Christopher Reeve's Tragic Story: What Actually Happened to the Most Beloved Superman?
The actor's story deserves its own movie.
Although many actors have embodied the image of Superman on screen, for many, Christopher Reeve remains the best. This man had a difficult fate: due to an accident, the actor received a serious spinal injury. Despite all the trials, the actor continued to work on television, act in films, and also actively participate in social life.
Reeve Suffered a Severe Spinal Injury While Riding a Horse
The movie Above Suspicion became prophetic for the actor. There Reeve got the role of a policeman who was injured and became disabled. A year after the premiere of the film, the actor lost the opportunity to lead a full life due to a spinal injury.
In 1985, Reeve became interested in equestrian sports while preparing for the role of Vronsky in the movie Anna Karenina. Soon, horse racing became not just a hobby, but a true passion for the actor. In order to participate in competitions, Christopher even bought a stallion named Eastern Express.
In 1995, during one of the competitions, the horse refused to jump over the fence. As a result, a sharp stop at high speed caused the rider to fall. Doctors were able to provide timely and qualified assistance, but this did not help the actor avoid terrible consequences. After an unfortunate fall, Christopher was confined to a wheelchair.
Reeve's body lost sensitivity below the neck. From that moment on, the actor breathed thanks to a special electrical stimulator attached to his diaphragm.
The Actor Hoped to Recover Until the Very End
Despite his health problems, Christopher continued his career. In the late 1990s, he debuted as a director in the film In the Gloaming.
To the end, the actor hoped that he would recover. For many years, Christopher tried to maintain his physical fitness with the help of special exercise machines, massage therapists and doctors. He also hoped for help from stem cells, which were still in the early stages of research. But despite advanced technology and faith in the best, the miracle did not happen.
In the early 2000s, the actor suffered from a number of infectious diseases and also underwent a very difficult procedure to restore his skin. In 2004, the actor, having recovered from all of the above, began to appear in public.
Dana Morosini Was Christopher's Main Support
But on October 9 of the same year, Christopher Reeve's heart stopped. The cause was the constant use of antibiotics. Reeve was taken to intensive care, where he fell into a coma and died less than a day later.
All these years Dana Morosini, Christopher's wife, took care of him. Unfortunately, Dana also died early, outliving her husband by only two years. In the fall of 2005, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Realizing that she did not have long to live, Dana threw all her efforts into community work and helping the disabled.