Christopher Reeve’s son recently shared how Robin Williams used humor to lift his father’s spirits following his accident.
Christopher Reeve, celebrated for his portrayal of Superman, faced a life-altering incident that shocked the world.
In 1995, Reeve suffered a severe injury after a horse-riding accident, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down. He passed away in 2004 at the age of 52.
Robin Williams, renowned for his comedic talent, was the first to visit Reeve after the accident.
In an interview with PEOPLE magazine, Reeve’s son William discussed the deep connection between his father and Williams, explaining that they considered each other ‘brother.’
William spoke to the publication ahead of the documentary film release about his father’s life, titled Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story.
He stated: “Robin was dad’s best friend, and you show up for your friends. Our dad and Robin had a singular bond.
“They had a friendship that someone should make a movie about, but what shone through in that was just their love and respect for each other, and that never wavered.
“No one was better at showing up with love and with the right dose of humor than Robin Williams and his wife Marsha, who we call our fairy godmother. We are still so incredibly close with her.”
Williams managed to evoke Reeve’s first laughter post-accident, as revealed by William.
During a hospital visit, Williams impersonated a Russian proctologist. For context, a proctologist is a doctor who deals with colon and rectal issues.
Reeve previously described his initial encounter with Williams in his 1998 memoir, Still Me, highlighting Williams’ eccentric personality.
“He wore tie-dyed shirts with tracksuit bottoms and talked a mile a minute,” 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.”
Williams sadly took his own life in 2014 at the age of 63.
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and will be released in select theaters on September 21.