. To date, The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation has invested more than $140 million towards spinal cord injury research, helping develop gene therapies to promote axon regrowth. Reeve put a human face on spinal cord injury, and his unrelenting drive has helped over 100,000 individuals and their families.