What Christopher Reeve’s Wife Told Him After The Accident That Left Him Paralyzed

Christopher Reeve’s powerful life story is being told in the new documentary “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story.”

The movie, directed by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, follows as Reeve finds fame playing Superman in the late 1970s and 1980s before a devastating 1995 horse riding accident caused him to be paralyzed from the neck down.

The indomitable actor, who died in October 2004 at age 52, spent the rest of his life working as a disability activist aimed at helping to find a cure for spinal cord injuries.

On Aug. 26, DC Studios released a trailer for the documentary, which features candid interviews with Reeve’s children, Matthew, Alexandra and Will, as well as footage of the actor with his late wife, Dana, who died in 2006 of lung cancer.

In one emotional moment in the trailer, Reeve, seen in footage, recalls how Dana’s love helped him find his will to live again after his injury.

“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,” Reeve recalls thinking.

 “And then she said the words that saved my life: ‘You’re still you. And I love you.’”

Elsewhere in the trailer, Reeve’s kids share their memories of how athletic their father was before the accident as footage shows the actor playing tennis, swimming and riding horses.

“Doing things with my dad, it was all about activity and action,” Christopher recalls.

“Riding bikes, playing soccer, skiing,” Matthew adds.

“My dad was very competitive and he didn’t necessarily slow down,” Alexandria agrees.

In one heartbreaking moment, Matthew recalls being with his father before the accident, remembering, “We said goodbye and he gave this wave. That was the last time I saw him on his feet.”

The movie also features interviews with some of Reeve’s Hollywood friends, including Susan Sarandon, Whoopi Goldberg, Jeff Daniels and Glenn Close, while reflecting on the special bond Reeve shared with late actor Robin Williams.

“Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” will air in select theaters on Sept. 21 and again on Sept. 25, in honor of Reeve’s birthday.