While he has tried to make a name for himself, first as an actor and now as a television journalist, Will Reeve doesn’t mind the comparison to his famous late father.
In a new interview at An Eve With Reeve benefit, Will Reeve was again reminded of his resemblance to his dad, Christopher Reeve, the Superman actor who passed away in 2004 at the age of 52.
After first confessing that he’s ‘very fortunate to have the life that I do,’ the ABC News correspondent went on to add, ‘And I think that if the public might find a little interest in, “Oh, he looks like his famous dad,” that’s great,’ Reeve told People.
‘That means they’re talking about my family in a positive light and remembering our dad and our mom and our family in a way that honors them.’
The television personality and former actor added, ‘I always take that as a compliment.’
Look-a-likes: Will Reeve, 31, reacted to all the comparisons to his late movie star dad Christopher Reeve, who past away in 2004 at the age of 52
While elaborating on his fatherly looks, Reeve thought to mention both his dad and his late mother, Dana Reeve, who past away in 2006 at the age of 44.
‘I think that I had two beautiful parents, inside and out, and if I bear any resemblance to them physically, or temperamentally, or in my values, then I take that as a compliment every day,’ he proudly stated.
Educated at Cornell University and Juilliard School, Christopher Reeve made his Broadway debut in The Marriage of Figaro (1976) and his film debut in the Gray Lady Down (1978), just before landing his breakout role in Superman (1978), which shot him to stardom.
He would go on to star in three Superman sequels, along with Somewhere In Time (1980), Deathtrap (1982). The Bostonians (1984), The Remains Of The Day (1993), among others.
But then, in May 1995, Reeve broke his neck when he was thrown from a horse during an equestrian competition in Culpepper, Virginia.
The injury, which happened when Will was two-years-old, paralyzed the actor from the shoulders down, and he used a wheelchair and ventilator for the rest of his life.
The New York City native returned to creative work, directing the television film In the Gloaming (1997), acting in the TV remake of Rear Window (1998), while making several appearances in the Superman-themed television series Smallville. He would also write two autobiographical books: Still Me and Nothing Is Impossible.
Will appeared as young versions of characters in the movie In the Gloaming (1997), The Brooke Ellison Story (2004), which were both television films, then voiced an unnamed character in Everyone’s Hero (2006).
Continuing the work: Reeve has followed the footsteps of his parents to work with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation; the Reeves are pictured in December 1989
Flattered: ‘That means they’re talking about my family in a positive light and remembering our dad and our mom and our family in a way that honors them.’ the Good Morning America journalist said of the comparisons to his dad, before adding, ‘I always take that as a compliment’
But ultimately he switch career paths and became a journalist, which included a run at ESPN and now at Good Morning America.
Christopher Reeve went into cardiac arrest and die in 2004, which his wife Dana Reeve and his doctor John McDonald believed was due to an adverse reaction to a drug he received an infection caused his death.
Just two years later, Reeve’s mother, who had been by her husband’s side through all his health emergencies, died from lung cancer, despite never smoking tobacco in her life.
The annual gala for An Eve With Reeve, which is now in its third decade, was held at The Glasshouse in New York City.
Triumph over tragedy: Will Reeve was just two-years-old when his father broke his neck during an equestrian competition in Culpepper, Virginia in 1995, resulting in the actor becoming paralyzed from the shoulders down
Actor turned Journalist: Reeve currently works as a correspondent at Good Morning America
Reeve’s and his sister Alexandra Reeve Givens, 39, both spoke about how Team Reeve aims to raise money for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation at the New York City Marathon on Sunday, as well as the GMA correspondent’s ‘ability to connect with people.’
‘I love people, I love as it relates to the Reeve Foundation and the community that we are so focused on building,’ Reeve said. ‘Nothing makes me happier or prouder than when people who might not otherwise have known each other, or have known about us or our cause, come together and leave with something meaningful.’
The foundation, which was originally named the Stifel Paralysis Research Foundation, is dedicated to finding treatments and cures for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury and other neurological disorders, and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy.
Since 1982, it has distributed over $138 million to spinal cord researchers, and $28 million to non-profits that aim to support better quality-of-life for people with disabilities.
