She's 44. "That could be difficult, but my parents did such a good job of staying true to their values that I never felt deprived of a normal childhood, even though my experiences, at face value, were inherently different from other children my age.". Were so happy for the positive direction his life has taken him after the death of his parents. As far as Reeves love life, there is no reported relationship, although he was named one of the top 50 bachelors by Town and Country Magazine in 2016 alongside men like Elon Musk, Zappos co-founder Tony Hsieh, and Clark Gables grandson, Clark James Gable. I'll start with the bad, because you always need to know exactly what's going on, no matter what. Site Map Well, we know that Will Reeve doesn't wear pants while appearing on camera from home! Just as he was coming to terms with Reeve's death, Will lost his mother, Dana, 44, to lung cancer within two years of losing his dad. But you know that in the years ahead, you will face no obstacle greater than the one you are starting to overcome right now, and no matter which way your journey leads, mom and dad will be there with you every step of the way. UPDATED 3/17/2022 William Reeve, the youngest son of Superman actor Christopher Reeve, is all grown up and looks just like his father! By that time, Christopher Reeve was already paralyzed and unable to physically help his son. He died in 2004 at the age of 52 from complications from a bedsore infection. In 1995, before turning three, his father became paralyzed in an equestrian competition. Never smoked. 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Related: Christopher Reeve's Widow Passes Away And Leaves Son To Friends, Morisini, who lives in New Hampshire, agreed that the 13-year-old Will should not be disturbed from his current life in Bedford, New York, and would benefit from not being removed from his surroundings. But, in the case of Christopher Reeve's 29-year-old son Will he's not only the spitting image of his father but is working hard to continue his father's inspirational legacy. Christopher Reeve's son: 'A cure for paralysis will be available within Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Although she and her husband had siblings ready to take Will under their wing, their son's comfort remained in their local community. Christopher Reeve's son, Will Reeve witnessed the miracle of a man who had been paralyzed for a decade being able to walk again. One of Christopher Reeve's three children, William Reeve, is a news correspondent for ABC News and Good Morning America.During a segment on ABC this week, Reeve spread awareness about an . She's 44. Nearly everyone remembers the injury and death of Christopher Reeve. https://www.theepochtimes.com/supermans-son-will-reeve-shares-what-it-was-like-to-lose-both-parents-at-13_2883547.html, https://people.com/celebrity/will-reeve-remembers-parents-christopher-dana-reeve-normal-childhood/, https://www.thefreelibrary.com/SUPERMUM'S+final+act+of+love;+EXCLUSIVE:+DANA+REEVE'S+DEATHBED-a0146188984, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/note-to-self-will-reeve/. The actor died in 2004, at age 52. Right: Reeve with his parents in 1997. He admitted, I want to be like my parents because they made a real difference in the world. He has also followed in his father's activist footsteps and serves as a board member of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. Superman's son has made a name for himself! Making his action-hero father even prouder, Reeve also plays a pivotal role in the charitable organization named after his parents. I love knowing that they matter to other people enough to talk about it.. Christopher Reeve's youngest child is an anchor on ABC News and a former commentator for ESPN. All About Mya Powell, Chester Bennington's Son Draven Tells PEOPLE About Growing Up with Late Linkin Park Singer (Exclusive), Pete Davidson's Parents: All About His Mom Amy and Late Dad Scott, All About Chris Tucker's Son, Destin Christopher Tucker, Will Reeve Will Be 'Thinking' of Parents Dana and Christopher Crossing N.Y.C. "For many reasons, I wish he were here today, to see how far the research has come. Will Reeve on ABC's "Good Morning America" on January 17, 2020. I'll start with the bad, because you always need to know exactly what's going on, no matter what. But here's what else you should know about the talented reporter, who happens to be the son of actor Christopher Reeve. Will said, He had an impact on the world well beyond his fleeting fame for being in movies. His widow, Dana, tragically passed away from lung cancer less than two years later, leaving their son an orphan. Remembering his dads fascination with whales of Alaska, he wrote a Fathers Day editorial about it, noting how it triggered his own imaginings about them and that this was the fulfillment of a dream to see the whales himself. My parents definitely define who I am. "They became and remain my