Exclusive: Family, Friends Remember Christopher Reeve

By PopEater Staff Posted Oct 14th 2009 03:42PM

In an interview given exclusively to PopEater, Christopher Reeve's son and friends speak to In Touch Weekly about the star's death and legacy.

In November, Matthew Reeve plans to run the New York City Marathon, representing the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. "My father would probably wonder what happened to his son, who's this imposter?" Matthew joked.

"Hopefully, he'd be impressed," the 29-year-old said.

Friends of the 'Superman' star added their own thoughts.

"Christopher would be so proud of his kids," Jane Seymour told In Touch.

"He couldn't breathe by himself, couldn't move. Yet he was able to make a huge difference globally," she continued, referring to Reeve's 1995 riding accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down.

The Chrisopher & Dana Reeve Foundation has been integral in advancing paralysis research over the years. "It's because of Chris. He used to talk about how, in a strange way, the accident was a gift. He said, 'Now I have a chance to really do something,'" Jane explained.

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Tags: Christopher Reeve, ChristopherReeve, jane seymour, JaneSeymour

Comments

(18)

Wednesday 14 October

By mysterygirlx11

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Christopher Reeve always seemed like a cool cat. Great blue eyes and very romantic.
But hey that could be said of a lot of Hollywood men.

After the accident Chris became more to more people
and it was a "gift" in a strange sort of way. He touched more lives and gave more hope through his own struggles. Bless his soul, his late wife and also bless his family for carrying on the good :)

By Paul

The magic between Chris Reeve and Jane Seymour was illustrated by the classic romantic film, "Somewhere in Time". Jane felt close enough to Chris to name one of her twins after the late lamented star. I have reached the age where I no longer want to hear any bad news (even if true) about people who we have come to admire for one reason or another. Allow me to enjoy the emotional impact of their film for the rest of my days. And when I die, I will come back and haunt you if you libel these mythic lovers. Ciao!

By WinchesterW

AMEN Paul! May I second your feelings?! Bless You!

By J9

Just revisited "The Remains of the Day" last week... probably one of his finest roles... so assured in it & utterly believable. I hope his family knows that he is far from forgotten -- and will be "rediscovered" by audiences long after we are all gone.

Thursday 15 October

By Erica

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I saw this too. I cannot help but watch him move his impressive 6'+ frame around and wonder why he could not do that today. I cannot believe how fast time flies. That has to be the absolutely saddest story in Hollywood.

By Barbie

Since none of my comments are posting today I'll take the chance that this one will. I worked at Kessler Institute where the Reeve foundation was formed and used. One morning I was running to catch the elevator because I was running late. I got to the elevator and there was Christopher Reeves and I wasn't sure if I should step in or just wait for another elevator, but the man who was pushing the wheelchair said come on in. He and I didn't exchange one word on that elevator, but I can tell you all this and this is just my observation of a one minute ride along side him, he was the unhappiest man I have ever seen. This was a situation where the camera's were off, where there was no one racing up to him, where he was just himself on a regular morning. All the photo's we see in magazines were shot with him having on this happy face, but thats not the man I saw in the elevator.

By Pat

Even as a perfectly healthly person I am not always upbeat with a happy face.

Now if you tell me you are always upbeat I would feel you are not being honest.

Wake up Barbie, this is a very inspiring family.

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God rest his soul. But the man I rode with in the elevator had his hand stapped down on the arms of the chair, his neck and head were propped up and held into position with velcro straps, as were his legs. It was a horrible, horrible way to see a man who had once been so handsome and full of life. He was pale, and his face was blotched up, not someone you would think was a big movie star at one time. And yes I too thought of the movie Somewhere In Time and now this is not that same man. He suffered, he was helpless, and he was very unhappy. He is in a better place and while he became the voice of those who suffer the same condition and fate, that is probably the only thing that kept him alive. And then to have his wife so soon after him, he was tragedy all the way around for their son. His parents are watching him and would be very proud of what he is doing in their honor and memory

By LuxeLife

Save your stupid jokes for someone who deserves them. Christopher and Dana Reeve were wonderful people who worked tirelessly to help others with spinal cord injuries.

By LeeAnn

Christopher Reeves is a true hero. After his accident, he could have gone the rest of his life in solitude, yet he put himself out there. A good man with a good son!

By Marsha

Please at least get the name correct... It is Reeve not Reeves..

By SHARIANN MILLS

DEAR DANA, I AM VERY SORRY ABOUT CHRISTOPHER IN EVERYTHING THAT HAPPEN TO HIM.BUT YOU WILL SEE HIM AGAIN.GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

By kelsheros

Dana Reeves is dead too. She passed away from lung cancer a few years ago.

By patricia

you are such a fool. Too bad you and Mr. Reeve can't change places!

By flyer

Chris Reeve was a pilot, as I am. Prior to his horse riding tragedy he flew into our upstate NY airport in his twin engine Beech. He was a very congenial and thoughtful person. Unlike some other Hollywood types, he was not an elitist who disdained brushing with the common folks. He had signed autographed momentos and a cheerful personality for the line crew and anyone with whom he spoke. At that time, he was a genuinely friendly and engaging person who brought meaningful conversation into his dialogues; never rushing such or giving the least indication of impatience.

By Eddie

I met Christopher Reeve when he was doing a play at the Public Theater where I was working. He was always so kind and approachable, always saying hello. He was truly heroic to put himself out there after his horrible accident and continue to live an extraordinary life with his wife Dana. They were a blessing to the world.

Pat,
I must reply to what you made a comment about. Yes none of us are "ON" all the time, of course thats how life is, so I'm very honest about what I feel and think at all times in my life. We all have bad days, no doubt about it.
I myself suffer from MS, so I can say with all honesty that I have alot of bad days, alot of days where I suffer and have no relief from it.
I think you missed my point in what I observed that one morning when I stood only a foot away from him and I saw his reality. Call it intution, call it just a feeling, call it whatever word you would like to call it. What I saw in his eyes, in his face was not something I was imaging, it was a real life experience of a very unhappy and sad person. Only I know what I saw and felt that day. Yes he did great works with spinal cord injuries, yes he was a fighter for the cause, yes he was all that and probably more, but still there is no mistake in what I saw either. I don't believe he would have wanted to live if he had a choice. But thats just a personal opinion. What I saw that day was the unhappiest man in the world, and you can't fake that, you can't hide that, he and I didn't exchange a goodmorning, he just stared blankly in front looking at the door. If he was what you said, we would have at least exchanged a hello, a polite goodmorning, or some other plesantry considering we were riding in that very small elevator with only him and I and the person pushing the wheelchair. JMO

By randy lee marshall

Christopher Reeve was not known throughout the industry when he was acting as a nice person. If anything just the opposite. He and his family did not believe in God and he died that way.You can bet he has changed his mind since then.

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