Updated on April 8, 2024
Christopher Reeve was an American actor and director. Most people know him for playing Superman in the 1978 movie and the three sequels that came after. He quickly became a movie star because of his good looks and excellent acting as the world’s first superhero. Christopher Reeve’s Superman was more than just a great movie character. His performance went way beyond the big screen. It left a lasting impression on the history of movies and on superhero fans, who will never forget him as one of the best Superman characters.
Here are 20 things you didn’t know about the title character.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
- Christopher Reeve almost wasn’t Superman. The producers rejected him for the role three times during auditions. They were originally thinking of big names, including stars like Al Pacino, James Caan, Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood, and even Muhammad Ali. Luckily, a meeting with the director convinced them otherwise, and Christopher Reeve went on to become the iconic Superman we all know.
- According to the D.C. comics, Superman is a tall guy – 6’3″, weighing 230lbs, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes. Reeve was 6’4″. To match the superhero physique, he trained hard with a famous British bodybuilder and Star Wars Darth Vader actor, David Prowse.
Source: New York Post
- Reeve was initially 170 lbs, but through intense training, he bulked up to 212 lbs by the time of filming and kept getting bigger. By the time the sequels came out, his muscles were even bigger.
- While Christopher Reeve couldn’t fly like Superman in real life, he did have some experience flying experience. Reeve was a licensed hang-glider pilot before becoming Superman. He admitted that this experience helped him appear more convincing when filming the flying scenes in the 1978 movie.
- Christopher Reeve wasn’t just one Superman – he had a whole wardrobe! For the 1978 movie, he wore nearly 25 different costumes. Some were designed for walking scenes, while others were built for flying stunts. A special turquoise-coloured suit was also used for filming in front of blue screens. The blue fabric of the regular costume would have disappeared against a blue background, so the turquoise colour helped the costume show up clearly during filming.
- Superman: The Movie broke a box office record with a whopping $2.8 million on opening day, a record for the U.S. at the time. This success continued through its first week, bringing a record-breaking $12 million. The movie went on to be the biggest hit of 1978 in North America. It even cracked the top six highest-grossing films ever made, all by the time it finished its theatrical run. Warner Bros. took advantage of this success by making three more Superman movies with Christopher Reeve. Still, they were less successful than the first.
- Superman (1978) was the most expensive film ever made at the time of its release. In 1977, Hollywood studios rarely invested heavily in superhero movies. Superman’s budget of $55 million was a significant amount, equivalent to roughly $230 million today.
- Christopher Reeve is the youngest Superman. He took on the role at just 24 years old in the 1978 film. This is compared to actors like Brandon Routh (27) and Henry Cavill (30).
- Standing 6 feet 4 inches, Christopher Reeve is the tallest among the nine actors who have portrayed Superman on film and television. Followed by David Corenswet, also 6 ft 4.
- Christopher Reeve’s salary for portraying Superman grew substantially across the films. For the 1978 film “Superman: The Movie,” he earned $250,000. This was considerable at the time, especially given his limited acting experience before landing the role. Reeve continued to play Superman in sequels, with his salary increasing to $500,000 for 1980’s “Superman II” and $1 million for both Superman III (1983) and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987).
- Christopher Reeve’s final outing as Superman in “Superman IV: The Quest for Peace” (1987) wasn’t as successful as the previous films. The movie underperformed at the box office, becoming the lowest-grossing Superman film up to that point. Reeve later regretted his involvement in the movie, believing it significantly impacted his career.
- Because of Christopher Reeve’s intense workout program for Superman, his physique changed significantly during filming. This difference mattered for special effects.
- Certain scenes used travelling matte shots, where Reeve was filmed in front of a blue screen. Because his body grew more muscular later in filming, these early scenes had to be reshot to ensure a consistent appearance throughout the movie.
- The 2006 film “Superman Returns,” considered a sequel to the earlier Christopher Reeve Superman movies directed by Richard Donner, included a special message in the ending credits. It paid homage to Christopher Reeve and his wife Dana, reading: “For Christopher and Dana Reeve: A Pair of real-life superheroes”
- Christopher Reeve’s life changed dramatically on May 27, 1995. During an equestrian competition in Virginia, he was thrown from his horse and suffered a severe spinal cord injury. This injury left him paralyzed from the neck down. He used a wheelchair and ventilator to breathe for the rest of his life.
Source: Alamy
- After his accident, Christopher Reeve became a powerful voice for people with spinal cord injuries. He tirelessly championed research into new treatments, pushing for advancements in stem cell research. This controversial area held promise for not just spinal cord injuries but also diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. Reeve hoped that one day, these breakthroughs could offer cures to different illnesses and disabilities.
- Reeve passed away on October 10, 2004, due to heart failure. He was 52 years old at the time of his death at a hospital close to his residence in Westchester County, New York.
- Even after his passing, Christopher Reeve’s work continues to make a difference. The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, which he co-founded, has raised millions of dollars to fund research on spinal cord injuries and other diseases. He also created the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center, which helps people with paralysis live more fulfilling lives by teaching them valuable skills for independence.
- Christopher Reeve chronicled his life story in his “Still Me” autobiography, published in 1998. The book offers a candid look at his journey. Reeve delves into his acting career, the life-altering horseback riding accident that resulted in paralysis, and his unwavering dedication to advocating for research and treatment of spinal cord injuries. “Still Me” provides a deeply personal perspective on Reeve’s experiences and his inspiring determination to live a meaningful life even with disability.
- Christopher Reeve remained optimistic about his recovery after his accident. He expressed hope in his autobiography, “Still Me,” that he would be able to walk again by his 50th birthday, September 25. Despite this goal not being realized, he continued to be motivated. He was even working on a new book titled “Nothing is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life” at the time of his passing, unfortunately leaving it unfinished.
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