“Build Their Own Muscles…Than Use a Body Suit”: Hollywood Superstar Who Tragically Died at 52, Makes Bodybuilding World Gape at His Resurfaced Transformation

In the 1930s, writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster created an action superhero who was born on the fictional planet of Krypton and was named Kal-El. In no time, it attracted a legion of fans, and the more popular name stuck with everyone – Superman. In 1978, when a live-action movie was made on it, a young Christopher Reeve was cast for the role. How a thin Reeve built his body to be the muscular and jacked Superman, still has fans impressed. They recall him from a recently resurfaced video.

By the 1970s, comic books depicted Superman with his bulging biceps and ripped physique, which could be seen even through his blue costume. Christopher Reeve had to do justice to that image. As Reeve trained extremely hard to do that, fans are still in awe of what he achieved with his physique. He passed away after an unfortunate incident, at just 52 years old. But not before leaving a legacy behind.

Christopher Reeve’s natty transformation

A recent YouTube video by Luke Sherran explored how Christopher Reeve refused to put on fake muscles for his role as Superman. A small clip from the original 1978 film started off the video, in which Reeve, as Superman, tells Lois Lane, played by Margot Kidder, that he weighs 225 lbs. The narrator then rightfully said, “For kids born in the 70s and 80s, Christopher Reeve was the OG Superman”.

However, Reeves’s casting was not a walk in the park for him. He was initially overlooked for being too thin, as opposed to Superman’s large muscular body. Reeves initially tried to fool the casting directors into hiring him by wearing “a big bulky blue sweater”. He tried to make the impression that he is stronger and bigger.

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But then, such was his determination to play the character, Reeve build his physique to match the standard and demand. He even refused to wear “a padded uniform” that was prepared for him. Bodybuilding fans are simply astonished at the determination Reeves had to build his body for a character.

His fans still remember him as the one true Superman

Here’s how some of the fans reacted:

“I love how the two most prominent Superman actors decided to build their own muscles rather than use a body suit”, wrote a fan. He was talking about Reeves and Henry Cavill, who later on reprised the role in the 21st century.

“His body type was not huge by today’s standards but his acting and embodiment of Clark and Superman were ENORMOUS by all-time standards. Rest In Power Mr. Reeves”, wrote another fan who was clearly beyond impressed by his physical transformation from the standards back in the day.

“A beautiful man. He inspired a whole generation. He will always be Superman”, wrote another fan of Reeves. One of the first Superman, Reeves will always be fresh in the minds of his fans as the titular character.

“He’s one of the only superhero actors that says he’s not on steroids and I actually believe him”, wrote another fan who clearly believed in the authenticity of Christopher Reeves’s bodybuilding abilities.

“He is the comic book Superman personified,” wrote a fan who believes that Reeves truly embodied the true essence of the alien character.

Christopher Reeves got injured while riding a horse in 1995. His injury, which was nearly fatal, damaged his first and second vertebrae, thus leading to cervical spinal injury. It paralyzed him from the neck down. Reeves lived with paralysis and died in 2004. Tributes poured in huge numbers for him and fans love him to date.

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