Christopher Reeve was not only a cinematic Superman but also a superhero to his three children: Matthew, Alexandra, and William. The beloved actor first welcomed his two oldest children, Matthew Reeve, 44, and Alexandra Reeve Givens, 40, with his former partner Gae Exton. Later, after marrying Dana Reeve in 1992, the couple had their son, William “Will” Reeve, now 32. Tragically, Christopher passed away on October 10, 2004, nine years after a horse-riding accident that left him paralyzed. On Father’s Day 2021, Will remembered his father with a heartfelt letter on Good Morning America, reflecting on the profound impact his dad had on him in their brief time together.
Born on December 20, 1979, in London, Matthew entered the world while Christopher was engaged in filming Somewhere in Time with Jane Seymour—who later disclosed their clandestine relationship in 2022. After learning about his impending fatherhood, Christopher returned to Exton to support and raise Matthew. Following in his father’s footsteps, Matthew pursued a career in the film industry, becoming a writer, director, and producer. A graduate of Brown University in 2002, he narrated Christopher Reeve: Hope in Motion, which earned an Emmy nomination.
Alexandra was born four years after Matthew on November 25, 1983, in London. Unlike her brother, she ventured into politics and law rather than the film industry. After earning her law degree from Columbia University, Alexandra served as the chief counsel on technology and consumer protection for the U.S. Senate. She is now the president and CEO of the Center for Democracy & Technology, leading efforts to place democracy and individual rights at the core of the digital revolution. Alexandra expressed pride in her father’s dual legacy as an actor and activist at the Sundance premiere of Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story.
The youngest, Will, was born on June 7, 1992, to Christopher and Dana. He was only three when his father had the accident and twelve at his father’s passing. The day before Christopher died, he attended Will’s baseball game, a testament to their shared love for sports. This passion inspired Will to pursue a career in sports media, and he later became a broadcast journalist for ABC News. In May 2023, he covered a story that hit close to home about a man who regained the ability to walk, reflecting his ongoing commitment to his father’s legacy through his work with the Reeve Foundation.
After his paralyzing accident, Christopher was despondent, feeling that his life and those around him were irreparably damaged. In legacy footage featured in the trailer for Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, he shared his darkest thoughts: “I ruined my life and everybody else’s. I won’t be able to ski, sail, throw a ball to Will. Won’t be able to make love to Dana. Maybe we should let me go.” The pivotal moment came when Dana told him, “You’re still you. And I love you,” words that profoundly changed his outlook and will to persevere.