The highly anticipated film, which will bring DC comics favorites Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman together on the big screen for the first time, is hitting theaters this Friday, March 25. Batman will be played by Ben Affleck with Superman being played by Henry Cavill.
Henry Cavill will be the latest in a long line of Superman’s going back when it was first aired on television by George Reeves in 1952.
However in my opinion the real superman was Christopher Reeve who played the role in the first of the series in 1978. His real superman role actually came away from his motion picture portrayal of the comic book super hero in the movie.
Christopher D’Olier Reeve was born September 25, 1952, in New York City to journalist Barbara Johnson and writer/professor Franklin F.D. Reeve. Reeve was an American actor, Film director, producer, screenwriter, author, and an active activist.
On May 27, 1995, Reeve became a quadriplegic after being thrown from a horse during an equestrian competition. He required a wheelchair and a portable ventilator for the rest of his life. He lobbied on behalf of people with spinal-cord injuries and for human embryonic stem cell research, founding the Christopher Reeve Foundation and co-founding the Reeve-Irvine Research Center.
In October 2004, Reeve died suddenly of cardiac arrest at 52 while co-directing ironically enough a animated film called Everyone’s Hero. This was one of his dream projects with both his wife, Dana and his son Will helping out, Will was cast as a member in the film.
Also in 2004, Reeve directed the A&E film The Brooke Ellison Story the film is based on the true story of Brook Ellison, the first quadriplegic to graduate from Harvard University.
I had the pleasure of seeing Christopher Reeve speak at an event shortly before his death. Going back in my notes I wrote “A great human being.” Reeve’s words were among many “I am doing more now than I did before my accident. It’s not about me, it’s about making a difference.” “It’s the kids that are the real heroes.”
We all have the opportunity as individuals each and every day to put on our cape and be The Real Supermen. So, go out there and make a difference, whatever way you know best.