Raised in Princeton, New Jersey

Worked at Princeton's McCarter Theater after school in his teens

Began lengthy recurring association with the Williamstown Theatre in Massachusetts

Did national tour of play, "Irregular Verb to Love", opposite Celeste Holm while doing graduate work at Juilliard

Lived in England for a time; worked as a stage hand

Returned to the United States; played Ben Harper on the CBS daytime serial drama, "Love of Life"

Broadway debut opposite Katharine Hepburn in "A Matter of Gravity"

Film acting debut in "Gray Lady Down"

Gained prominence in film in the title role of "Superman"

Played the leading role of Ken Talley in the Broadway production of Lanford Wilson's "Fifth of July"

London debut in "The Aspern Papers", opposite Vanessa Redgrave

TV-movie debut, "Anna Karenina"

Screewriting debut "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace"

Turned down lucrative offer to do cigarette commercials in Japan

Hosted the second season of the Discovery Channel's compilation documentary TV series, "The Hollywood Stuntmakers"

Hosted the Travel Channel's ecology series, "Earth Journeys with Christopher Reeve"

Paralyzed in a riding accident in May

Was interviewed by Barbara Walters on ABC newsmagazine "20/20" in September

First public appearance at The Creative Coalition's annual dinner in October

Signed by HBO to direct a TV-movie, "In the Gloaming" (aired in April 1997)

Made public appearance as a presenter at the Academy Awards

Received star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (April 15)

First acting role since being paralyzed, a TV remake of "Rear Window"

Narrated the IMAX extreme sports film "Extreme"

Wrote first post-paralysis memoir "Still Me," for which he won a Grammy for Spoken Word Album

Appeared in controversial commerical for biotech company Nuveen airing during the Superbowl which depicted Reeves (via CGI) walking again

Wrote second memoir "Nothing is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life," a collection of anecdotes and public speeches for which he received a Grammy nomination for Spoken Word Album

Second interview with Barbara Walters helps ABC win the week's rating race

Cast as Dr. Swann, a mysterious scientist with information on Clark Kent's origing, on the WB series "Smallville"

Executive produced the PBS documentary series "Freedom: A History of Us"

Underwent surgery to have experimental electrodes implanted in his diaphragm, which extended his ability to breathe without a respiriator

Reprised role as Dr. Swann on the WB series "Smallville"

Directed the A&E special "The Brooke Ellison Story" based on the real life story of Brooke Ellison, who at age 11 suffered paralysis, but went on to earn her degree from Harvard