Reeve considered ending his own life before entering rehabilitation for his serious spinal injury. His wife, Dana Reeve, was one of his biggest supporters, telling him she was going to stick by his side for the long haul: “I will support you whatever you want to do because this is your life, and your decision,” Dana told Reeve according to his “Still Me,” autobiography. “But I want you to know that I’ll be with you for the long haul, no matter what. You’re still you. And I love you.” The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation was formed in 1996 and has raised millions of dollars for spinal cord research, disability support, and non-profits.
Reeve continued to work in Hollywood, including making his directorial debut with the TV movie “In the Gloaming.” Additionally, he starred in a 1998 remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window.” Reeve kept busy, winning a Grammy Award for the spoken word version of “Still Me.” In 2003, he even returned to the world of Superman, making a cameo as Dr. Virgil Swann in “Smallville,” sharing a scene with Tom Welling. Reeve’s last credited role was the A&E TV movie, “The Brooke Ellison Story,” telling the tale of the first quadriplegic to graduate from Harvard.
On October 10, 2004, an infection led to Reeve going into cardiac arrest. He died at 52 years old.
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