From the archives: This story was last updated in November 2019.
For actor Christopher Reeve, who became famous for his portrayal of Superman in the 1970s, “[a] hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” By any definition, his late wife Dana Reeve fits the bill. A noted singer and actress in film and television, after her husband’s tragic horse-riding accident in 1995 that left him paralyzed, she became a tireless caretaker and advocate for people with disabilities.Even as Christopher Reeve became less and less able to fend for himself, Dana stayed right by his side, running the foundation they created for people with paralysis and raising their son Will, who was born just three years before Reeve’s tragic accident.