favorite animal and dreamed that when I got older, I'd go to see them up close, just like the man on my screen.". The pair were competing in the cross-country portion of a competition on May 27, 1995, when the life-changing accident occurred. I want you to know that we do not have all of this figured out. Editors note: This article was originally published on January 10, 2020. Chrissy Teigen & John Legend Secretly Welcome 4th Baby with Head Full of Hair 5 Months after Daughters Birth, 'Baywatch' Star Erika Eleniak Slams Paparazzi through Tears & No Makeup in New Video, Indyanna Daigle 'Gave' Her Mother 'Life' Facts about Erika Eleniak's Daughter, Christopher Reeve's Son, Who Was Orphaned at 13, Looks Like His Famous Father & Continues His Legacy, Why Was Christopher Reeve in a Wheelchair? Will Reeve Was Not His Only Child, How Did Dana Reeve Die? He dabbled in acting, first appearing in the TV movie, In The Gloaming in 1997. Because he inspired them in ways that had nothing to do with movies., I think that the people who have the most lasting impact on culture are people who made a real difference in the world beyond whatever it is that they were initially known for, he continued. Its an honor to try to be like them., I want to be like my parents because they made a real difference in the world, he says. RELATED: Elviss granddaughter is a spitting image of The King Of Rock n Roll! I think that what my dad and my mom would be so proud of the three of us for, is that we dedicate a lot of time and energy to the Reeve Foundation, but we also dedicate a lot of time and energy to our own lives, and to our own jobs and to our families and to our friends, he says. Christopher spent quality time with his youngest child the day before he died. It has since been updated. His mother moved with sons Christopher and Benjamin to Princeton, New Jersey, and married an investment banker a few years later. Contact Us My involvement was never something I really thought about; it was just something that existed from the time I was a young child, and progressed organically., When WFH goes wrong (or, your self-framed live shot goes too wide).Hope everyone got a much needed laugh pic.twitter.com/GbyLBhL7Be, 3. "He tried to go to all of Will's sporting events," the photographer told PEOPLE in 2004. Not only was he their favorite Superman, but one of their favorite people. Along with comedian Reese Waters and social media correspondent Sarina Morales, Will was hired to deliver special reports from the field, rather than behind a desk. He could have easily gone off the deep end and nobody would have blamed him for it. Inside the Tragic Life of the Actor, How Did Dana Reeve Die? Reeve told People his family always connected through sports. In a note to his 13-year-old self, he says there's nowhere to go but up after his lowest point. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Will graduated from Middlebury College in 2014, earning a bachelor of arts degree in English and American Literature. Christopher Reeve - IMDb His father, Christopher, died in 2004 at the age of 52 after spending the last nine of his years paralyzed from the neck down. He posted that with the caption, Hope everyone got a much needed laugh., When WFH goes wrong (or, your self-framed live shot goes too wide).Hope everyone got a much needed laugh pic.twitter.com/GbyLBhL7Be. You're 13. He often shares updates on his life on his Instagram account, where his fans get to see what he's up to. RELATED: Kelly Ripa And Mark Consuelos Son Is All Grown Up. Because what my mom and dad wanted was for us to be our own people, who were fortunate enough to have their guidance as a backbone, as a fundamental driver. He wrote a letter to himself then, which he shared with CBS. And I think that my dad is certainly one of those people he had an impact on the world well beyond his fleeting fame for being in movies. Viewers caught a glimpse of his leg and thought he was not wearing anything below when he was actually wearing shorts. The 25-year-old. The sport was something he'd loved as a child, and Christopher reportedly attended one of his hockey games the day before he died. Besides his successful career, William also serves as an ambassador for his parents' foundation. Christopher Reeve and Dana Reeve at the screening of "House Of D" during the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival May 7, 2004 in New York City. Will was only 3 when his father was paralyzedand 11 when he passed away. Two years later, tragedy struck again when his mother Dana died of lung cancer at the young age of 44. The proud hockey mom made the arrangements before her death. It appeared as though he wasnt wearing any pants, and he had forgotten to ensure the camera was panned, higher-up. The charity advocates for a better quality of living for those suffering from paralysis and spinal cord injury. 