Post by Taxigirl on Oct 30, 2004 9:57:23 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3967199.stm
More than 900 friends and family of the late Christopher Reeve have gathered to celebrate his life at a memorial ceremony in New York.
The memorial was held at the Juilliard School, where the Superman actor he first honed his acting skills.
Reeve, who was paralysed in a riding accident in 1995, died in hospital on 10 October, at the age of 52.
Guests at the ceremony on Friday included actors Michael J. Fox, Laura Linney and Susan Sarandon.
Spinal research
Speakers included Reeve's widow, Dana; his Juilliard roommate and lifelong friend, Robin Williams; and actresses Glenn Close and Meryl Streep.
Reeve's children, Matthew, Alexandra and Will, had also prepared a 20-minute film about life with their father.
New York Senator Hillary Clinton and Teresa Heinz Kerry, wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, were also among the guests
Speaking about Reeve's dedication to finding a cure for spinal injuries, Ms Clinton said: "His courage and inspiration will live on."
Scott Remington, a paraplegic injured in a logging accident, also attended the memorial.
The actor invited Mr Remington to his home earlier this year after he raised $135,000 for the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.
Global star
"I was very impressed. He was so incredibly knowledgeable," Mr Remington said.
Music during the ceremony was provided by Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell and Rui Shi, a piano student at Juilliard.
The memorial closed with the cast of Broadway's The Lion King performing the song Circle of Life.
Reeve broke his neck in May 1995 when he was thrown from his horse during an equestrian competition in Culpeper, Virginia.
At the time, he was a worldwide star for having played the lead role in Superman in 1978 and its three sequels.
As a campaigner, he was to be seen regularly at the US Congress, lobbying for better funding.
Reeve died after suffering a heart attack and falling into a coma at his home. He was being treated for an infection caused by a bedsore.
His family has asked that any donations should be made to the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, based in New Jersey.
More than 900 friends and family of the late Christopher Reeve have gathered to celebrate his life at a memorial ceremony in New York.
The memorial was held at the Juilliard School, where the Superman actor he first honed his acting skills.
Reeve, who was paralysed in a riding accident in 1995, died in hospital on 10 October, at the age of 52.
Guests at the ceremony on Friday included actors Michael J. Fox, Laura Linney and Susan Sarandon.
Spinal research
Speakers included Reeve's widow, Dana; his Juilliard roommate and lifelong friend, Robin Williams; and actresses Glenn Close and Meryl Streep.
Reeve's children, Matthew, Alexandra and Will, had also prepared a 20-minute film about life with their father.
New York Senator Hillary Clinton and Teresa Heinz Kerry, wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, were also among the guests
Speaking about Reeve's dedication to finding a cure for spinal injuries, Ms Clinton said: "His courage and inspiration will live on."
Scott Remington, a paraplegic injured in a logging accident, also attended the memorial.
The actor invited Mr Remington to his home earlier this year after he raised $135,000 for the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.
Global star
"I was very impressed. He was so incredibly knowledgeable," Mr Remington said.
Music during the ceremony was provided by Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell and Rui Shi, a piano student at Juilliard.
The memorial closed with the cast of Broadway's The Lion King performing the song Circle of Life.
Reeve broke his neck in May 1995 when he was thrown from his horse during an equestrian competition in Culpeper, Virginia.
At the time, he was a worldwide star for having played the lead role in Superman in 1978 and its three sequels.
As a campaigner, he was to be seen regularly at the US Congress, lobbying for better funding.
Reeve died after suffering a heart attack and falling into a coma at his home. He was being treated for an infection caused by a bedsore.
His family has asked that any donations should be made to the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, based in New Jersey.