---
name: "Christopher Reeve"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/christopher-reeve"
fi1m_id: "christopher-reeve"
imdb_id: "nm0001659"
tmdb_id: 20006
wikidata_id: "Q174311"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "25 September 1952"
died: "10 October 2004"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 60
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-04T18:16:01.006544+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Christopher Reeve

## Identity

Christopher Reeve

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/christopher-reeve
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** christopher-reeve
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001659
- **TMDB ID:** 20006
- **Wikidata ID:** Q174311
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Reeve, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q174311, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001659/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/20006

Actor. Born 25 September 1952 in New York City, New York, USA. Died 10 October 2004.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 25 September 1952, New York City, New York, USA
- **Died:** 10 October 2004
- **Active:** 1980–1993
- **Also known as:** کریستوفر ریو
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 5: 4 acting, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [David Newman](https://film.one/person/david-newman-6728.md), [Leslie Newman](https://film.one/person/leslie-newman.md), [Margot Kidder](https://film.one/person/margot-kidder.md), [Pierre Spengler](https://film.one/person/pierre-spengler.md), [Richard Lester](https://film.one/person/richard-lester.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 60, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 51 (3), 1990s 88 (1), 2020s 80 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 60 to 58 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 3 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Action 3, Adventure 3, Science Fiction 3, Comedy 1, Drama 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $357m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Reeve, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q174311, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001659/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/20006

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story*](https://film.one/film/super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story.md) (80), [*Superman II*](https://film.one/film/superman-ii.md) (74), [*Superman III*](https://film.one/film/superman-iii.md) (49), [*Superman IV: The Quest for Peace*](https://film.one/film/superman-iv-the-quest-for-peace.md) (30)
- **Disney+:** [*The Remains of the Day*](https://film.one/film/the-remains-of-the-day.md) (88)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Christopher Reeve

> Christopher Reeve made Superman’s goodness seem natural and Clark Kent convincing as a separate person. We admire that unforced sincerity, and his supporting dramatic work deserves attention beyond the familiar double role.

In *Superman IV: The Quest for Peace* (1987), Reeve still makes the hero’s wish to help seem sincere, however solemn the dialogue becomes. He does not keep reminding us that Superman is good, and the performance is easier to believe for it. That remains the reason to watch him in a film we cannot recommend. His breakthrough in *Superman* (1978) had required him to make Clark Kent and Superman recognisably different people, rather than leave the distinction to the clothes.

The role defined how he was seen, and his work away from it was a sustained effort to be considered for something else. *Somewhere in Time* (1980), in which he played Richard Collier, offered an early romantic-fantasy lead outside the series. After the Superman films, he sought more complex characters in independent films and on stage, although the association with the hero continued to narrow his opportunities.

The fourth film shows how much the distinction between the two identities depends on the writing around it. We were bored by the costume-changing routine, because getting Reeve into the right clothes kept taking priority over letting him and Margot Kidder’s Lois Lane be amusing together. Sidney J. Furie’s direction never makes the romance, comedy and action work together. Reeve shares the story credit with screenwriters Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal, so he cannot be excused from every weakness merely because he remains likeable. His restrained playing does help when their dialogue turns solemn, but it cannot give the scenes the interest they lack.

*The Remains of the Day* (1993) offers a better reason to look beyond the familiar part. Reeve’s supporting performance as Jack Lewis shows he could serve a period drama without needing it arranged around him. Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson provide the painfully affecting romance in James Ivory’s film, so this is not a recommendation to watch solely for Reeve. The music sometimes presses harder than their performances need, a flaw worth tolerating for their conversations. We would spend an evening with *The Remains of the Day* before doing any further duty by the sequels.

## Biography

Christopher Reeve was an American actor. He trained at Cornell University and the Juilliard School before making his film debut in the 1970s.

Reeve became widely known for portraying Superman / Clark Kent in *Superman* (1978) and its sequels *Superman II* (1980), *Superman III* (1983) and *Superman IV: The Quest for Peace* (1987). His other film roles include Richard Collier in *Somewhere in Time* (1980) and Jack Lewis in *The Remains of the Day* (1993). He also appeared in television series such as *Smallville* (as Virgil Swann) and *Frasier*.

