Posted on 10/29/2004 5:04:45 PM PDT by Libloather
Reeve's Star-Packed Tribute
Saturday October 30, 08:25 AM
For the last nine years of his life, Christopher Reeve was paralyzed, yet he still managed to move the hearts of innumerable individuals.
More than 900 people turned out Friday to pay tribute to the late actor at an invitation-only memorial at the Juilliard School in New York, where Reeve honed his craft more than 30 years ago before bursting onto the big screen as Superman.
Individuals who figured in different aspects of Reeve's life were due to speak at the service, including family members, fellow actors, like-minded activists and politicians.
Reeve's wife, Dana, his children, Matthew, Alexandra and Will, and his brother, Benjamin, were all scheduled to share their memories of Reeve. His children planned to show a 20-minute film featuring the personal and professional highlights of their father's life, while his brother planned to discuss his recollections of growing up with Reeve.
On the A-list front, Reeve's longtime friend and Juilliard roommate Robin Williams was due to eulogize the actor, as were Glenn Close and Meryl Streep.
Mary Tyler Moore, Susan Sarandon and Kim Cattrall were also among the celebrities who turned to bid Reeve farewell. Television personalities Katie Couric and Larry King arrived early to the ceremony, as did Theresa Heinz Kerry, wife of presidential hopeful Senator John Kerry, and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
"His courage and inspiration will live on," Clinton said of Reeve.
Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were due to speak about Reeve's commitment to activism and dedication to raising fund for spinal cord injury research.
Paraplegic Scott Remington, injured in a logging accident, also turned out to pay tribute to Reeve. Remington raised $135,000 for the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation and was invited to Reeve's home in February.
"I was very impressed," recalled Remington. "He was so incredibly knowledgeable."
Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell was expected to perform "The Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha, while the cast of The Lion King was scheduled to close the service with a performance of "Circle of Life."
Reeve died Oct. 10 at age 52, after suffering a heart attack while being treated for a bed sore.
About 100 of his closest family and friends gathered at the Reeves' Pound Ridge, New York, home on Oct. 12 to honor the actor, director and activist.
Meanwhile, the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation will proceed with its annual fundraising gala, the status of which was in doubt after the actor's death.
Nathan Lane is set to host the Nov. 18 affair, where Glenn Close will be honored with the Human Spirit Award for her charitable contributions. William H. Macy will also serve as a special presenter.
This weekend, fans of Reeve's 1980 film Somewhere in Time, which has chalked up something of a cult following, will be holding their own memorial for the actor at the annual Somewhere in Time weekend at Mackinac Island's Grand Hotel in Michigan.
Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.
ah, the Prime Witch and the Ketchup Queen
Sounds like Christopher Reeve's star must be a neutron dwarf if the headliners are the Pig and the Junior Pig.
The dream matchup for clay-mation "Celebrity Death Match."
Ah, another Wellstone moment.
Those Donks just can't wait to use the dead.
Probably got Christopher to vote early too.
Wonder what office his wife will run for?
MamaT. was interviewed by Diane Sawyer and said she wasn't sorry for anything she's said or done on the campaign, even if it had hurt Kerry. She refused to take anything back. Diane seemed stunned.
Is Reeve coming back to walk for them?
my bad
AKA - "Wellstone Memorial II"
This will backfire just as the Paul Wellstone mournfest-DNC fundraiser backfired.
Whoops - looks like I was about the 29th person to think about the Wellstone event
Remember Clinton standing on the pile of dead (some children)in Oklahoma to condemn Rush and all of us who disagreed with his policies and character.THEY HAVE NO MORAL FIBRE OR SOUL.
You sure hit the nail on the head. What lowlife sick ba$tards.....every damn one of them!
<img http://maddox.xmission.com/c.cgi?u=creeve
this is in poor taste, but kind of funny in a way
I like motorcycles. I used to race them. I was very good at it. I really would like to jump on one again but I have a wife, a child and employees that depend on me. Reeves was thinking only of himself when he did dangerous things for his own gratification.
I agree. Reeve sure didn't mind harvesting unborn children for the one in a million chance that he could walk again. God rest his soul and forgive him.
Well, why not? To people like this, the deceased are just so much dead meat. Might as well cut it up and pass it around.
And they won't even see the irony of their hitlerian schemes.
Being rich means never having to say you're sorry.
no morbid, self-absorbed, pissing-on-the-grave-before-the-body's-cold, political opportunism here, is there?
This was a typical hollywood character.
in three words you said much better what it tool me a whole sentence to say.
I knew they would plan this right before the election. Christopher Reeve affected a lot of people because he was such a vigorous, handsome man (though not a very good actor) who suffered a freakish accident that no one would wish on another human being. On the plus side for him, he had a wonderful wife and loving children to take care of him, quite a bit of money, and as much attention as he wanted. Most people unfortunate enough to suffer similar accidents don't have what he did.
"star packed" ????
I guess THAT would be a matter of opinion......
ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww to all of 'em
So glad Reeve didn't get his wish: using human fetuses to "cure" him.
Was this shown on television?
.
"SOMEWHERE IN TIME"
(Movie Website)
http://www.SomeWhereinTime.tv
.
Where's the Barf Alert?
Learning, the DNC are. Politically damaging video of froth-mouthed "mourners" throwing confetti and jeering Republicans, they don't want the American people to see on the evening news broadcasts.
Whatever does Hitlery know about courage and inspiration?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.