October 11, 2004

Superman is dead Breaking news filter, but it's just been announced that Christopher Reeve has died.
posted by dickdotcom 20 years ago
  • This has just been announced by the BBC
  • .
  • Okay, what's this I also hear about Marlon Wayans being dead? Is that true, or some kind of sick joke? Yikes. Poor Christopher Reeve. I talked to him once, when he appeared for the "Millenium Dreamers" thing sponsored by Disney and McDonald's. He seemed to be an interesting guy, though I disagreed with his speech on a number of levels. I also find it interesting that he was a lifelong atheist, and only recently joined the UU church. Rest in peace, Superman.
  • You can be an atheist and belong to the UU church, they have no official creed.
  • Support Stem Cell Research
  • That's bad news. I hope its not true. But if it is, now he can really fly. Sad for his family, but I always am for those who lose someone.
  • So, was it the kyptonite?
  • Associated Press just confirmed it. RIP.
  • Um, yeah that was poor taste.
  • RIP Superman.
  • That sucks. He seemed like a decent guy. WTF? Rodney Dangerfield, Janet Leigh, now Christopher Reeve? It's been a bad week.
  • It has been a bad century. So far.
  • I can't find anything at bbc.co.uk, and the link site drudge report as the source. Can anyone have a more reliable source? What is supposed to be the cause? This news is making me too sad and angry right now, so I'm refusing to believe it until verified.
  • Christopher Reeves presents Stephen King's THE STAIRS
  • Mr. Knickerbocker. I am sitting at work at the BBC - it's been announced on air 3 times - they've run the obit twice and it's on ITN. It's sadly true and a massive shame.
  • Maybe he's acting Wait he can't act for shit Couldn't rather.
  • Mr. K, as mentioned AP has it now too, and CNN posted an obit.
  • I don't know why this makes me so sad, I don't like Chirstifer Reeves at all...and I really liked Rodney Dangerfeild, but I didn't feel that bad about loosing him.
  • I thought perhaps this might lead to people not spelling his name wrong, but clearly that's not the case.
  • I didn't think I actually had any feelings for Superman and the puritan pefertion he represented. I guess it was nice to think that some one could do something right at some point. That, or being paralyzed really scares me and I admired him for perservering.
  • Thanks guys. I couldn't find it in google news, or at bbc's website.
  • Here's hoping his foundation (403.9: too many users) doesn't die with him.
  • Gotta drop the "s" Mr. K ;)
  • Here's an interview he just did with Reader's Digest.
  • HOLY CRAP HE LOOKED JUST LIEK LEX LUTHOR WHEN HE DIED!!?#! I'm sorry. He's actually pretty good looking bald; not everyone can pull off the bald look.
  • pivo, drop the S? But that's his symbol! ;) In my defense, I did try searching for superman, when reeves failed.
  • *cries* I kept hoping he would live long enough to walk again.
  • stilled is he who was alive his story's done another drop of honey fallen from the broken comb
  • Well said, beeswacky. Thank you. This is sorely depressing.
  • That's a pretty good one, beeswacky, I have to say. That was good.
  • *hearts Nostril again* Ta.
  • Well, RIP Chris Reeve. I fondly remember Superman as one of my first big movie experiences, right up there with Star Wars. They just don't make movies like that any more.
  • . for all who are bereaved. Beeswacky, Nostril... I heart you both as well. And, solely because I have no connection to any individuals who might be bereaved by this passing and this thread, I must say this as an homage to Christophe Reeves: You won't stop me, Hack Man!
  • Sigh. After hearting Nostril, even I manage to misspell his name....
  • This makes me sad. I wonder if his health has been declining for a while. They introduced a new character on his recurring but occasional role on Smallville recently that could fill in for some of his job on the plot. Could be a coincidence, but…
  • Well that just up and happened, didn't it? Sucks, to say the least.
  • Dangerfield and Leigh both loved but old and getting worse not better- Reeve young and on his way to walking again, every time we heard his name it was about how well he was doing. Different kinds of grief.
  • Mr K: I believe the cause of death was not exercising enough and not sitting up straight.
  • Chris Reeve IS Superman. Nobody portrayed the Man Of Steel so well as he did.
  • Though I'm sure he'd want to be remembered as more than Superman, I love the site you chose for this post. Seems apropos. It's also nice to have a photo of a young, strong Reeve next to the death announcement. RIP, good Sir.
  • It makes me sad. I remember Superman 3, with him and Richard Pryor. I laughed so hard i peed my pants! RIP Superman!
  • I totally thought this was all a joke when I read the post. I agree with f8x, this seems very sudden. And very sad. My favorite movie with him was "Somewhere in Time" with Jane Seymour. Sounds like it was heart failure.
  • I thought He would grow old with me. In dignity and a smile, His hair accrue that shade of grey Befitting him, a gentle gentleman. I pray he will be well Where he is now. And still able, with a smile, Turn young girls' heart a-flutter.
