A compelling new documentary, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, made its debut at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival on January 21 in Park City, Utah. This film dives deep into the life and career of the iconic actor Christopher Reeve, whose portrayal of Superman captivated audiences worldwide. Among the notable contributors sharing their memories and insights is none other than the legendary actress Glenn Close.
Christopher Reeve tragically passed away in 2004 at the age of 52, nearly a decade after a devastating equestrian accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. In 2014, another beloved figure, Robin Williams, also left us too soon. The comedian and actor took his own life at the age of 63, leaving a void that’s still felt today.
In the documentary, Glenn Close, now 76, shares her poignant reflection on the bond between Reeve and Williams. She believes that if Reeve had been around longer, Williams might still be with us. “I always felt that if Chris was still around, Robin would still be alive,” Glenn reveals in the film.
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Remembering Their Collaboration on Screen
Glenn Close and Robin Williams first crossed paths on the set of the 1982 classic The World According to Garp. It was a role that brought them together and allowed their professional respect to blossom into a deep friendship. Glenn recalls how Christopher Reeve would often visit the set to hang out with Williams. “On Friday evenings, Chris would literally swoop in, piloting his own plane, scoop Robin up and away they would fly for the weekend,” Glenn recounted in 2017. “On Sunday, late afternoon, Chris would swoop back in and deliver Robin back — I have to say a little worse for wear.”
A Friendship Rooted in Their Early Days
Christopher Reeve and Robin Williams first met at Juilliard in New York City during the early 1970s. What started as a casual acquaintance quickly grew into a lifelong brotherhood. In his 1998 autobiography, Still Me, Reeve fondly reminisces about their early days. “I’d never seen so much energy contained in one person,” Reeve wrote. “He was like an untied balloon that had been inflated and immediately released. I watched in awe as he virtually caromed off the walls of the classrooms and hallways. To say that he was ‘on’ would be a major understatement. There was never a moment when he wasn’t doing voices, imitating teachers, and making our faces ache from laughing at his antics. His name, of course, was Robin Williams.”
Unwavering Support Through Tough Times
Even in the face of adversity, Christopher Reeve found solace in the unwavering support of his friend Robin Williams. After suffering a near-fatal horseback riding accident, Reeve recounted how Williams stood by him as he prepared for a life-altering surgery to reconnect his skull and spine. “My friendship with Robin Williams is one of the real joys of my life,” Reeve expressed. “Robin is a person who gives to people 24 hours a day. The gift of joy, the gift of laughter. Just to be in a room with Robin Williams is a privilege. He’s a gift to the world.”
At one point during his hospital stay, Williams even impersonated a Russian proctologist set to perform an exam on Reeve, bringing much-needed laughter and lightness to a difficult moment. Eventually, Reeve realized his friend was reprising his character from the 1995 film Nine Months. “I knew then: if I could laugh, I could live,” Reeve told Barbara Walters before his passing.
