Christopher Reeve

Birth:	Sep. 25, 1952, USA
Death:	Oct. 10, 2004 Bedford Westchester County New York, USA
Actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Superman in four movies. He was born in New York City on September 25, 1952. When he was four, his parents divorced, and his mother moved with sons Christopher and 'Benjamin' to Princeton, New Jersey. He began acting at the age of ten, in a stage production of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Yeoman of the Guard" at McCarter Theater in Princeton, and joined the actors' union when he was sixteen. After graduating from high school, Reeve studied at Cornell University, while at the same time working as a professional actor. In his final year of Cornell, he was one of two students selected (Robin Williams was the other) to study at New York's famous Juilliard School of Performing Arts, under the renowned John Houseman. Although Christopher is most well known for his role as Superman (1978), he starred in many other movies, such as "Deathtrap," "Village of the Damned," and "The Remains of the Day." He also made his Broadway debut in "A Matter of Gravity," which also starred Katharine Hepburn. In May of 1995, he was competing in an equestrian competition in Culpepper, Virginia, when he was thrown from his horse. He fractured the top two vertebrae in his neck and damaged his spinal cord. After undergoing many months of therapy, he was able to breathe without a respirator, and move his index finger, as well as regaining sensation in other parts of his body. He became a major advocate for stem cell research. He also authored two books, "Still Me" and "Anything is Possible." He returned to acting as well, appearing in the television movie production "Rear Window," for which he won a Screen Actor's Guild Award. Before his death, he had appeared on the television series "Smallville" as well. He died at Northern Westchester Hospital in Bedford, New York. Cause of death: Heart failure
Burial: Cremated, Ashes given to family or friend.