'Superman' star Christopher Reeve dies at age 52

[MavsFanFinley]

'Superman' star Christopher Reeve dies at age 52

NEW YORK (USATODAY.com) — Christopher Reeve, the star of the Superman movies whose near-fatal riding accident nine years ago turned him into a worldwide advocate for spinal cord research, died Sunday of heart failure, his publicist said. He was 52.

Reeve fell into a coma Saturday after going into cardiac arrest while at his New York home, his publicist, Wesley Combs told The Associated Press by phone from Washington, D.C., on Sunday night.

Reeve was being treated at Northern Westchester Hospital for a pressure wound that he developed, a common complication for people living with paralysis. In the past week, the wound had become severely infected, resulting in a serious systemic infection.

"On behalf of my entire family, I want to thank Northern Westchester Hospital for the excellent care they provided to my husband," Dana Reeve, Christopher's wife, said in a statement. "I also want to thank his personal staff of nurses and aides, as well as the millions of fans from around the world who have supported and loved my husband over the years."

Reeve broke his neck in May 1995 when he was thrown from his horse during an equestrian competition in Culpeper, Va.

Enduring months of therapy to allow him to breathe for longer and longer periods without a respirator, Reeve emerged to lobby Congress for better insurance protection against catastrophic injury and to move an Academy Award audience to tears with a call for more films about social issues.

He returned to directing, and even returned to acting in a 1998 production of Rear Window, a modern update of the Hitchcock thriller about a man in a wheelchair who becomes convinced a neighbor has been murdered. Reeve won a Screen Actors Guild award for best actor in a television movie or miniseries.

"I was worried that only acting with my voice and my face, I might not be able to communicate effectively enough to tell the story," Reeve said. "But I was surprised to find that if I really concentrated, and just let the thoughts happen, that they would read on my face. With so many close-ups, I knew that my every thought would count."

In his public appearances, he was as handsome as ever, his blue eyes bright and his voice clear.

"Hollywood needs to do more," he said in the March 1996 Oscar awards appearance. "Let's continue to take risks. Let's tackle the issues. In many ways our film community can do it better than anyone else. There is no challenge, artistic or otherwise, that we can't meet."

In 2000, Reeve was able to move his index finger, and a specialized workout regimen has made his legs and arms stronger. He has also regained sensation in other parts of his body.

[Drbio]

CNN is reporting it as well.

[twelli]

he will always be remembered as superman, on and off the screen

a truly inspiring hero

[mary]

I'm really shocked by this.

This 29 year old woman still has a pic of Superman hanging in her room. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

He was such an inspring man and one of the few Hollywood actors I believed to be a true role model.

[Murphy3]

What a sad day. He had made a few appearances on Smallville as well the past couple of years. It was truly a joy to see him back on screen. It was even more of a joy to know that he had regained just a little movement. The man never seemed bitter about his injury. He seemed to take it in stride and make the best out of the situation....it's just a sad day.

[mavsfanforever]

sad... very sad.

[XERXES]

dang it. i truly believed we would see him walk again.

[sike]

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

[Rod1975]

Oh no....[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

[EricaLubarsky]

From what I hear, he died from implications from an infected bedsore that clotted. That was totally preventable, and shows signs that he was neglected.

[Murphy3]

Originally posted by: EricaLubarsky
From what I hear, he died from implications from an infected bedsore that clotted. That was totally preventable, and shows signs that he was neglected.

I definitely hate reading reports such as this. "He said", "she said", and "from what I hear"... if you're going to say something such as this, have a link. Otherwise, you're disrespecting the family and the personnel that watched over Reeve for what is probably absolutely no reason.

Pressure points are very common with injuries such as the one incurred by Reeve. And yes, they can easily cause an infection that can be difficult to stop and is sometimes fatal.

Erica, I hope that you can be more responsible in the future.

[EricaLubarsky]

Sorry, Murphy. Luckily, there are posters as fune as you to tell me I'm wrong.

[Smiles]

It is hard to believe that, in this day and age, a bed sore could become so infected.

Speaking of preventable: The prettiest and most stylish of riding helmets (the ones most often worn in equestrian competitions in the 90s) are [almost] more dangerous than no helmet at all. They aren't certified as safety helmets, but people get a false sense of security from wearing them.

A bill pending in the U.S. Senate (the 'Christen O'Donnell Equestrian Helmet Safety Act of 2002'), sponsored by Christopher Dodd (D-CT) would set up a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission-enforced safety standard for equestrian helmets. Helmets would be required to conform to ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) and SEI (Safety Equipment Institute) standards in all states.

"It is essential to encourage children to wear helmets whenever mounted on a horse. Remind them that all athletes wear helmets, including astronauts.
Remember, always wear an ASTM/SEI approved safety helmet while riding. It could save your life!"

Equine Journal Article

More info: http://safe-riders-foundation.org/press.htm

I have no idea if this bill was ever passed. I've been away from the equestrian world for quite a while now.

[Murphy3]

Pressure wounds/sores or whatever you want to call them sometimes occurs under the skin and much of the damage is done before it appears on the outside of the skin.

[Phil Helmuth]

I'll wager erica doesn't give a damn, because she has board cred and is never wrong. Gag me.

[Smiles]

Originally posted by: Phil Helmuth
I'll wager erica doesn't give a damn, because she has board cred and is never wrong. Gag me.

Please leave if you wish to act like a troll.

or Please show a little respect and not use this thread to take shots at someone you dislike.

[Drbio]

Originally posted by: Phil Helmuth
I'll wager erica doesn't give a damn, because she has board cred and is never wrong. Gag me.

Phil- stop being a dick.

[u2sarajevo]

Originally posted by: Phil Helmuth
I'll wager erica doesn't give a damn, because she has board cred and is never wrong. Gag me.

Why do you come here? Is your sole purpose here to use betting terminology and discounting members with stature here?

If so, I recommend you find somewhere else to do that. (and you can take that as a warning)

[Murphy3]

If what he said was a warnable offense, a large number of 'members' would be gone from the site.

[Smiles]

Originally posted by: Murphy3
If what he said was a warnable offense, a large number of 'members' would be gone from the site.

I think because he's being a -what Doc said. It seems like this thread in particular isn't an appropriate place to be ugly.

Maybe he was only being sarcastic though?

Dear friends and comrads: I Can't access my PMs again today. I think it's something wrong w/my account because some days it happens from home and work, some days it happens from neither location.

[Murphy3]

It's also not a place to throw out accusations.

[TripleDipping]

It's also not a thread to be self-righteous. Darn can't we just mourn the man?

RIP, Man of steel.