Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsABFFPride MonthOutfest OutfrontsSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Biography
  • Awards
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Christopher Reeve(1952-2004)

  • Actor
  • Producer
  • Additional Crew
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000424
Christopher Reeve
At 17, Jesse Billauer experienced a surfing accident that left him a C-6 quadriplegic. Paralyzed from mid chest down he still surfs big waves. My film documents his childhood success as a sponsored athlete, the accident, who inspires him, learning how to
Play trailer2:00
Jesse's Story (2009)
22 Videos
99+ Photos
Christopher D'Olier Reeve was born September 25, 1952, in New York City, to journalist Barbara Johnson (née Barbara Pitney Lamb) and writer/professor F.D. Reeve (Franklin D'Olier Reeve). He came from an upper-class family; his paternal grandfather was CEO of Prudential Financial, and one of his maternal great-grandfathers was Supreme Court Associate Justice Mahlon Pitney.

When Reeve was four, his parents divorced. His mother moved him and his brother Benjamin to Princeton, New Jersey, and married an investment banker a few years later. After graduating from high school, Reeve studied at Cornell University while at the same time working as a professional actor. In his final year at Cornell, he was one of two students selected (Robin Williams was the other) to study at New York's famous Juilliard School, under the renowned John Houseman. Although Christopher is best known for his role as Superman (1978), a role which he played with both charisma and grace, his acting career spans a much larger ground. Paralyzed after a horse riding accident, he died suddenly at age 52 after several years of living and working with his severe disability.
BornSeptember 25, 1952
DiedOctober 10, 2004(52)
BornSeptember 25, 1952
DiedOctober 10, 2004(52)
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000424
  • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
    • 9 wins & 14 nominations total

Superheroes In and Out of Costume

Superheroes In and Out of Costume

What does Shazam look like when he's not geared up to do battle? Check out this gallery of stars in character and in real life.
See more heroes without their costumes
Production art
Photos

Photos275

Marlon Brando and Christopher Reeve in Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (1980)
Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder in TCM Remembers 2018 (2018)
Marlon Brando and Christopher Reeve in Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (1980)
Marlon Brando, Christopher Reeve, and Margot Kidder in Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (1980)
Marlon Brando and Christopher Reeve in Superman (1978)
Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve in Superman (1978)
Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder in Superman II (1980)
Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder in Superman II (1980)
Christopher Reeve in Superman II (1980)
Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder in Superman II (1980)
Christopher Reeve in Superman II (1980)

Known for

Gene Hackman, Terence Stamp, Ned Beatty, Christopher Reeve, Jackie Cooper, Sarah Douglas, Jeff East, Margot Kidder, Jack O'Halloran, Valerie Perrine, and Susannah York in Superman (1978)
Superman
7.4
  • Superman
  • Clark Kent
  • 1978
Richard Pryor and Christopher Reeve in Superman III (1983)
Superman III
5.0
  • Superman
  • Clark Kent
  • 1983
Gene Hackman, Mariel Hemingway, Jon Cryer, Christopher Reeve, Jackie Cooper, and Margot Kidder in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
3.7
  • Superman
  • Clark Kent
  • 1987
Somewhere in Time (1980)
Somewhere in Time
7.2
  • Richard Collier
  • 1980

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor

  • Tom Welling in Smallville (2001)
    Smallville
    • Dr. Virgil Swann
    • Self
    • Virgil Swann
    • TV Series
    • 2003–2004
  • Lara Flynn Boyle, Dylan McDermott, Steve Harris, and Kelli Williams in The Practice (1997)
    The Practice
    • Kevin Healy
    • TV Series
    • 2003
  • Rear Window (1998)
    Rear Window
    • Jason Kemp
    • TV Movie
    • 1998
  • 9 (1996)
    9
    • Thurston Last (voice)
    • Video Game
    • 1996
  • Judith Light in A Step Toward Tomorrow (1996)
    A Step Toward Tomorrow
    • Denny Gabriel
    • 1996
  • The Lion and the Lamb (1996)
    The Lion and the Lamb
    • Storyteller (voice)
    • Video
    • 1996
  • Black Fox: Good Men and Bad (1995)
    Black Fox: Good Men and Bad
    • Alan Johnson
    • TV Movie
    • 1995
  • Black Fox: The Price of Peace (1995)
    Black Fox: The Price of Peace
    • Alan Johnson
    • TV Movie
    • 1995
  • Black Fox (1995)
    Black Fox
    • Alan Johnson
    • TV Movie
    • 1995
  • Joe Mantegna and Christopher Reeve in Above Suspicion (1995)
    Above Suspicion
    • Dempsey
    • husband
    • 1995
  • Village of the Damned (1995)
    Village of the Damned
    • Dr. Alan Chaffee
    • 1995
  • Geena Davis and Michael Keaton in Speechless (1994)
    Speechless
    • Bob Freed
    • 1994
  • Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson in The Remains of the Day (1993)
    The Remains of the Day
    • Lewis
    • 1993
  • Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, John Mahoney, Peri Gilpin, and Jane Leeves in Frasier (1993)
    Frasier
    • Leonard (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 1993
  • Christopher Reeve and Deborah Raffin in Morning Glory (1993)
    Morning Glory
    • Will Parker
    • 1993

