Superman on screen and beyond: Google Doodle honours Christopher Reeve

Google Doodle honoured actor and humanitarian
Christopher Reeve on the occasion of his 69th birth anniversary on Saturday.
Reeve, who shot to fame for his portrayal as Superman in the iconic red cape
with a giant S across his chest, set the stage for the superhero movies of the
future.

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A hero to many for playing Superman on screen,
Christopher Reeve became a hero to millions after an unfortunate horseback
riding accident paralysed the actor. Reeve spent the rest of his life
championing the cause of the disabled.

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Christopher Reeves was born in New York City on
September 25, 1952. After completing his schooling, Reeves pursued a bachelor
of arts degree from Cornell University. Some time later, an opportunity came
along and he was selected in an advanced programme at the Julliard School to
work under actor-director John Houseman.

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After having worked in soap operas and films for two
years, Reeves auditioned for the Superman role. With his coal-black hair,
piercing blue eyes and chiselled facial structure, Christopher Reeve beat out
more than 200 actors to score the Superman role. Later, it was this 6-foot-four
build that could come to characterise Superman.

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The first Superman film was released in 1978 followed
by three sequels made in the 1980s. It was the Christopher Reeve’s success as
Superman that paved the way for the Batman movie starring Michael Keaton and
thus ushering in the age of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

While Reeve did work in several other films, he was
most associated with being Superman on screen. In 1995, Reeve suffered a very
serious injury while riding on horseback that eventually left him paralysed. The
rest of his life, Christopher Reeve lived with fortitude and became an advocate
for people with disabilities.

Christopher Reeve and his wife founded the Christopher
& Dana Reeve Foundation, an organisation aimed at curing spinal cord injury
and funding advanced research. Reeve also lobbied Congress to expand embryonic
stem cell research because he believed that it was the best chance to give him
and people like him a chance at recovery.