It is the story of a special person with an attitude that oozed vitality. Sometimes an unassuming little paperback packs a big punch, and that is just the case with Nothing Is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life by Christopher Reeve. There is a biography called, Somewhere in Heaven: The Remarkable Love Story of Dana and Christopher Reeve by Christopher Andersen, which I want to read eventually, which was published in 2008. In the final decade of his life Christopher Reeve accomplished a great deal, especially in terms of advocacy, and I did wish he could have had more time to continue doing that. The final chapter was called "Hope", and it was touching but also disheartening in a way. I had tremendous sympathy for his three children losing their father, and his and Dana's son for losing both parents in quick succession. I also found it bittersweet to read again about what a wonderful person Dana Reeve was, knowing she died about two years after he did. It was difficult at times to read about these hopeful signs knowing he died only a couple of years after the book was published. Although far from walking unaided outside of the water, that his body was starting to respond to commands from his brain was a potentially the beginning of. His body began to make progress, including being able to lift his legs and walk when in a swimming pool. Intensive tests, the details of which I almost grasped(!), involving brain scans revealed the signals from his brain were getting through and coming from the correct part of the brain. He later became a Unitarian, and I enjoyed reading about why this particular religion worked for him and his family, and what especially resonated with him.Įqually inspiring and upsetting was the chapter describing the progress he began to make about five years after his injury, when he discovered he was able to move a finger. "My first act of faith was not a religious one it happened when Dana and I were married." - I found that statement very romantic! There are insights into parenting, his various early forays into religion, including the early stages of Scientology, and something called "Loving Relationships Training", which built towards rebirthing, something they were urged to do at least twice a month, at $200 each time! Some details were familiar, such as Robin Williams being the person who first made him laugh after his accident by arriving in the ICU 'dressed in full scrubs, impersonating a manic Russian proctologist.' This book is briefer than the first, not so much a memoir or autobiography, but a mix of anecdotes and speeches, arranged by theme. He chose some interesting projects, I have always enjoyed watching him. I was completely enthralled by it, and it remains my favourite superhero movie.Īs I've gotten older I have started noticing Reeve in other films, most notably The Remains of the Day. I remain partial to a superhero movie (although have fallen behind in recent years, overwhelmed by the relentless output of Marvel in particular) but nothing has ever topped that viewing of Superman. I had already been a fan of Christopher Reeve after an afternoon spent watching the first Superman film. Probably more than a decade ago now I read Christopher Reeve's first book, Still Me, and it ended up being a book I have thought about often since. Dana Reeve died of lung cancer in March 2006. Christopher also had two children, Matthew and Alexandra, from a previous relationship with Gae Exton. Reeve died at age 52 on Octofrom cardiac arrest caused by a systemic infection.Ĭhristopher married Dana Morosini in April 1992, and they have a son, Will. He founded the Christopher Reeve Foundation and co-founded the Reeve-Irvine Research Center. He lobbied on behalf of people with spinal cord injuries, and for human embryonic stem cell research after this accident. He was in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. In May 1995, Christopher was paralyzed in an accident during the cross country portion of an Eventing competition. In the 1990s, Christopher acted in such films as Noises Off (1992), The Remains Of The Day (1993), and Village of the Damned (1995). Pinochet canceled the sentence after the ensuing media coverage, and Christopher was awarded with three national distinctions from Chile for his actions. In 1987, he led a public rally in support of 77 Chilean actors, directors, and playwrights who had been sentenced to death by the dictator Augusto Pinochet for criticizing his regime in their works. He also starred in many plays, including the Broadway plays Fifth Of July (1980 - 1982) and The Marriage Of Figaro (1985). In the 1980s, he starred in several films, including Somewhere In Time (1980), Deathtrap (1982), The Bostonians (1984), and Street Smart (1987). He established himself early as a Juilliard-trained stage actor before portraying Superman/Kal-El/Clark Kent in four films, from 1978 to 1987. Christopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, director, producer, and writer.
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