5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Christopher Reeve

Written by Ilan Mester

Fri, 06/29/12 - 12:12

Christopher Reeve will forever be known as Superman. The late actor and Golden Globe nominee became synonymous with the Man of Steel after playing him in four hit movies during the 1970’s and 80’s. He also made headlines worldwide after suffering from a horse-riding accident in 1995 that left him paralyzed from the neck down. But there’s a lot more to Reeve than his role as Superman and his passion for horses. Here are five things you probably didn’t know about the late star:   

No. 1:

Reeve started his acting career early on. He landed a summer apprenticeship at the Williamstown Theater Festival when he was only 15. By the time he was 16, Reeve already had himself an agent.  

No. 2: 

Many actors skip university for a chance to get a head start in the industry. Reeve wasn’t one of them. He was accepted into Ivy League schools like Cornell and Brown University. The Superman star chose Cornell because his grandfather graduated from the prestigious school. He later enrolled at Juilliard in New York -- the same performing arts school that counts award-winning performers like Jessica Chastain and Laura Linney as graduates. 

No. 3:

Although Reeve became a household name after playing Superman, he took on many behind-the-camera roles throughout his career. He produced a slew of projects, including the animated flick Everyone’s Hero (which he also directed) and the 1998 TV movie Rear Window. Reeve also directed the award-winning TV film The Brooke Ellison Story, which came out in 2004 -- the same year he died. 

No. 4:

Reeve loved hockey; he played the sport throughout elementary school and high school.

No. 5: 

Superman is without a doubt the role that catapulted Reeve into stardom. But he also starred in another film called Somewhere in Time, which became a cult classic. Released after his first Superman flick, the romantic sci-fi movie saw Reeve play a photographer drawn to a picture of a young woman. He decides to travel back in time to find her. 

The Oscar-nominated movie -- which also starred Jane Seymour and Christopher Plummer -- underperformed at the box office when it came out. But it gained a cult following after its theatrical release. One fan created The International Network of Somewhere in Time Enthusiasts as a place for fans to share their passion for the movie. There’s even an annual gathering that takes place at the Grand Hotel in Michigan(where part of the film was shot).

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