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I think that the foundation is one way, one tangible way, that his legacy and my moms legacy will always live on. Lung cancer. The man he was referring to was his father, whom he never got to see whales with. It sounds simple and clichd, but just be you. Sadly, Dana's passing is not the first tragedy that Will experienced. This breakthrough sounds like science fiction, but it's real and it holds great promise for a bright future. But more than being their favorite Superman, they say, He was one of my favorite people,' Will explains. 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Christopher Reeve's son Will pays tribute to tragic parents Dana Reeve died from lung cancer just a year-and-a-half. The youngest son of former Superman actor Christopher Reeve is one of three new on-air reporters joining ESPN's SportsCenter team as the show looks to increase its appeal with millennials.. Will was only 3 when his father was paralyzed and 11 when he passed away. Never smoked. Be sure to SHARE this article if you think Christopher Reeve and his son look the same! "You're 13. I think his legacy is never going to go away and think that is a responsibility that I feel, to carry his and my mothers legacy on for the rest of my life and hopefully beyond that, Will tells PEOPLE. 4. All About Steve Craig, Who Is Devin Booker's Sister? Dana's son also got to pursue the career he always dreamt of. "We shared a very deep bond in general, but sports was definitely a major component of our family bond," Reeve told PEOPLE in 2015 when he got a gig at ESPN. 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Will Reeve lost his parents at age 13 but grew up to be a successful and well-rounded man, supporting his parents' foundation. Christopher Reeve's Son Will Reeve Is All Grown Up - Simplemost Will has also dabbled in acting. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. Because you are what will make mom and dad most proud. Tragedy struck when, in 1995, his famous father, Reeve, had fallen off a horse and the accident severed two of his vertebrae. All About Anne de Paula, College Wrestler's Mom Goes Viral After She Breaks Glasses in a Rage Over Match Upset, Stephen and Seth Curry: All About the NBA Brothers and Their Sibling Bond, Eli Manning's 4 Children: Everything to Know, told PEOPLE in 2015 when he got a gig at ESPN, Christopher spent quality time with his youngest child. Will joined ESPNs SportsCenter as a correspondent in 2015. The "Superman" star became an advocate for spinal cord injury research following the accident and founded the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. Will Reeve, son of Christopher Reeve, on overcoming the lowest point of Were so happy for the positive direction his life has taken him after the death of his parents. What you may not know is that Will was left orphaned, losing his mother, Dana, to lung cancer just two years after the death of his father. William had his half-siblings and other blood relatives, but his mother wanted him to stay with people he'd grown up with. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. His father even taught him how to ride a bike. We shared a very deep bond in general, but sports was definitely a major component of our family bond, Reeve said. Christopher Reeve's Children Celebrate His Memory He was just 13 when his mother died, leaving him orphaned, He lived with a childhood friend after his mother's death, His dad spent his last day alive watching Will's hockey game, Will Reeve Remembers Late Dad Christopher Reeve on Father's Day: He 'Gave Me Everything', Pierce Brosnan's 5 Children: Everything He's Said About Parenting, Who Is Justin Hartley's Daughter? Shock As Dana Reeve Dies At 44 - CBS News According to family friends, Dana wanted him to stay in Bedford, N.Y., with the people he'd grown up around. His credits include the TV movies Into The Gloaming and The Brooke Ellison Story, both directed by his father. Dana passed away from lung cancer on 6th March, 2006; 17 months after her husband passed away himself. Christopher Reeve's Son Is All Grown Up & Looks Just Like His - Shared It has been years since Christopher's passing, but his son still misses him deeply. Dana's father, Dr. Charles Morisini who lived in New Hampshire, told Daily Mirror in 2006, "Will will be very well looked after. Here's the good news: this is the low point. They then spent the rest of the day watching baseball back at home. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Actor Christopher Reeve passed away over 15 years ago. "We never got to do a lot of stereotypical father-son stuff no catch in the backyard, no birds and the bees, no driving lessons," he said. He's now got a brother and sister and is able to go to the same school and carry on how he was - same neighbourhood, same friends. