There are many stories about kids who look just like their famous parents.
From Michael J. Fox’s twin daughters to Julia Roberts’s teenage daughter who looks just like her, and even Elvis Presley’s grandson, there are many celebrity kids who make us do a double-take.
Christopher Reeve’s 29-year-old son, Will, is one of those kids. Not only does he look exactly like his father, but he is also working hard to carry on his father’s inspiring legacy.
Sadly, Will had to face a huge loss when he was only 13 years old. He lost both of his parents at such a young age.
What does a hero look like?
For many people growing up in the late 70s and early 80s, a hero looked like Christopher Reeve.
He became famous for playing Superman in the 1978 movie, and his performance earned him a BAFTA award for Most Promising Male Newcomer. He also starred in three more Superman films: Superman II, Superman III, and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.
Christopher Reeve, born in New York in 1952, was more than just an actor. He was also a film director, producer, screenwriter, equestrian, and activist.
However, everything changed for Christopher Reeve on May 27, 1995. During a horse riding competition in Culpeper, Virginia, he fell off his horse Buck and injured his spinal cord.
The fall left him paralyzed from the neck down and confined to a wheelchair. His family and fans were devastated.
Christopher’s mother even asked doctors to stop his breathing machine and let him die. According to the New York Times, if Christopher had fallen just one centimeter more to the left, he might have died instantly. If he had landed slightly to the right, he might have only had a concussion.
Christopher Reeve was just 42 years old when he became a quadriplegic. After his accident, he was in a wheelchair and needed a portable ventilator to help him breathe for the rest of his life.
Doctors quickly told him that there was little chance of improvement and said it would be “impossible” for him to regain any movement.
Reeve was in a lot of pain and, in the early days at the hospital, he was heavily medicated and confused. After hearing the doctors’ grim diagnosis, he felt as though his life had been shattered.
Christopher Reeve didn’t want to be a burden to his family and suggested to his wife, Dana Morosini, that they might need to consider ending his life support.
With tears in her eyes, Dana replied, “I will support whatever you decide, because this is your life and your decision. But I want you to know that I’ll be with you for the long haul, no matter what. You’re still you. And I love you.”
Instead of giving up, Reeve focused on activism. He and Dana started the Christopher Reeve Foundation, which was later renamed the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. They also co-founded the Reeve-Irvine Research Center, advocating for spinal cord injury research and stem cell research.
Christopher Reeve made sure his son had a happy childhood despite the challenges he faced. In a 2016 interview with PEOPLE, Will Reeve shared that his upbringing felt “totally normal.”
He said, “They were the people who told me to turn off the TV, to eat my broccoli, to go to bed. I know not every kid sees their dad on magazine covers at the grocery store, but… it was a totally normal childhood.”
Will Reeve also remembered a special moment when his father, Christopher Reeve, taught him how to ride a bike from his wheelchair. “I didn’t think it would work. I was terrified, but I could hear my dad’s voice guiding me: ‘Steady, steady, left, right, left, right,’” Will recalled. By the third lap, he was smiling and waving at his dad, who was smiling back. “That meant so much to him. Later on, I’d race him in his wheelchair, and he’d let me win.”
Unfortunately, Will’s father passed away while they were still working on rebuilding their lives.
Christopher Reeve had health issues from a young age, including asthma and allergies that affected his breathing. At 16, he also developed alopecia areata, which caused his hair to fall out. Although he managed this condition during his acting career, he chose to shave his head after becoming paralyzed.
In the early 2000s, Reeve faced several infections. In October 2004, he was being treated for an infected pressure ulcer that had led to sepsis. On October 9, he was watching his son Will play hockey, but later that night, he suffered a heart attack after receiving antibiotics for his infection.
Christopher Reeve fell into a coma, and there was nothing the doctors could do. He passed away on October 10, 2004, at the age of 52. Both his wife, Dana, and the doctors attributed his death to an adverse reaction to medication.
Christopher’s body was cremated at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York, and his ashes were scattered.
Just 10 months after Christopher’s death, Dana was diagnosed with lung cancer, even though she had never smoked. According to Christopher P. Andersen, Dana had performed and sung in smoky bars and hotel lobbies during the early days of her career, which might have contributed to her illness.
