Will Reeve Writes Touching Tribute to His Late Father Christopher For Father's Day

Jun 28, 2021 by apost team

Father's Day was on June 20, 2021, and this gave people across the world the opportunity to share meaningful photos of their fathers. From the royal family to Hollywood, Father's Day came with a barrage of rare, throwback pictures that have delighted fans. This list also included Christopher Reeve's son Will Reeve. 

The enigmatic Christoper is best remembered for his iconic role as Superman in the titular 1978 movie Superman. Christopher's chiseled looks and incredible acting led him to continue this role in the three sequels that followed. 

His success in the Superman franchise gave him a great leg up in the movie industry, but the actor concentrated on taking on roles that were complex and meaningful instead of cashing in his fame for every movie that came his way.

After appearing in more critically acclaimed movies through the 80s and 90s, Christopher's acting career was abruptly cut short after a tragic accident during an equestrian competition. This accident left a 42-year-old Christopher a quadriplegic for the rest of his life. 

Will was only 11 years old when Christopher passed away, but he remembers and celebrates his father even today. Unfortunately, tragedy struck again when Will's mother Dana died two years later from lung cancer. Will has not had an easy life, but he has made it his own and has become a successful person today. He has even continued his parents' legacy and made a difference in many people's lives.

On Father's Day 2021, Will honored his father with a touching tribute, and it goes to show that he has a deep love for Christopher despite their short time together. 

Will, who currently works as an ABC News correspondent, wrote a beautiful tribute to his father on Sunday and reflected on the memories he had with his father. The 29-year-old recalled that growing up, he "was obsessed with a National Geographic documentary about gray whales." He confessed that he was "fascinated and enthralled by" the "charisma and enthusiasm" of the host of the documentary, who was Christopher, and that his father inspired him to follow his dreams. 

Will also added that while in Alaska for work, he was able to feel his father's spirit when he tried recreating a moment from the documentary. "We never got to see whales together. 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, no prom pictures, no college visits, no guy's dinners in New York City," Will wrote. "While I haven't been able to celebrate with him on Father's Day for 17 years, I honor him today with joy and a dream realized. I saw whales in Alaska last night, up close, and felt dad was with me."

Will also wrote about feeling as though he may never live up to his father's legacy, and always "feared I'd never meet the standard."

However, he continued, "I'm 29 now and have finally started to understand what honoring my dad actually means. I thought it meant following the roads he would want me to go down, or to live my life as his proxy, making up for lost time according to his thwarted dreams. Turns out, our parents want us to find out who we are and go be that. That is the ultimate form of honor."

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Will added, "Like many missing the main character every third Sunday in June, I never feel fully whole on Father's Day. But I find peace and strength in the fact that the greatest gift I can give my dad is to keep him in my heart while I follow it wherever it leads me." 

Will has continued to honor both his parents through his work with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, which helped others who were afflicted with paralysis due to spinal cord injury and other neurological disorders. Working with the foundation has helped Will to connect with his parents even though they are not physically there anymore. 

Will and his father also shared a love of sports. It was a major part of their lives, whether they were playing it, watching it, or talking about it. "We shared a very deep bond in general, but sports was definitely a major component of our family bond," Will said according to PEOPLE. In fact, Christopher watched one of Will's hockey games on the day he passed away. 

Will's career pays tribute to the bond he and his father shared around sports. He attended Middlebury College, eventually interning at Good Morning America PEOPLE reported, where he ended up working as a production assistant before graduation. Will eventually landed a job on ESPN's SportsCenter after graduation and joined them in 2014 as a contributor. 

Will has often called his father the "coolest guy" he's known yet. His touching letter about his father on Father's Day this year goes to show that he cherishes and honors his father in his own way even today, and that love is never snuffed out, even in death. 

What did you think of the touching tribute that Will left for his father? Do you remember seeing Christopher Reeve on screen? Tell us about your experiences and be sure to pass this onto others as well.