Latest news with #ChristopherReeve
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman and More Fared After Starring in the ‘Superman' Franchise
Some stars have found their roles to be kryptonite to their careers, while others have met more tragic endings. Christopher Reeve After flying high as the Man of Steel in four Superman films, Christopher was tragically thrown from his horse and paralyzed in 1995. He and devoted wife Dana used their fame to aid charities by pushing for more funding for paralysis cures. Christopher died of heart failure in 2004, and Dana died of lung cancer two years later. George Reeves TV's popular Man of Steel starred in Superman and the Mole Men and the series Adventures of Superman, but became depressed after being typecast and was unable to land other major roles. He was found dead at age 45 of a gunshot that was ruled suicide by officials, but theories have emerged that he may have been murdered. Brandon Routh The Man of Steel in 2006's Superman Returns has struggled to find work other than a few small film roles and TV guest appearances. In January, his Dexter star wife, Courtney Ford, slapped him with divorce papers and faster than a speeding bullet settled their marriage within weeks with them sharing joint custody of their 12-year-old son, Leo. Margot Kidder Margot, who played hard-nosed Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane in Christopher Reeve's four Superman movies, was left partially paralyzed from a devastating car crash in 1990. She eventually had to file for bankruptcy and suffered substance abuse issues. Margot died at age 69 from a drug and alcohol overdose in 2018. Gene Hackman The Lex Luthor to Christopher Reeve's Superman in three films, Gene's ending was horrific as authorities concluded that the Alzheimer's-stricken actor, 95, died at his New Mexico home about a week after his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, passed there from a rare disease transmitted by rats. Their bodies weren't discovered for days. Dean Cain Having starred with Teri Hatcher on the TV series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman from 1993 to 1997, Dean, 59, has appeared in a few TV spots, a small film here and there, and comic conventions, then played Supergirl's father for six episodes on the TV series starring Melissa Benoist. Supergirl was canceled in 2021. Lee Quigley Londoner Lee was 7 months old when he played baby Kal-El in Christopher Reeve's 1978 blockbuster. His movie parents on Krypton were Marlon Brando and Susannah York, and he was the first non-American Superman. Lee fell into a troubled childhood and died inhaling solvents at the tender age of 14 in 1991. Tom Welling After his 10-season run as Superman/Clark Kent on the teen drama Smallville, Tom didn't find producers beating a path to his door with meaty job offers. In January, the 48-year-old actor was busted on DUI charges in California. He pleaded no contest to a lesser charge and was ordered to pay $619 in fines, $150 in restitution, and attend a DUI program. The DUI charge was dropped, and he was placed on one-year probation, per US Weekly. Solve the daily Crossword
IOL News
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Tears, truth and 'Super/Man': how Christopher Reeve's story hit me harder than kryptonite
Christopher Reeve became an overnight star when he was cast in the 1978 'Superman' movie. Image: ©Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection As a TV critic, I have watched my fair share of documentaries, but none has left as indelible an impression as 'Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story' on Showmax. To date, it's won a plethora of accolades, including Best Documentary honours at the British Academy Film Awards and the Producers Guild of America, and several more at the Critics' Choice Documentary Awards (including Best Documentary Feature). Currently, it's in the running for Outstanding Directing For A Documentary/Nonfiction Program, Outstanding Writing For A Nonfiction, Outstanding Music Composition For A Documentary Series Or Special and Outstanding Picture Editing For A Nonfiction Program at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards. These accolades are a testament to the creatives behind the feature, which is co-directed and co-written by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, who share the writing credit with Otto Burnham. Unlike most documentaries that take you through what is easily Googleable, this one adopts a more heartfelt approach by interviewing family, close industry friends and associates. In doing so, it offers viewers an intimate look at his legacy, juxtaposed by the setbacks born from a near-fatal horse-riding accident in 1995, which left him paralysed from the neck down. In a recent interview with Robert Ford, a South African producer based in the UK, sharing the credits with Lizzie Gillett and Bonhôte, he provided insight into the making of this feature. Ford shared, 'I was always very familiar with Chris's story. Even as a child and a teenager in South Africa, I knew that he was this iconic movie star who then had this very unexpected accident and completely transformed his life. 'So it's a fascinating story. And when I got the opportunity to make the film, it was a no-brainer to do it because not only is it this great story, but we had access to huge amounts of archive footage and to the family, so you know, his children are interviewed and they're brilliant in the film. 