Dana Reeve, an American actress and singer, married Christopher Reeve in Williamstown, Massachusetts, on April 11, 1992.
Dana battled a malignant lung tumor for several months and passed away on March 6, 2006, at the age of 44.
Their son, William Elliot “Will” Reeve, was born on June 7, 1992. Tragically, Will was only 13 years old when he lost both of his parents.
Today, Will Reeve has grown up to look just like his father, Christopher Reeve, though he has largely stayed out of the spotlight.
Will has completed his education and is now building a successful career in the sports news industry.
At 29 years old, Will’s resemblance to his father is striking. But what’s truly remarkable about him is that he continues the important work his parents began.
HE DIDN’T VISIT HIS MOM FOR 7 YEARS – WHAT HE FOUND WILL SHOCK YOU
Olive finally got a good job right when her son, Chris, left for college. She was so happy to be able to help him with everything he needed. As Chris stood at the train station, about to leave for New York, Olive reassured him, “Chris, don’t worry about anything. I’ll pay for as much as I can. If you need anything, just call me.”
For most of Chris’s life, Olive had struggled to make ends meet. She raised him on her own and studied at night to improve their situation. While Chris always had food and a roof over his head, Olive could never afford the things other kids had. His gifts were often second-hand, and Olive felt guilty for not being able to give him more.
Despite this, she loved him deeply and worked hard to ensure he had the best future possible. Seven years passed, and they only talked through video calls, but one day, Chris returned home and was shocked by what had happened.
Olive was finally earning a decent salary and felt proud she could give Chris anything he needed. “Thank you, Mom,” Chris said, hugging her tightly before getting on the train to New York.
Years passed, and one day, Chris decided to visit his mom. He knocked on the door of his childhood home, but there was no answer. Confused, he peeked through the window—and couldn’t believe what he saw. The house was completely empty.
***
“Mrs. Franklin, you should come to visit! I’m so huge now!” Chris’s fiancée, Rosalie, said cheerfully during a video call, showing off her baby bump. Olive smiled through the screen, but something weighed heavily on her mind.
“Mom, I wanted to ask you something,” Chris began, scratching the back of his head nervously. “Since Rosalie and I are about to graduate and we’re having a baby, I was wondering if you could help us with a house. We’ve already found one in New Jersey. We can’t afford to live in the city, but it’s beautiful, and it reminds me of home.”
Olive stared at her son, deep in thought. “Well, I… don’t know,” she hesitated, thinking about her savings and the hard work she’d put in over the years. She was finally planning for her retirement.
“Please, Mom,” Chris pleaded, explaining the cost of the house and how much they needed for a down payment. He also mentioned that Rosalie didn’t have any family to help them out.
After a long pause, Olive sighed. “Ok, Chris, ok. I think we can work something out.” She knew it would mean using up her entire savings and living even more frugally, but it was possible.
Chris’s face lit up. “Thank you! Thank you, Mom! I don’t know what I’d do without you!” he said, nearly in tears. Olive smiled back, knowing that all her sacrifices were worth it.
***
“I wish you guys could come this Christmas,” Olive said in front of her computer, as she had done many times over the years. It had been seven years since Chris left home, and he hadn’t returned to their Maryland hometown. All their communication was through video calls. Olive was missing out on her granddaughter’s life, and it hurt her deeply. But everyone was always busy, and she felt lonelier with each passing year.
Olive was working harder than ever, still helping Chris financially. She had already depleted her savings once, and now, after helping him start a business, they were almost gone again. Olive never asked Chris for anything in return, but she wished they would at least visit her, as she couldn’t make the trip herself.
“We can’t, Mom. Not this year,” Chris said, shaking his head apologetically during another video call. “But thank you for the gifts you sent Mallory. She loves them. You’re an amazing grandma.”
“Can you put her on the screen?” Olive asked gently. She smiled as she watched her granddaughter, but the longing to hold her was overwhelming.