In 1995 Reeve was paralysed in a horse-riding accident. He later advocated for spinal cord injury research and founded the Christopher Reeve Foundation. He died in 2004.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, faroutmagazine.co.uk.*

## On Fi1m (5)

### Performed in (4) — the average rests on these

- *The Remains of the Day* (1993), Fi1m 88, as Jack Lewis — [page](https://film.one/film/the-remains-of-the-day.md)
- *Superman IV: The Quest for Peace* (1987), Fi1m 30, as Clark Kent / Superman — [page](https://film.one/film/superman-iv-the-quest-for-peace.md)
- *Superman III* (1983), Fi1m 49, as Clark Kent / Superman — [page](https://film.one/film/superman-iii.md)
- *Superman II* (1980), Fi1m 74, as Superman / Clark Kent — [page](https://film.one/film/superman-ii.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story* (2024), Fi1m 80, as Self (archive footage) — [page](https://film.one/film/super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story.md)

## Complete filmography (54)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *My Superhero* (2010), as Superman (archive footage, uncredited)
- *Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut* (2006), as Clark Kent / Superman
- *Everyone's Hero* (2006), Director, Executive Producer, In Memory Of
- *The Brooke Ellison Story* (2004), Director
- *Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes* (2001), as Superman (archive footage)
- *Smallville* (2001), series, as Virgil Swann — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/smallville.md)
- *Rear Window* (1998), as Jason Kemp · Executive Producer
- *In the Gloaming* (1997), Director
- *The Practice* (1997), series, as Kevin Healy · Story
- *A Step Toward Tomorrow* (1996), as Denny Gabriel
- *Without Pity: A Film About Abilities* (1996), as Narrator (voice)
- *Rabbit Ears - The Lion and the Lamb* (1996), as Narrator (voice)
- *Black Fox: Good Men and Bad* (1995), as Alan Johnson
- *Black Fox: The Price of Peace* (1995), as Alan Johnson
- *Black Fox* (1995), as Alan Johnson
- *Black Fox* (1995), series, as Alan Johnson
- *Above Suspicion* (1995), as Dempsey Cain
- *Village of the Damned* (1995), as Alan Chaffee
- *Speechless* (1994), as Bob 'Bagdad' Freed
- *The Remains of the Day* (1993), as Jack Lewis — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-remains-of-the-day.md)
- *Morning Glory* (1993), as Will Parker
- *Frasier* (1993), series, as Leonard (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)
- *The Sea Wolf* (1993), as Humphrey Van Weyden
- *Nightmare in the Daylight* (1992), as Sean
- *Mortal Sins* (1992), as Father Thomas Cusack
- *Earth and the American Dream* (1992), as Reader (voice)
- *Noises Off...* (1992), as Frederick Dallas / Philip Brent
- *The Carol Burnett Show* (1991), series, Actor
- *Death Dreams* (1991), as George Westfield
- *Bump in the Night* (1991), as Lawrence Muller
- *Earthday Birthday* (1990), as It Zwibble (voice)
- *The Rose and the Jackal* (1990), as Allan Pinkerton
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Fred
- *The Great Escape II: The Untold Story* (1988), series, as John Dodge
- *The Great Escape II: The Untold Story* (1988), as Maj. John Dodge
- *Switching Channels* (1988), as Blaine Bingham
- *Superman IV: The Quest for Peace* (1987), as Clark Kent / Superman · Story — Fi1m 30, [page](https://film.one/film/superman-iv-the-quest-for-peace.md)
- *Street Smart* (1987), as Jonathan Fisher
- *America’s Cup - Yank It Back* (1986), as Narrator
- *Dinosaur!* (1985), as Narrator (voice)
- *Anna Karenina* (1985), as Count Vronsky
- *The Aviator* (1985), as Edgar Anscombe
- *Olympic Gala* (1984), Actor
- *The Bostonians* (1984), as Basil Ransome
- *Sleeping Beauty* (1983), as Prince Charming / 'My Son, the Prince'
- *Superman III* (1983), as Clark Kent / Superman — Fi1m 49, [page](https://film.one/film/superman-iii.md)
- *Monsignor* (1982), as Father John Flaherty
- *Faerie Tale Theatre* (1982), series, as Prince Charming / 'My Son, the Prince'
- *Deathtrap* (1982), as Clifford Anderson
- *Superman II* (1980), as Superman / Clark Kent — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/superman-ii.md)
- *Somewhere in Time* (1980), as Richard Collier
- *Superman* (1978), as Superman / Clark Kent
- *Gray Lady Down* (1978), as Phillips
- *The Norming of Jack 243* (1975), as Max 67