'What you realise watching the film is that it's a story about family. It's about his wife, Dana, and their relationship and then the children and his legacy living on in the children. So I think people watching it would take away that it's about family and legacy.' Christopher Reeve after his near-fatal horse-riding accident. Image: Courtesy of Showmax The feature includes heart-warming recollections by his children, Matthew Reeve and Alexandra Reeve Givens, from a previous relationship with Gae Exton, as well as Will Reeve, whom he had with Dana. It is bolstered by actors Jeff Daniels, Susan Sarandon, Glenn Close and Whoopi Goldberg, politician John Kerry, activist Brooke Ellison, 'Superman' producer Pierre Spengler, former Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation Senior Vice President of Government Relations Michael Manganiello, Kessler Institute chief medical officer Dr Steven Kirshblum and Christopher's assistant Laurie Hawkins. What also stands out is Christopher's close-knit friendship with Robin Williams and how it endured over the years. It is captured so poetically through archived material. That Christopher's actual voice, taken from his audiobooks, 'Still Me' and 'Nothing is Impossible', is used in the narration, is such a goosebump moment. It is this attention to detail that speaks to the prowess of the storytelling in this feature, which introduces Christopher as an outgoing, determined actor who became an overnight star after being cast as Superman. He used both his strength and smarts to build his career, choosing unexpected roles and championing environmental causes along the way. While the tragic accident had a ripple effect on those around him, it also changed his perception of the struggles of people with disabilities, leading him to become their unofficial spokesperson. UK-based South African producer, Robert Ford. Image: Courtesy of Showmax Ford added, 'So we strived to make a film that's personal and intimate. We had a lot of footage from Chris's son, Matthew, who's a film-maker and who filmed everything. So a lot of the film takes place in the family home, which people have never seen before. 'And then all the people we interviewed were people who were very close to Chris. They were not just commentators; they were his friends and family who knew him extremely well. We have interviews with Susan Sarandon, Glenn Close and Whoopi Goldberg in the film. 'Because they were close friends of Chris, they could comment on what he was like as a person. What we learned through the film is that he was a really actually a kind, empathetic person who really cared about others and strived to make the lives of others better. And we saw that before and after his accident.' He continued: 'But after the accident, his purpose changed, because then he was part of the disabled community and he put his energy into improving their lives.' Christopher was not someone who gave up easily. A stoic person, he was hellbent on defying the odds and getting better. His strong-willed nature saw him pivot into directing. He attended prestigious events, raising awareness for his cause, especially in securing government funding. The bittersweet ending will leave viewers in their feels. It's heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. As for the Emmy nomination, Ford revealed: 'We never expected it, and it's not the reason we made the film. It's kind of come as a surprise and but you know, it's very exciting, you know, going up on the Bafta stage, and it's wonderful for a film-maker. 'But the reason we made the film is actually to tell a great story, to give an audience an insight into something they haven't seen before. And really, to just serve the audience.' A hero both on and off screen, this documentary delivers an emotionally charged portrayal of a cinematic legend who balanced vulnerability and strength with quiet, unwavering courage. Rating: ***** reserved for cinematic masterpieces that excel on every level.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'70s Stunner Shares Never-Before-Heard Story of Late Christopher Reeve
'70s Stunner Shares Never-Before-Heard Story of Late Christopher Reeve originally appeared on Parade. A breakout '70s star recently revealed the sweetest story about late Superman star Christopher Reeve. Lynn-Holly Johnson burst onto the show business scene in 1978 in Ice Castles, a beloved figure skating romantic drama co-starring Robby Benson. Johnson was cast at least in part because she was already an accomplished figure skater. Shortly after Ice Castles, Johnson was cast in the 1980 supernatural horror film The Watcher in the Woods, which co-starred Hollywood legend Bette Davis and 11-year-old Kyle Richards from the Real Housewives franchise. But the biggest moment for Johnson to come out of Watcher in the Woods was meeting Christopher Reeve, who was filming Superman on the Pinewood Studios backlot at the same time Johnson was there filming Watcher. She told Remind Magazine in a new interview that they became good friends and shared a very special day together."I'm so thrilled to have worked at Pinewood Studios," said Johnson, adding, "I was there filming the Watcher's ending, where I'm supposed to fly. At the same time, Christopher Reeve was filming Superman at Pinewood. Christopher and I both chatted a lot in the dining room and hung out a bit. We even went to a premiere together." She continued, "Christopher said to me, 'OK, let's get you on my set and we're going to show you how to fly.' So, Christopher, his stuntman, his stunt coordinator and the Watcher's stunt coordinator — all just hung out on the Superman set and they taught me how to fly. There I was flying — next to Superman. I didn't realize at the time how special that was — looking back — that was a cool moment." Johnson went on to say how "heartbreaking" it was in 1995 when Reeve suffered the tragic horse accident that left him a quadriplegic at the age of 42. Reeve later died of a heart attack after receiving treatment for an infection, something that he frequently experienced after becoming paralyzed from the neck down. He was just 52 when he passed away. "It's just such a shame we lost him – it's heartbreaking," said Johnson, adding, "I can't believe he's gone. That documentary about his life is so beautiful." The documentary in question is Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2024. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 '70s Stunner Shares Never-Before-Heard Story of Late Christopher Reeve first appeared on Parade on Jul 7, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Gizmodo
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘Superman' Reignites Interest in ‘Man of Steel' and ‘Peacemaker'