***
What Olive didn’t know was that Chris was finally planning a surprise visit. He couldn’t afford plane tickets for Rosalie and Mallory to come with him, but he was excited to see his mother after so many years.
However, when his taxi pulled up in front of the house, Chris frowned. It was 9 p.m., and the house was completely dark. He told the driver to wait for a moment and stepped out. Something was off. The porch furniture was gone, the plants his mother had always cared for were missing, the garden was overgrown, and even the welcome mat was no longer there. His heart sank as he walked toward the door.
Chris knocked on the door again, but there was still no response. He peeked through the window and was shocked—everything inside was gone. *Did Mom move? Why didn’t she tell me?* he thought, feeling a knot of concern form in his chest.
“Chris? Is that you?” a familiar voice called out.
He turned around to see Mrs. Torres, the elderly woman who had lived next door his entire life. “Mrs. Torres! Hi!” he greeted.
“What are you doing here, kid?” she asked, surprised.
“I’m here to see Mom. Do you know where she is?” Chris asked, frowning, feeling more confused by the second.
“Oh, dear. Your mother moved away about two years ago. She sold the house, but the new owners only moved out a few weeks ago. I’m not sure who’s moving in next,” Mrs. Torres said, her face scrunching up as she spoke.
“She never told me,” Chris muttered in disbelief. “Do you know where she went?”
“Yes, I have her new address somewhere. Come inside,” Mrs. Torres replied, leading him to her house. After a few minutes, she handed Chris a piece of paper with the address written on it.
Chris read it and frowned deeply. The address was in a part of town known for being run-down. “Do you know why she moved to that area?” he asked Mrs. Torres, feeling uneasy.
“No, honey. But I know she has a roommate now,” Mrs. Torres said with a shrug, leaving Chris even more puzzled.
Feeling anxious, Chris returned to the taxi and gave the driver the new address. The car pulled up to a shabby apartment complex on a poorly lit street. The building’s paint was peeling, and it looked neglected. Chris hurried inside, noticing there was no security as he easily made his way up to the apartment.
When Olive opened the door, her eyes widened in shock. “Chris? What are you doing here?”
“Mom! What is going on? Why did you sell the house?” Chris asked, bewildered and upset.
Olive sighed heavily and stepped aside, inviting her son into the small, cramped living room. Once they sat down, she began to explain.
“The first time you asked for money for the house, I still had some savings left, so I used them to help you and Rosalie. But when you asked for money for your business, I didn’t have anything saved up. So, I decided to sell the house and give you most of the profit,” Olive said, her voice calm but tinged with sadness.
Chris was stunned. He had no idea. The realization that his mother had sold her home to help him was like a punch to the gut. “Mom, why didn’t you tell me? I never would’ve taken that money if I had known. I feel terrible… I’ve been so careless,” he said, his voice breaking with guilt.
“But, sweetheart, I just wanted you to succeed,” Olive explained softly. “I couldn’t give you much when you were younger, and I wanted to make up for it. I didn’t want you to struggle…”
Chris shook his head, his heart heavy. “Mom, you didn’t fail me. You gave me everything that mattered. I wish I had seen that sooner,” he said, his voice filled with regret.
“Mom, you gave me everything I ever needed,” Chris said, his voice shaking with emotion. “I only asked for help because I thought you could afford it. I shouldn’t have asked. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for not checking on you, for not visiting, and for letting you live here, with a roommate, at your age. I’m so sorry.” Tears of frustration streamed down his face.
Olive, with tears in her eyes, hugged her son tightly. They held each other, both overwhelmed with emotion. Chris made many promises that night, vowing never to let her struggle again. Later, he called Rosalie and explained everything. Together, they agreed it was time to move Olive closer to them.
Fortunately, Olive found a new job in New Jersey quickly, and within a few months, they had built an in-law suite for her. Olive was finally close to her family and could enjoy every moment with her granddaughter, Mallory.
Chris worked hard and repaid his mother every penny she had given him for the house and his business, which had become a huge success. Their family was comfortable, and most importantly, Chris never let his mother sacrifice for him again. Olive never missed another precious moment of her granddaughter’s life, and Chris made sure that she would always be taken care of from then on.
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