## Gallery

- ![Christopher Reeve](https://film.one/media/person/82540/gallery-c7258a3a663b.jpg) Christopher Reeve — Jbfrankel, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/C_Reeve_in_Marriage_of_Figaro_Opening_night_1985.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![From Washington D.C. © copyright John Mathew Smith 2001 His life after acting....pictured here...was a true inspiration ! (2004)](https://film.one/media/person/82540/gallery-4c798d0d8240.jpg) From Washington D.C. © copyright John Mathew Smith 2001 His life after acting....pictured here...was a true inspiration ! (2004) — Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel  Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Christopher_Reeve_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Christopher_Reeve_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Christopher Reeve discusses the potential benefits of stem cell research at a neuroscience conference at MIT. (2003)](https://film.one/media/person/82540/gallery-885fee6686ab.jpg) Christopher Reeve discusses the potential benefits of stem cell research at a neuroscience conference at MIT. (2003) — Mike Lin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Christopher_Reeve_MIT.jpg/1280px-Christopher_Reeve_MIT.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Christopher Reeve discusses the potential benefits of stem cell research at a neuroscience conference at MIT. (2003)](https://film.one/media/person/82540/gallery-dc597b39b51a.jpg) Christopher Reeve discusses the potential benefits of stem cell research at a neuroscience conference at MIT. (2003) — Christopher_Reeve_MIT.jpg: Mike Lin
derivative work: Entheta (talk), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/Christopher_Reeve_MIT_cropped.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Christopher Reeve](https://film.one/media/person/82540/gallery-3c927e4e0dc3.jpg) Christopher Reeve — Image via TMDB
- ![Christopher Reeve](https://film.one/media/person/82540/gallery-9b66df22cab8.jpg) Christopher Reeve — Image via TMDB
- ![Christopher Reeve](https://film.one/media/person/82540/gallery-8dae99023988.jpg) Christopher Reeve — Image via TMDB
- ![Superman stars Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder, who plays Lois Lane, share a joke at the Hollywood premiere of the movie at Mann's Chinese Theater. (1978)](https://film.one/media/person/82540/gallery-07a3395f8c9d.jpg) Superman stars Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder, who plays Lois Lane, share a joke at the Hollywood premiere of the movie at Mann's Chinese Theater. (1978) — Larry Armstrong, Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Christopher_Reeve_and_Margot_Kidder_at_Superman_premiere.jpg/1280px-Christopher_Reeve_and_Margot_Kidder_at_Superman_premiere.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Christopher Reeve on the Walk of Fame (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/82540/gallery-b028172ad1a4.jpg) Christopher Reeve on the Walk of Fame (2010) — Neil Willsey, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Christopher_Reeve_on_the_Walk_of_Fame.jpg/1280px-Christopher_Reeve_on_the_Walk_of_Fame.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Christopher Reeve](https://film.one/media/person/82540/gallery-31003d8b93f9.jpg) Christopher Reeve — Image via TMDB
- ![Christopher Reeve](https://film.one/media/person/82540/gallery-b440c3b8de89.jpg) Christopher Reeve — Image via TMDB
- ![Christopher Reeve](https://film.one/media/person/82540/gallery-5885cc860d12.jpg) Christopher Reeve — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 5 won, 1 nominated

- New Jersey Hall of Fame 2012: New Jersey Hall of Fame (won)
- Grand Cross of the Order Bernardo O'Higgins 2004: Grand Cross of the Order Bernardo O'Higgins (won)
- Lasker-Bloomberg Public Service Award 2003: Lasker-Bloomberg Public Service Award (won)
- ASCB Public Service Award 2001: ASCB Public Service Award (won)
- Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording 1999: Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording (won), for *Still Me*
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award 1989: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award (nominated), for *Switching Channels*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/christopher-reeve