Christopher Reeve

Born: 25 September 1952
Where: New York
Died: 09 October 2004

Christopher Reeve became an overnight star when Superman came out in 1978 and he returned for its three sequels in 1980, 1983 and 1987.

He said he based his portrayal of Clark Kent in the Superman films on a younger Cary Grant.

But the well-built actor met with mixed results when he tried to throw out the red and blue costume.

And while he will be best remembered for his role as Superman, his acting career was broader than this. 

Having made a brief appearance in Gray Lady Down before Superman, he went on to appear in Somewhere In Time, Deathtrap and Monsignor before being outshone in the gritty Street Smart.

He turned down many famous roles, including the lead role in American Gigolo in 1980, which went to Richard Gere. 

Reeve also turned down the role of Fletcher Christian in Bounty in 1984, which was taken by Mel Gibson. 

He was also offered the lead in The Running Man in 1987, which went to Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

He said he turned down these roles to take on more challenging ones - and found success in mini-series and TV movies as well as on stage with farcical roles in Switching Channels and Noises Off.

He was paralysed in 1995 in a riding accident - ironically while making a film about horse safety - and battled until the end to try to walk again.

At a cost of nearly £300,000 a year in medical bills, he announced just before his 50th birthday that he could move some of his fingers and toes.

Reeve, who leaves a widow Dana, two sons and a daughter, broke his leg after falling out of his wheelchair during a workout in 2000. 

One of the last characters that he was played before his accident, was a paralysed individual in the film Above Suspicion in 1995.