If you’re from one of the older generations, you’ll remember Christopher Reeve shooting to fame as superman. He had a solid fan base from the moment he brought the superhero to life onscreen with his performance and good looks. Following an equestrian accident in 1995, which left him paralyzed from the neck down, he continued to have a fulfilling career as a writer, actor, and philanthropist. His fans stuck by him, as did his wife Dana, and he had a personal life filled with lots of love and three kids: Matthew, Alexandra, and Will. All three of them have worked to keep his legacy alive through the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.
But lately it’s been Will who’s capturing a lot of attention for how closely he resembles his late father. Last month, 25-year-old Will was at the foundations gala, “A Magical Evening”, which is a fundraising event to raise money for those living with paralysis.
Will was a toddler when his father was paralyzed, but he still grew up with a tight bond to him, including a shared love of sports. Unfortunately when he was 11, Will lost his father in 2004. Less than two years after that, his mom Dana passed away from lung cancer. Prior to her death, she’d made arrangements for Will to live with family friends. Despite the heavy losses, Will seems to be doing very well.
In his life so far he as earned an internship with Good Morning America, graduated from college, and is now working for ESPN’s SportsCenter. It appears that writing and reporting are in his blood, just like his father’s famous superhero’s alter-ego, Clark Kent.
Will it seems hasn’t just inherited his father’s good looks, he also has inherited a humanitarian spirit – from both his parents. In 2016, Will ran his first NY Marathon in order to raise money for the family charity. With the help of Team Reeve, he not only finished the race, but also went over the $35,000 goal. He credited his running ability to the foundation’s mission, as well as having the opportunity to honor his late parents.
He spoke about their dedication to helping others in an interview with Today, “Their passion for everything is what made them so special. They deeply cared about making a difference in the world in any context. It was a really special experience to grow up in a house with them setting that example. I try to carry on their legacy every day by just doing what I was taught.”
As for the comparisons to his father Christopher’s good looks, Will takes it as a compliment but adds, “My parents were beautiful people on the inside, so if I can resemble them that way, I certainly appreciate the comparison.”
He seems like a nice young man. What do you think?