Christopher Reeve’s lookalike eldest son Matthew has emotionally reflected on the star’s first public appearance at the 1996 Oscars since he was left paralyzed following a horse riding accident.
At the age of 42 in 1995, Superman star Reeve was left paralyzed from the neck down after being thrown from a horse during an equestrian competition in Culpeper, Virginia. He relied upon a wheelchair and ventilator for the rest of his life.
Reeve brought stars to tears during his appearance at the Oscars one year later – in which he introduced a powerful film montage recognizing how Hollywood tackled social issues.
Matthew Exton Reeve, now 44, is the first child of Reeve — who died aged 52 in 2004 — and longterm partner Gae Exton. The couple also welcomed daughter Alexandra Reeve Givens, now 40, during their nine year on-off romance from 1978-1987.
Reeve shared youngest son Will, now 31, with wife Dana, who died from lung cancer aged 44 in 2006 — just 17 months after Reeve’s death from heart failure.
Christopher Reeve’s lookalike eldest son Matthew has emotionally reflected on the star’s first public appearance at the 1996 Oscars since he was left paralyzed following a horse riding accident (Matthew pictured January 2024)
Reeve is best known for his role as Superman in four iconic films (pictured left in 1978’s Superman). Matthew (R) is the spitting image of his late father
Reeve brought stars to tears during his appearance at the Oscars in 1996 — one year after he was left paralyzed
Speaking to People at the Sundance premiere of documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story – and ahead of the 20th anniversary of Reeve’s death. Matthew said: ‘I remember I was in London, it was a school night and we stayed up until three or four in the morning to watch it. And it was absolutely incredible.
‘And what sticks with me most was after that incredible warm welcome and that very long ovation that he received, his introduction — he followed it up with a wonderful speech about how cinema and movies are at their best when they not only entertain, but they inform and educate and address issues.
‘So that’s always stuck with me. And that’s why also I feel like here, at Sundance, that’s what they do and that’s what they live for.’
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story — directed by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui — left Sundance audience members in tears upon its premiere.
The documentary — largely narrated by Reeve thanks to the two audiobook versions of his memoirs — begins on New Year’s Eve 1994 with Reeve saying his life was ‘perfectly balanced but in an instant everything changed.’ He was paralyzed less than five months later.
The film features home video footage of the star and interviews with his children and actor friends — with fans shown how he rose to fame as one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars.
It depicts Reeve’s battle with the ‘darkest thoughts’ after his paralysis – telling his wife Dana: ‘Maybe we should let me go; with Dana responding: ‘You’re still you and I love you.’
He later said: ‘When Dana whispered those life-saving words to me… it meant more to me than just a personal declaration of faith and commitment.
Matthew, now 44, is the first child of Reeve — who died aged 52 in 2004 — and Gae Exton. The couple also welcomed daughter Alexandra, 40, with Reeve father to son Will, now 31, from his marriage to the late Dana Reeve (pictured together January 2024)
Superman star (left) Reeve was a real-life superhero before and after the accident. At right he is pictured circa 1977
At the age of 42 in 1995, Superman star Reeve was left paralyzed from the neck down after being thrown from a horse during an equestrian competition in Culpeper, Virginia . He relied upon a wheelchair and ventilator for the rest of his life (pictured with Matthew in 2002)
Will was orphaned when his beloved mother Dana died from lung cancer aged just 44 in 2006 — 17 months after Reeve’s death aged 52 (the couple are pictured in 2003)
‘In a sense it was an affirmation that marriage and family stood at the center of everything, and if both were intact, so was your universe.’
Reeve notably had a close friendship with late actor, Robin Williams, and the two were roommates while studying at Juilliard in the 1970s.
Glenn Close recounts how Reeve was ‘terrified that he could die at any moment’ after his accident and how his close friendship with Williams gave his strength.
Close said: ‘I’ve always thought if Chris was still around, then Robin would still be alive.’
His son Will also opens up about losing both his parents within 18 months of one another, saying: ‘That was the moment, I’ve been alone ever since then.’
Will, now a successful sports journalist, was raised by the family’s next door neighbors and close friends.
All three children work with the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation which aims to cure spinal cord injury by advancing innovative research and improving the quality of life for individuals and families impacted by paralysis.
He had also starred in other projects during the course of his career, such as working alongside Jane Seymour in Somewhere In Time (1980)
Reeve is best known for his role as hero Superman but he used his fame to help others (pictured 1986)
Reeve is pictured with Matthew and Alexandra and ex partner Gae Exton
The foundation’s legacy is celebrated in the film, ending with a quote from Reeve on what he believes a hero is.
He said: ‘A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.’
Reeve notably portrayed the iconic superhero, Superman, in the film Superman (1978), Superman II (1980), Superman III (1983) and Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (1987).
He had also starred in other projects during the course of his career, such as working alongside Jane Seymour in Somewhere In Time (1980).
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