A number of actors have donned the red-capped character of Superman, but only a few have managed to leave a long-lasting impact on the audience’s hearts. From Henry Cavill and Kirk Alyn to Dean Cain, actors have presented their own version of the iconic hero on the silver screen.
There have been ten live iterations of the red-capped superhero so far, with David Corenswet playing the 11th one in the upcoming Superman, directed by James Gunn. Despite that, even after all these years and many actors having played the role, the late Christopher Reeve remains a fan favorite.
This one picture featuring Christopher Reeve can make any fan emotional
Based on multiple Reddit and Twitter fan pages, it is clear that many people regard Christopher Reeve as the original Superman. The actor initially donned the Man of Steel suit in Richard Donner’s 1978 film and went on to repeat the role in Superman 2 (1980), Superman 3 (1983), and Superman 4: The Quest for Peace (1987).
However, disaster struck in 1995, when an equestrian accident left him quadriplegic. After that, the actor stepped away from acting but continued to advocate for spinal cord injury research until his death in 2004. However, fans were taken down memory lane when a fan page on X shared a picture of Reeve sitting alongside Tom Welling.
#Superman actors being in the same place at the same time.
— Luke Bugg “The Geek Of Steel” 🔜SDCC (@thegeekofsteel) June 30, 2024
❤️💛💙 pic.twitter.com/lEsoP6jEEW
The first picture appears to be when the late actor made a cameo in Welling’s starrer Smallville. After this, he was seen promoting his spinal cord injury foundation, The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. Not only that, but the fan post included other Superman actors as well.
The second photo has a double Superman vibe and shows Brandon Routh and Tyler Hoechlin on the set of Crisis on Infinite Earths. The third image shows Dean Cain and Brandon Routh sitting opposite each other on a flight.
Finally, the fourth one has actors David Corenswet and Jack Quaid filming for the television series The Tap.
Christopher Reeve’s children are equally proud of the actor
The documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, which premiered at Sundance on January 19, 2024, shows the audience who the great Christopher Reeve was. The documentary depicts his rise to popularity, his tragic equestrian accident, and his work as a spinal cord injury campaigner.
Furthermore, it includes comprehensive footage of his children, Will, Matthew, and Alexandra, as well as his inner group. In an interview with The Wrap, Will Reeve added:
You might think you know Superman, or the advocate, or whatever version of Christopher Reeve you think you know, but then you get to see him as a dad
Making the documentary was made feasible by his children’s involvement in the project, which allowed them unrestricted access to the late actor’s archives and their own viewpoints. The archives included the actor’s original Superman audition tapes as well as many interviews from the 1970s and 1980s.
This documentary honors not only Reeve but also his wife, Dana Reeve, who cared for him for many years before passing away from cancer in 2006.