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Born in London, he is the elder son of actor Christopher Reeve.His mother was Reeve's long-term partner Gae Exton. While all of Christopher's children have been in some way related to the film industry, William once chose to pursue acting like him. Will said that his parents instilled values in him and he hopes to honor them with his work. Aside from his work in sports broadcasting, Will is an ambassador and board member for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, a beautiful way to keep his parents memories and legacies alive. Gone, just like Dad, who died a year-and-a-half ago, which at the time was the lowest you had been. He watched a National Geographic documentary about them over and over. Dana's father, Dr. Charles Morisini, was said to fully support the decision. The host of the special was William's father, whom he idolized. Christopher Reeve, the one-time Hollywood "Superman" turned activist for spinal cord research after a horse-riding accident in 1995, died Oct. 10, 2004. He's the son of famed actor Christopher Reeve. There's nowhere to go but up, and that's exactly where you're headed. He sadly died of cardiac arrest in 2004, at the age of 52, when Will was just 11 years old. Late actor Christopher Reeve and Dana Morosini Reeve, had one child together, William Reeve. Even though he lost both of his parents when he was just welcoming teenagehood, William said he had a traditional upbringing. ABC reporter Will Reeve, 27, accidentally went viral on April 28 when he unwittingly revealed on Good Morning America that he wasnt wearing pants. Now you're at a new bottom and you're terrified and confused and just so sad. 2019 Creative Expansions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. William "Will" Reeve, 22, recently graduated from Vermont's Middlebury College and works as a writer for ESPN, his proud grandmother told The National ENQUIRER in an exclusive interview. Dana's mother died shortly afterward.. Christopher Reeve's youngest son, Will, was only 13 years old when he became an orphan. He quickly explained away the whole no pants thing after GMA. It wasn't long until he finally got the opportunity to star in a significant production in "Superman. Actor Christopher Reeve, known for his role as Superman, died in 2004 nine years after he was paralyzed in a horseback riding accident. Dana picked friends to look after him, everybody was very happy with that.". Hes the son of famed actor Christopher Reeve. When he was four, his parents (journalist Barbara Johnson and writer/professor Franklin Reeve) divorced. He is also making a name for himself in the sports broadcasting world as a SportsCenter and ESPN contributor. SUPERMUM'S final act of love; EXCLUSIVE: DANA REEVE'S DEATHBED DECISION He explained that he thought it meant following roads Christopher would've wanted him to go down. Two years later, tragedy struck again when his mother, Dana Reeve, died of lung cancer at 44. 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His son, Will Reeve, recently opened up about the legacy of his parents at the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation's "A Magical Evening" gala. He dabbled in acting and became a sports commentator, doing what he loves best. Or making up for the actor's thwarted dreams or living his life as his father's proxy. To millions of people, they embody love and loyalty, commitment and courage, perseverance and hope. He is the youngest of Christopher reeves children, two of which were born into another . This was only the beginning of the hardships that the family went through and he personally had to go through a lot more. The number 52 had a meaning for William it's the age Christopher died at. Getty Images Who Raised Will Reeve? Though Will says many fans will tell him that his dad was their favorite Superman, he says they also remember him for his work outside of Hollywood. In an interview conducted last year, Reeve talks about growing up with the most famous paralyzed person on the planet and tells a sweet story about how his father was able to teach him how to ride a bike just by giving him directions. Related: In 2016, William ran and finished the New York City Marathon in honor of his late parents and raised around $42,000. William only learned at the age of 29 that the ultimate tribute for his parents was in finding out who he was and being just that. Dana had made sure to set everything up for her son's wellbeing before she died. Before he passed away, the Hollywood star established the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation to support the search for treatment and ultimately a cure for spinal cord injury. After the loss of his parents, Reeve lived with a childhood friend in Bedford, New York, where he grew up something his mother wanted so he could be close to those he grew up with. Christopher Reeve's Son Was Orphaned at Only 13 By Bettina Dizon May 20, 2022 07:11 A.M. Will Reeve lost his parents at age 13 but grew up to be a successful and well-rounded man, supporting his parents' foundation.