ChristopherReevediesChristopherReeveposesforphotographerswithhiswifeDanaashearrivesatthe13thannualChristopherReeveParalysisFoundationgalaeventinNewYork,inthisNov24,2003filephoto.Reeve,thestarofthe"Superman"movieswhosenear-fatalridingaccidentnineyearsagoturnedhimintoaworldwideadvocateforspinalcordresearch,diedSunday,Oct.10,2004,ofheartfailurewhileathisNewYorkhome,hispublicistsaid.Hewas52.(APPhoto/StuartRamson,File)BEDFORD,N.Y.(AP)--ChristopherReeve,thestarofthe"Superman"movieswhosenear-fatalridingaccidentnineyearsagoturnedhimintoaworldwideadvocateforspinalcordresearch,diedSundayofheartfailure,hispublicistsaid.Hewas52.ReevefellintoacomaSaturdayaftergoingintocardiacarrestwhileathisNewYorkhome,hispublicist,WesleyCombstoldTheAssociatedPressbyphonefromWashington,D.C.,onSundaynight.Hisfamilywasathissideatthetimeofdeath.ReevewasbeingtreatedatNorthernWestchesterHospitalforapressurewound,acommoncomplicationforpeoplelivingwithparalysis.Inthepastweek,thewoundhadbecomeseverelyinfected,resultinginaserioussystemicinfection."Onbehalfofmyentirefamily,IwanttothankNorthernWestchesterHospitalfortheexcellentcaretheyprovidedtomyhusband,"DanaReeve,Christopher'swife,saidinastatement."Ialsowanttothankhispersonalstaffofnursesandaides,aswellasthemillionsoffansfromaroundtheworldwhohavesupportedandlovedmyhusbandovertheyears.ReevebrokehisneckinMay1995whenhewasthrownfromhishorseduringanequestriancompetitioninCulpeper,Va.Enduringmonthsoftherapytoallowhimtobreatheforlongerandlongerperiodswitho用心爱心专心utarespirator,ReeveemergedtolobbyCongressforbetterinsuranceprotectionagainstcatastrophicinjuryandtomoveanAcademyAwardaudiencetotearswithacallformorefilmsaboutsocialissues."Hollywoodneedstodomore,"hesaidintheMarch1996Oscarawardsappearance."Let'scontinuetotakerisks.Let'stackletheissues.Inmanywaysourfilmcommunitycandoitbetterthananyoneelse.Thereisnochallenge,artisticorotherwise,thatwecan'tmeet.Hereturnedtodirecting,andevenreturnedtoactingina1998productionof"RearWindow,"amodernupdateoftheHitchcockthrilleraboutamaninawheelchairwhobecomesconvincedaneighborhasbeenmurdered.ReevewonaScreenActorsGuildawardforbestactor."Iwasworriedthatonlyactingwithmyvoiceandmyface,Imightnotbeabletocommunicateeffectivelyenoughtotellthestory,"Reevesaid."ButIwassurprisedtofindthatifIreallyconcentrated,andjustletthethoughtshappen,thattheywouldreadonmyface.Withsomanyclose-ups,Iknewthatmyeverythoughtwouldcount."In2000,Reevewasabletomovehisindexfinger,andaspecializedworkoutregimenmadehislegsandarmsstronger.Healsoregainedsensationinotherpartsofhisbody.Hehadvowedtowalkagain."IrefusetoallowadisabilitytodeterminehowIlivemylife.Idon'tmeantobereckless,butsettingagoalthatseemsabitdauntingactuallyisveryhelpfultowardrecovery,"Reevesaid.Reeve'ssupportofstemcellresearchhelpeditemergeasamajorcampaignissuebetweenPresidentBushandJohnKerry.HisnamewasevenmentionedbyKerryearlierthismonthduringthesecondpresidentialdebate.Hisathletic,6-foot-4-inchframeandloveofadventuremadehimanatural,iflargelyun用心爱心专心known,choiceforthetitleroleinthefirst"Superman"moviein1978.Heinsistedonperforminghisownstunts.Althoughhereprisedtherolethreetimes,Reeveoftenworriedaboutbeingtypecastasanactionhero."Look,I'veflown,I'vebecomeevil,loved,stoppedandturnedtheworldbackward,I'vefacedmypeers,I'vebefriendedchildrenandsmallanimalsandI'verescuedcatsfromtrees,"ReevetoldtheLosAngel...