  • Nostrildamus, if the definition of a bad century is one in which great people from the previous century die... well, you'd better get used to it. Yes, this was tragic and untimely, though. I was looking forward to seeing him walk again.
  • But if it is, now he can really fly. Nostril, that just made the tears roll. i used to cry at the end of all the Superman movies, too. I have no idea why.
  • Probly cos they represent something good & beautiful in the human spirit that one can't really find in the 'real' world, PatB. There was a cartoon I saw a few years ago, actually it was over 10 years ago, called "The Man Who Planted Trees". I wept at the end of that, too, probly for the same reason. It was uplifting, yet melancholy. I think the truth is that Chris Reeve would never have walked again. Advances in medicine from stem-cell research *will* lead to astounding cures for such things as spinal cord injury, but I don't think it will happen within 20-30 years, even if the restraints on that research are lifted totally, right at this moment. So, for that reason, part of me is glad that Chris no longer has to endure what he had to endure. I think, being an intelligent man, deep down he would have known that he would not walk again, but marshalled this incredible energy to stay positive, to focus on this goal, because to do anything else would have been to give up and descend into depression & much more suffering, not just for him but for his wife & kids. That strength was beautiful. So sad for his kids, all this. Everytime I saw his interviews where he had to pause to suck air enough to power his voice every few seconds, made me clench my fists in some mix of indescribeable confused emotion. No one should have to endure that, & yet there's nothing I can do to lift that burden for anyone. & so I would withdraw again into my shell & try not to think about such things. I know that I would not be able to marshall such determination. But something good can come of this. Something good can come of this. Let's make it so?
  • Decani: pressure sores, also called "bedsores" , happen to people who can't change position often enough - the pressure cuts off blood supply to an area. They can be pretty devastating. The worst I saw in my short stay as a psychiatric technician exposed the hip bone of one patient. Skin becomes more delicate in these cases, so even constant vigilence doesn't necessarily avoid a pressure sore. And, an infection, especially due to one of the super bugs that have developed, could, certainly, undo all the good that other efforts had tried to accomplish. I've got to think that he and his family put up a brave front by not discussing the day-to-day health problems that plague those in situations like Reeve's. Catheterization, assisted breathing, (both those have dangers,) problems with peristalsis that enemas, fiber and laxatives can't correct (sometime, shit has to be manually extracted,) system break-downs, muscle contractures (which leave one frozen is one position,) osteoporosis due to a lack of weight bearing exercise - those are the sorts of things that happen, even in people with more body control than he seems to have had. I'm really impressed with his abilty to accentuate the positive, and sad that he didn't get to see if his progress would continue.
  • This thread made me cry. Safe travels Mr. Reeve.
  • This makes me sad, too. I grew up with his version of Superman, and when I was a little girl I thought he was the cutest thing ever. Godspeed, Mr. Reeve.
  • Ordinary actor, exceptional human being. I think, FedoraUndershirt, that's the difference between Dangerfield and Reeve. Reeve transcended his profession to be something much more significant than a simple actor, albeit at a terrible cost to himself and his family. Nostrildamus: Something good could come of it, but only if it inspires people to allow good medical science research to be pursued. Stem cell research is one component of that; Reeve's currently unorthodox physical therapy programs are another.
  • *hopes*
  • Another approach to spinal cord injuries: Scar block encourages nerves in spine to regenerate.
  • 'Celebrating the Rebirth of Psychedelic Futurism'?
  • Well come on, they have video of a woman walking. There's no possible way to fake that!
  • mom?
  • homonuculus: thank you for all the updates you do.
  • George! No! This has nothing to do with stem cells! Read the bill! Oh, you don't actually read bills before you decide to veto them? Then, how do you know what you want to let pass and what you want to zap? I see, you have folks read them for you and give you a summary. Do you know if those folks actually read the bills? What? I didn't hear what you said! Another question. If we can assume that this bill doesn't rely on stem cell research to cure those who are paralysed, but would make addressing the problem much more efficient, what would be the purpose of a veto? Oh, only Jesus can make people walk again, as it says in The Book. I see. No more questions. (Sorry, the last week has made me even crankier than usual.)
  • *offers path a consoling glass of wine* This too shall pass.
  • *coughs, points to empty glass*
  • *burps, smiles and points to empty glass*
  • another drinking thread? Sure. Don't mind if I do! *clink*
  • *comes running into room with precariously balanced tray full of bottles and glassware*
  • Watch out for that banana peel mct!!
  • I didn't do it!
  • *GramMa leaps out of her armchair and catches two bottles in each hand and one between her false teeth. Quick! Somebody get the corkscrew before it impales .... Ugggggggh! Too late.
  • Expect they will eventually manage this. Hope so.
  • Jeez, what a year for that family.