摘要

In 1978, Superman, The Movie was released to thunderous applause worldwide. It starred Christopher Reeve, a young, Juilliard-trained actor who was more at home onstage than as the Man of Steel. Offscreen, he was an avid volunteer for political, environmental, and social causes. Until a tragic horse jumping accident in 1995, however, Christopher Reeve's big-screen persona largely overshadowed his off-camera activism. The accident left Reeve a quadriplegic. In the days that followed his injury, his wife and family fueled his will to live. In addition, the love and concern he had shown the world through his volunteerism-most notably displayed by his journey to Chile in 1988 to save actors wrongly sentenced to death-were returned to the injured Reeve by thousands of fans. Less than a year after his accident, Reeve returned to public life, making such unforgettable appearances as his speech at the 68th Academy Awards program. And as he continues his rehabilitation, Reeve's commitment to helping others deepens. This real-life hero has awakened both new and longtime admirers to the needs of spinal-cord injury victims, and he has raised millions of dollars to support the search for a cure. Book jacket.