Google remembers actor Christopher Reeve – why he was such an icon
Saturday, 25 September 2021 would have been Hollywood actor Christopher Reeve’s 69th birthday – to commemorate this, Google honoured the legend with a homepage Doodle.
The actor died in October 2004.
Reeve’s career includes roles in soap operas and even broadway – but it was the iconic role of Superman that cemented his standing as a box office drawing card. He beat close to 200 other actors for that coveted role he would play in four films over the course of a decade.
“His performance as the iconic superhero in the four-part film franchise launched him to international fame, but he refused to be typecast in action roles. To this end, he brought a diverse range of characters to life both in cinema and on stage throughout his career. Outside of acting, he was an enthusiastic equestrian and athlete,” Google said in a statement about Reeve.
Today's #GoogleDoodle celebrates the birthday of American actor & humanitarian Christopher Reeve
— Google Doodles (@GoogleDoodles) September 25, 2021
On camera, Reeve was the Man of Steel. Off camera, he was a devoted advocate of people with disabilities and other social causes.
→ https://t.co/PgqZ6xc509 #GoogleDoodle pic.twitter.com/Klacbf3tlM
Christopher Reeve: His true legacy
Sadly, a tragic event in 1995 would change Christopher Reeve’s live forever: He was involved in a horse-riding accident during a competition in Virginia. The injury left him paralyzed from the shoulders down and he was forced to use a wheelchair and ventilator for the rest of his life.
Despite this, Reeve continued working – directing several made-for-television productions and establishing the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation in 1998 (named after both he and his wife who died of lung cancer in 2006)
Reeve also appeared in in the Superman-themed television series Smallville, and wrote two autobiographical books, Still Me and Nothing is Impossible.
Much of his legacy is rooted in his advocacy for the disabled, which was no doubt inspired by his own struggles after the accident.
“Reeve used his platform to bring increased awareness to topics related to disabilities and dedicated his life to driving positive change for the community. This included sponsoring bills to raise lifetime insurance “caps” to better support people with disabilities and helping pass the 1999 Work Incentives Improvement Act, which secured ongoing insurance payments to people with disabilities even after they return to work,” said Google in part.
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