How One Movie Turned Out to be Tragically Fateful For Iconic Superman Star
One of the most famous Superman actors became a superhero not only on the screen, but also in real life, after a terrible tragedy that was predicted in the movie he starred in.
Christopher Reeve's career began in 1974 with roles in television series, although in 1978 he already landed the lead role in the expensive and hugely successful Superman movie.
Even though critics panned Reeve's acting, he became an instant superstar.
The subsequent Superman sequels, however, were nowhere near as successful as the first one, and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, released in 1987, was a resounding failure.
In 1994, Christopher was preparing for the movie Above Suspicion, which main character was a police officer who was wounded in a shootout and confined to a wheelchair.
During preparation, he visited a rehabilitation center and talked to paralyzed people. In his interviews, he said that was inspired by the strength of people who were forced to spend their lives in a wheelchair and that they were the real superheroes.
In 1995 Above Suspicion was released. Six days later, Christopher Reeve shattered his spinal bones after falling from a horse.
He survived, but was paralyzed from the neck down and could only speak with the help of special devices. Commenting on the gloomy irony of doubling of his character's misadventures, Christopher Reeve said:
"I remember the last movie I did, I played a paraplegic. In a movie called Above Suspicion. I went to a rehab center and I worked with the people there so I could simulate a paraplegic.
And everyday I'd get into my car and drive away and go, 'thank god that's not me' I have to admit that. Then seven months later I was in this condition. And I remember, in a way, the smugness of that. As if I was privileged in some way."
Christopher Reeve even returned to acting. In 1998, he starred in a remake of the Hitchcock thriller Rear Window, and in 2003, appeared in the teen Superman series Smallville.
Social and charitable activities dedicated to the rehabilitation of paralyzed people began to occupy a large place in actor's life.
The fame of Christopher Reeve allowed various foundations and research institutes to significantly develop their activities and improve technologies for helping paralyzed people.
Christopher Reeve died in 2004 at the age of 52.
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, which he created, continues to operate successfully today and is run by his three children, keeping the memory of the actor in helping people.