Christopher Reeve
He soared as Superman on screen, then became a real-life hero for spinal cord research after a tragic accident.
1952–2004 (age 52)·American actor and activist·Birthday: September 25·Baby Boomers
Biography
Christopher Reeve was a Juilliard-trained actor whose life took two monumental arcs. The first was defined by his 1978 casting as Clark Kent and Superman, a role where his earnest charm and physical stature made audiences believe a man could fly. For nearly a decade, he was the definitive face of the superhero. In 1995, a horseback riding accident left him paralyzed from the neck down, shattering that image. The second arc began in a wheelchair, as he and his wife, Dana, founded the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. He became a formidable, articulate advocate for spinal cord injury research, testifying before Congress and leveraging his fame to push science forward. His public journey through profound adversity redefined courage for millions.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Christopher was born in 1952, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Christopher Was Born
The biggest hits of 1952
#1 Movie
The Greatest Show on Earth
Best Picture
The Greatest Show on Earth
#1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Christopher's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1952Born
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1957Started school
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1965Became a teenager
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1968Could drive
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1970Could vote
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1973Turned 21
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1982Turned 30
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1992Turned 40
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2002Turned 50
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Died at 52
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
Key Achievements
- Starred as the title character in four 'Superman' films, defining the role for a generation.
- Co-founded the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, which has raised hundreds of millions for paralysis research.
- Won a Grammy Award for his spoken word album 'Still Me' and an Emmy for directing.
- Served as Chairman of the American Paralysis Association and vice chairman of the National Organization on Disability.
Did You Know?
He was classmates at Juilliard with Robin Williams, and the two remained close friends for life.
He was an accomplished pianist and sailor before his accident.
He directed the critically acclaimed film 'In the Gloaming', which starred Glenn Close.
His great-great-grandfather was a prominent 19th-century Episcopal bishop.
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”
