Tuesday, September 14, 2010

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.
 

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Susie Garrett


Birth: Dec. 29, 1931
Detroit
Wayne County
Michigan, USA
Death: May 24, 2002
Southfield
Oakland County
Michigan, USA

Actress. Susie Garrett had rolls on 'Punky Brewster' and ''The Jeffersons'. She played Betty Johnson on "Punky Brewster" and also appeared in 10 episodes of the CBS television show called "The Jefferson's", that featured an African American family's rise into high society. Susie has a sister who is also an actress, Marla Gibbs, who played George and Louise Jefferson's maid. Television producer, Aaron Spelling, was the first person who saw her in the '227' play. In turn, she signed a contract with NBC. Mrs. Garrett moved from Los Angeles to Detroit, Michigan before breaking into television. She had walk'on parts in the 'Jeffersons' episodes. She also appeared in the film "The Wicked Stepmother". Her last performance is in a PBS special that will be aired this month on Channel 56. She narrates and plays the part of Sojouner Truth in "The Sojouner Truth Story". She also co-founded an acting school in Los Angeles, the Crossroads Arts Academy Theatre. Mrs. Garrett graduated from Detroit High School in 1949 and earned an associate's degree from Shaw College in Detroit in 1975. Mrs.Garrett, age 71 of Detroit, died of cancer at Providence Hospital in Southfield.

Cause of death: Cancer