Kryptonite Takes Its Toll

Star of the 70's and 80's super hit movies Superman has died.

According to Reuters/Yahoo news.

Actor Christopher Reeves has died at the age of 52. September 25, 1952 - October 10, 2004

For the details of his passing you can look here, here, or here.

The actor who became famous playing Superman, then turned into an icon for quadraplegics after he was left paralysed by a 1995 riding accident, died of a heart attack at his home on Sunday night.

BBC reported Reeve's publicist Wesley Combs saying the actor fell into a coma on Saturday after suffering a heart attack at his New York home.

Reeve had a severely infected pressure wound, which is a common ailment among paralysed people.

After he broke his neck in May 1995 -- he was thrown from his horse -- Reeve was left paralysed below the neck.

But he refused to accept his disability quietly. He underwent months of painful physiotherapy, which enabled him to breathe longer without his respirator, move his index finger, and regained movement in some of his limbs.

In a statement to the media, Reeve's wife Dana, who the actor acknowledged has been a huge source of support, said: 'I 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'.

In my youth, Superman was by far the one person I imagined I was when I was outside playing. When I was very young it didn't matter what my friends were playing I was Superman. We could be playing kickball, and when I was up to kick I would imagine kicking the ball to the moon. When we played Army or G.I. Joe I would pretend that I was Superman and I would help G.I. Joe defeat Cobra's evil Army. Ask, my siblings and they will probably remember the pictures of me in my Superman Underoos with my cheesy red (towel) cape.

Superman has been named America's number one pop culture icon by numerous media outlets on numerous occasions throughout the years. And while the legend of Superman will live on in comics, movies and the minds of little boys. The one man who I have always associated with being Supes has passed on.

The image of Chris Reeve as Superman is so etched into the minds of Americans that many couldn't believe that he was paralyzed in that riding accident back in 1995.

I guess it is safe to say that I am a huge fan (I know the picture quality is not the best). I got this tattoo while deployed during Iraqi Freedom.

It is a tragic loss. The one true (though not the first) Superman will never be forgotten.

SlagleRock Out!

Posted by SlagleRock at October 11, 2004 02:06 PM