Producer

  • Whoopi Goldberg, Rob Reiner, and Jake T. Austin in Everyone's Hero (2006)
    Everyone's Hero
    • executive producer
    • 2006
  • The Brooke Ellison Story (2004)
    The Brooke Ellison Story
    • executive producer
    • TV Movie
    • 2004
  • Freedom: A History of US (2003)
    Freedom: A History of US
    • producer
    • TV Series
    • 2003
  • Rear Window (1998)
    Rear Window
    • executive producer
    • TV Movie
    • 1998
  • Christopher Reeve: A Celebration of Hope
    • executive producer
    • TV Movie
    • 1998

Additional Crew

  • Freedom: A History of US (2003)
    Freedom: A History of US
    • creative consultant
    • TV Series
    • 2003
  • Vietnam Long Time Coming (1998)
    Vietnam Long Time Coming
    • board of director: World TEAM Sports
    • 1998
  • Richard Pryor and Christopher Reeve in Superman III (1983)
    Superman III
    • production consultant (uncredited)
    • 1983

Videos22

We Are Superman
Clip 0:59
We Are Superman
Monsignor
Clip 2:08
Monsignor
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:33
Official Trailer
Official Trailer 2
Trailer 2:24
Official Trailer 2
Trailer
Trailer 1:53
Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:31
Official Trailer
Teaser Trailer
Trailer 1:37
Teaser Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 3:14
Official Trailer
Deathtrap
Trailer 0:56
Deathtrap
The Remains of the Day
Trailer 2:40
The Remains of the Day
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
Trailer 1:27
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
Superman: The Movie
Trailer 2:39
Superman: The Movie

Personal details

Edit
  • Official site
    • Christopher Reeve Foundation
  • Height
    • 6′ 4″ (1.93 m)
  • Born
    • September 25, 1952
    • New York City, New York, USA
  • Died
    • October 10, 2004
    • Mount Kisco, New York, USA(heart failure)
  • Spouse
    • Dana ReeveApril 11, 1992 - October 10, 2004 (his death, 1 child)
  • Children
      Matthew Exton Reeve
  • Parents
      F.D. Reeve
  • Other works
    Commercial for the Internet Service Provider "World Online"
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Biographical Movie
    • 3 Print Biographies
    • 2 Portrayals
    • 8 Interviews
    • 44 Articles
    • 9 Pictorials
    • 17 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    While Reeve was filming Somewhere in Time (1980), the local theater decided to show his breakout hit Superman (1978). Many Somewhere in Time cast members joined locals for the event. Early into the screening, the sound went out. Reeve, who was seated next to co-star Jane Seymour, stood up in the audience and delivered all the lines.
  • Quotes
    Either you decide to stay in the shallow end of the pool or you go out in the ocean.
  • Trademarks
      Black hair and light bold blue eyes
  • Nicknames
    • Chris
    • Toph
    • Tophy
  • Salaries
      Superman III
      (1983)
      $1,000,000

Related news

Contribute to this page

Suggest an edit or add missing content
  • Learn more about contributing
Edit page

More to explore

Production art
Photos
IMDb's Top Picks for May
See the list
Production art
Photos
The Best Pics of the Week
See the gallery

Add demo reel with IMDbPro

Demo reel thumbnail
Make your IMDb page stand out by adding a demo reel
Upload your demo reel

Add demo reel with IMDbPro

Make your IMDb page stand out by adding a demo reel
Upload your demo reel
Demo reel thumbnail

How much have you seen?

Keep track of how much of Christopher Reeve’s work you have seen. Go to your list.
Production art
Photos
IMDb's 2023 Summer Movie Guide
See the list

Recently viewed

Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
Get the IMDb App
Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
  • Get the IMDb App
  • Help
  • Site Index
  • IMDbPro
  • Box Office Mojo
  • IMDb Developer
  • Press Room
  • Advertising
  • Jobs
  • Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your Ads Privacy Choices
IMDb, an Amazon company

© 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.