Christopher Reeve’s Superman helped to define my notions of heroism, decency, and manhood. Here are two quotes that capture the magic of Reeve’s performance:
The first one is by Grant Morrison from his wonderful book Supergods:
“…his portrayal of Superman brought to life the character’s nobility, determination, and essential decency in a resolutely non-ironic manner that gave his performance its convincing sincerity. Purely on a physical level, Christopher Reeve was Superman; he’d bulked up for the role, of course, but there was something else, something about his otherworldly blue eyes, his dignity and poise, and the set of his chiselled jaw that seemed to embody the Platonic Superman and inspire immediate trust. Other actors, before and after him, might have played Superman, but Reeve somehow became the definitive embodiment of the character, possessed, enthused as it were, by his spirit and likeness.”
And Glen Weldon, in his excellent book Superman: The Unauthorized Biography, wrote that Reeve’s Superman had a “guileless sincerity” and:
“…a calmness. In his squared shoulders and compassionate blue gaze, Reeve’s Superman is unhurried, unforced; his very presence soothes and reassures.”