Will Reeve: Finding My Father is a primetime documentary special that shows ABC News correspondent Will Reeve as he looks back on the last adventure of his father, actor Christopher Reeve. In 1995, right before a life-changing horse-riding accident that rendered him paralytic, Christopher Reeve was filming a documentary about the migrating Pacific gray whale, moving from a remote Alaskan island near Siberia to a secluded lagoon in Baja, Mexico.
Three decades later, Will embarks on this journey to connect with the man his father was before the accident, sharing never-before-seen family videos and photos, and meeting individuals who accompanied his father during the original expedition. The special is directed by Jeanmarie Condon and produced by ABC News Studios in association with Cobble Hill Films. It is set to air on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 10:02 p.m. EST on ABC.
Who was Christopher Reeve the man behind the Superman cape?
Christopher Reeve was born on September 25, 1952, in New York City he was the son of Barbara Pitney Lamb a journalist, and Franklin D’Olier Reeve, a teacher, novelist, and scholar. After his parents got divorced in 1956, Reeve and his younger brother Benjamin started living with their mother in Princeton, New Jersey. There, he studied at Nassau Street School and the Princeton Day School, where he excelled academically and participated in various sports. Reeve’s had a passion for acting and at the of nine when he was cast in an amateur production of the operetta The Yeomen of the Guard. This early experience led him to perform in numerous student plays throughout his schooling.
After he completed his graduation from Princeton Day School in 1970, Reeve went ahead and pursued higher education at Cornell University. When he was studying at the university he was more involved with the theater department, taking on roles such as Pozzo in Waiting for Godot and Polixenes in The Winter’s Tale. Even in the university phase, his life for acting continued he used to work at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts and the San Diego Shakespeare Festival, where he portrayed characters like Edward IV in Richard III and Fenton in The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Reeve applied to the Juilliard School in New York City after realizing the importance of formal education. In 1973, he was chosen, along with Robin Williams to study at Juilliard’s Advanced Program under the direction of John Houseman. While studying at the School Willian and Reeve become close friends. He was Balancing school with his career, Reeve dropped out of Cornell early because of a contract with CBS daytime drama Love of Life, playing Ben Harper. At the same time, he made his Broadway debut in 1976, appearing with Katharine Hepburn in A Matter of Gravity.
All About ABC’s Will Reeve: Finding My Father
Will Reeve: Finding My Father is an emotional documentary that follows Will Reeve’s quest to connect with the legacy of his late father, Christopher Reeve, who is known for his role in Superman. The ABC News Studios-produced film explores Will’s personal thoughts, historical footage, and interviews with friends and family, providing an intimate glimpse into Christopher Reeve’s life off-screen.
In the documentary, Will Reeve recounts his personal experience of growing up without his father, who died in 2004 when Will was only two years old. In interviews, Will says he wants to know about his father’s work as an actor, advocate, and humanitarian. He says, “I wanted to know who my dad was, not Superman, but as a human being.” The movie also explores Christopher Reeve’s determination following his life-changing spinal cord injury in 1995 and his subsequent advocacy for disability rights
The trailer offers a glimpse into the documentary’s heartwarming story. It includes a montage of Christopher Reeve’s most iconic scenes, from playing Superman to campaigning, interwoven with Will’s musings. The trailer highlights the emotional gravity of Will’s quest, including his pilgrimage to key locations in his father’s life and interviews with Christopher’s closest associates. The tagline, “A son’s journey to discover the man behind the legend,” best captures the main theme of the movie.
The documentary aims to celebrate Christopher Reeve’s enduring legacy while offering Will a chance to connect with his father’s memory. It is a tribute to both the Reeve family’s strength and Christopher’s lasting impact on the world.
Source: ABC News
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