3. Quadriplegia
27th May 1995 is remembered as the fateful day that gave Reeve what many would consider to be the ultimate challenge, and he became a virtual prisoner trapped in his own body. Reeve displayed unparalleled amounts of strength, courage, and determination however, and was constantly seen using his celebrity status to fight for truth, justice, and medical advancements. His now iconic wheelchair allowed him to speak to people everywhere; whether appearing on Sesame Street or in front of US Congress, he raised awareness of spinal cord injuries, fought political battles in the name of stem cell research, and never gave up his own struggle that one day he would walk again. Ultimately he never reached his own personal goal, but Reeve's determination did allow him to push through barriers and astound even medical professionals by the progress he made, and rewrote the book of what was possible after an accident of his magnitude. This is not to say that it was the accident itself that spurred him to step up to these challenges and become an activist, but merely brought them to the attention of the general public. Prior to his accident Reeve flew solo across the Atlantic not once but twice, and in 1987 helped lead a march in Chile, protesting against Augusto Pinochet's threat to execute 77 actors for their "subversive" work. Although it is perhaps ironic that an actor who played Superman would become paralysed, the fact that they share so many admirable qualities is anything but.