- Title: USA: FRIENDS AND FANS MOURN THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN ACTOR CHRISTOPHER REEVE
- Date: 11th October 2004
- Summary: WESTCHESTER, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 11, 2004) (REUTERS) SLV/CU OF NORTHERN WESTCHESTER HOSPITAL (3 SHOTS) PAN CHRISTOPHER REEVE PARALYSIS FOUNDATION PAN PEOPLE WORKING AT THE FOUNDATION
- Embargoed: 26th October 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES AND VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
- Country: USA
- Topics: Entertainment,General,People
- Reuters ID: LVAEG129X37XNNN1LKIAFAXHOG0T
- Story Text: From coast to coast, friends and fans mourn the
death of Superman actor Christopher Reeve.
Fans of "Superman" actor Christopher Reeve, paid
tribute to him at his star on the Hollywood walk of fame on
Monday (October 11) the morning after his death from heart
failure at 52.
Amid the votive candles, floral arrangements and
sketches placed at the star, tourists from near and far
reacted to his death, and spoke about his career, tragic
accident and subsequent second role as a spokesman for stem
cell research.
"We grew up watching Superman so we obviously knew
who he was," said Melanie Iserin, visiting from Melbourne,
Australia. "It was terrible with the accident, hearing
that he passed last night was sad, she continued.
"Quite a shock, really, said Iestin Davis of Whales.
"As everybody knew him as Superman I suppose and he was
infamous for that role and everybody knew of the struggle
he had back in '95 which was a tragedy, but yeah we had to
come and pay our respects today," Davis said.
Local fan Lucy Sandoval talked about the inspiration
Reeve gave her as a fellow survivor of a spinal cord
injury. "He never gave up until the day he died with doing
his exercises and getting ready because when the stem cell
research does happen he would be ready for it to happen to
him but the positive research will someday make people
walk," said Sandoval.
Reeve had in recent years used his celebrity status
to raise money and support for research into the treatment
of spinal cord injuries, including the controversial stem
cell research that has become an issue in the U.S.
presidential election.
Reeve was honored with his star on the Hollywood Walk
of Fame in 1997, two years after his injury.
Reeve died on Sunday (October 10) in Northern
Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, New York, after
slipping into a coma at his home on Saturday when he
suffered a heart attack during treatment for an infected
bedsore wound. He died without regaining consciousness.
Reeve's wife, Dana, issued a statement thanking "the
millions of fans around the world who have supported and
loved my husband over the years."
Kathy Lewis, President And Ceo Of Christopher Reeve
Paralysis Foundation, said his legacy will live on.
"I think you feel a loss because Chris is one of those
people who really touched people's hearts. Certainly going
on without him, we will all feel a void, but I think we are
all charged up more, now than ever, to do it in his honor,
to go forward and raise more funds and fund great
scientists and eventually find a cure."
Despite his theater credentials and work on
television, Reeve is best known for portraying the
red-caped comic book hero in the "Superman" films.
Reeve went on to star in three more films as the Man of
Steel.
In 1993 he appeared in the Merchant and Ivory hit "The
Remains of the Day," which was filmed in the English
countryside.
Earlier movies included "Gray Lady Down," "Somewhere
in Time," "Switching Channels," "The Bostonians" and
"Deathtrap."
Reeve and his wife had one son, Will, 12, and he had
two children from a previous relationship -- Matthew, 25,
and Alexandra, 21. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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