Now that Superman is out in theaters, audiences have come out of it wanting to see more of him. And what better place to get more of Supes than HBO Max? According to a recent Deadline report, viewership for Man of Steel, the 1978 Superman, and the Christopher Reeve documentary Super/Man have all received massive viewership spikes in the past week. Where Steel's week-over-week viewership grew by 218% and Superman: The Movie by 322%, Super/Man had the biggest growth at 1,206%. All three make sense: Man of Steel was the last solo Supes movie, and James Gunn's film is courting fans who saw and loved the Reeve films. Interestingly, this knockback effect has also hit Peacemaker, Gunn's TV spinoff for The Suicide Squad. The show's second season arrives in August, and in light of the film's cameos featuring John Cena's titular antihero and Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., viewership grew 91% week-over-week for season one. Deadline's report only mentions that show and three films, so it's difficult to know how or if other pieces of Superman media like Creature Commandos and the unconnected Superman & Lois and My Adventures with Superman—or heck, even Smallville and Superman Returns—got spikes of their own. Regardless, it's certainly another point in the win column for Warner Bros. and the superhero himself. Between this and the news of rising interest in adopting dogs, it's safe to say Superman's impact extends beyond making money. (Which it continues to do.) Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Snubbed by Oscars, redeemed by Emmys: How eligibility rules revived ‘Super/Man,' ‘I Am: Celine Dion,' and ‘Will & Harper'
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, I Am: Celine Dion, The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, and Will & Harper share something in common: all four documentaries were snubbed at the 2025 Oscars but have now earned nominations at the 77th Emmys. It's an unusual rule that makes this possible. Even after launching a full Oscar campaign — as these documentaries did — they can still compete at the Emmys if they fail to secure an Oscar nomination. The rule is a bit murky, though, as simply earning an Oscar nomination (in any category) makes a film ineligible for the Emmys. While this has become a common practice, there's still confusion about how documentaries are submitted for the Emmys, which categories they qualify for, and why some films can compete at both the Oscars and Emmys while others cannot. More from Gold Derby 'Squid Game' and Diego Luna are the year's biggest Emmy snubs: Poll Instant Emmy prediction data shows 'The Studio' and 'Severance' out to early leads, with 'Hacks' and 'The Pitt' lurking Adding to the complexity is the fact that documentaries that campaign for an Emmy first — even if they win — are still eligible to campaign for an Oscar. Such was the case just two years ago when Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie won the Emmy for Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special and subsequently launched an Oscar campaign. While the film made the shortlist, it ultimately failed to secure an Academy Award nomination. "Eligibility is only affected if the documentary has been nominated for an Oscar prior to being submitted to the Emmys," a rep for the TV Academy explains to Gold Derby. "No rule exists in the Emmy competition that would disallow a program from submitting to the Oscars after it has been awarded the Emmy." In short, it's possible for a documentary to win both the Emmy and the Oscar — as long as the Emmy comes first. Adding to the confusion is the distinction between two Emmy categories to which these films are submitted: Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking and Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special. Once again, Gold Derby asked the Television Academy to clarify: "The producers or network/platform decide which category they wish to submit to, but all entries that are submitted to Exceptional Merit are reviewed to confirm the program meets the eligibility criteria. Additionally, if a documentary had an extended theatrical run (an aggregate of more than 70 days), it's not eligible to compete as a Documentary Special, but is eligible in Exceptional Merit if it was produced by a media company that produces programs primarily for television and there was always the intent for the program to have a national distribution on television." One key "eligibility criterion" states that a documentary's television broadcast or streaming debut must occur within one year of its initial public exhibition — excluding film festival screenings, which are not considered theatrical releases. The Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking category was designed to honor documentaries that enjoyed a robust theatrical run before airing on television. With the rules clarified, let's dive into the nominees. Prime Video's I Am: Celine Dion and Netflix's The Remarkable Life of Ibelin are both contenders in the Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking category, alongside Disney's Patrice: The Movie. However, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, despite earning four other Emmy nominations for directing, editing, writing, and musical score, was excluded from this top category. Gold Derby's early Emmy predictions now show The Remarkable Life of Ibelin as the early front-runner over I Am: Celine Dion. Documentary Filmmaking Contender Odds 1. The Remarkable Life of Ibelin 60.2% 2. I Am: Celine Dion 37.5% 3. Patrice: The Movie 2.3% Meanwhile, Netflix's Will & Harper is competing in the Documentary or Nonfiction Special category against Deaf Presidents Now! (Apple TV+), Martha (Netflix), Pee-wee as Himself (HBO Max), and Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius) (Hulu). Our data has Pee-wee as Himself is the current favorite, with Will & Harper coming in a close second. Documentary Special Contender Odds 1. Pee-wee as Himself 62.5% 2. Will and Harper 31.8% 3. Sly Lives! -- 4. Deaf President Now! 3.4% 5. Martha 2.3% Winners will be announced at the 2025 Creative Arts Emmys taking place Sept. 6 and Sept. 7 in Los Angeles. Best of Gold Derby Everything to know about 'The Pitt' Season 2, including the departure of Tracy Ifeachor's Dr. Collins Everything to know about 'Too Much,' Lena Dunham's Netflix TV show starring Megan Stalter that's kinda, sorta 'based on a true story' Cristin Milioti, Amanda Seyfried, Michelle Williams, and the best of our Emmy Limited Series/Movie Actress interviews Click here to read the full article. Solve the daily Crossword
