A real role model we want Isaac to have. We respect him so much that we gave Isaac his name as a middle name. Isaac Ashley.

His uncle Ash, my brother, doesn’t live a perfect life but has given so much to so many people. He is someone you can rely on and gives of himself freely.

He lives at home with our parents despite being in his late 30s. He started out working in IT earning quite good money but felt that it was a soulless job and he wanted to do something worthwhile. Now he works for the ambulance service (poorly paid in the UK) and cannot afford to live on his own as the area is affluent. He doesn’t want to move out of the area he grew up in as his friends are still there.

Both our parents are disabled (father had a stroke, mother has Parkinson’s disease) and he does so much to help.

There’s so much more to Ash. He has a great sense of humour, loves cars and motorsport, is a great friend to his friends and also to us and loves spoiling Isaac. 1 month ago

This is my list for Isaac and I couldn’t think of a better place to start.

He isn’t perfect (who is???) but has a very strong moral compass and cares a lot about others. He gives up his free time for voluntary work with people who are not as fortunate as we are, have fallen through the cracks in society and ended up homeless with addiction problems.

He tries hard to do his best and has spent some time in the past pursuing his dream of being a musician even though he wasn’t successful. He had a lot of courage to try his all as most musicians don’t succeed but also a lot of fun following his heart.

He is also very family oriented and family will always come first. 3 months ago

I think his response to his accident was truly inspirational and remarkable. The website for the foundation that he and his wife founded is here: http://www.christopherreeve.org

Various tidbits from the IMDB:

Turned down the lead role in American Gigolo (1980) which went to Richard Gere. Turned down the role of Fletcher Christian in The Bounty (1984) which went to Mel Gibson. Turned down the lead role in Body Heat (1981) which went to William Hurt. Turned down the role of Mason Verger in Hannibal (2001) which went to Gary Oldman. In 1976, turned down the role of Mark Harris in “Man from Atlantis” (1977) which went to Patrick Duffy. Turned down the role of Jack T. Colton in Romancing the Stone (1984) which went to Michael Douglas, who also served as one of the film’s producers.

Gained 30 pounds for the role of Superman.

Wrote an autobiography, “Still Me.” The book was a bestseller, and he was working on another book at the time of his death.

Was offered numerous roles, such as the lead in The Running Man (1987) and Total Recall (1990) (both of which went to Arnold Schwarzenegger). He turned them down to take on more challenging ones.

5/3/02: He and wife Dana Reeve opened a center devoted to teaching paralyzed people to live more independently in Short Hills, NJ. Known as the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center, the facility operates a website, publishes “Paralysis Resource Guide” and houses the largest U.S. collection of paralysis-related publications. The Reeve Family Foundation has also distributed grants to paralysis researchers totaling some $22 million.

The last character he played before his riding accident was a paralyzed individual in Above Suspicion (1995), which was released six days before the accident. 4 months ago

He just passed away at 89, and I just found out about his heroism in World War II – which I think is a sad commentary on our culture, but that is another issue for another time.

From the New York Times:

“Then came World War II, and he enlisted in the Army. His combat experiences were harrowing. He was in the first wave of troops to land on Omaha Beach on D-Day and his unit’s lone survivor of a machine-gun ambush. In Belgium he was stabbed in hand-to-hand combat with a German soldier, whom he bludgeoned to death with a rock. Fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, he and the rest of his company were captured and forced to march through a pine forest at Malmedy, the scene of an infamous massacre in which the Germans opened fire on almost 90 prisoners. Mr. Durning was among the few to escape.

By the war’s end he had been awarded a Silver Star for valor and three Purple Hearts, having suffered gunshot and shrapnel wounds as well. He spent months in hospitals and was treated for psychological trauma.

After the war, still mentally troubled, Mr. Durning “dropped into a void for almost a decade” before deciding to study acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, he told Parade magazine in 1993. The school dismissed him within a year. “They basically said you have no talent and you couldn’t even buy a dime’s worth of it if it was for sale,” he told The Times in 1997.”

I liked his acting and now I really admire him. 4 months ago

I love his tenacity and drive…and his recognition that he’s achieved what he wanted to, and that he’s ok letting go of one thing and moving on to the next.

I watched the interview with him last night and it was very interesting. 9 months ago

I enjoy reading his comment on my goals and reading his goals. I would definitely like to meet him someday. 10 months ago

He showed that Aids that can affect everyone and he fought to get an education. I would also say Michael Jackson. Despite all the negativity surrounding him he really did care about kids and did try to help people more than take advantage of their situation. 12 months ago

Ed McMahon it sounds like form what i’ve heard 13 months ago

Bob Hope and George Burns both were funny , lived to 100 and got started on radio. 13 months ago

Davy Jones The article I read made it sound like evreyone and all was around a happy decent fun loving person. 14 months ago

Allen Funt the one who did Candid Camera, most of them were funny and George Lucas , he created one of the best trilogies of all time. 14 months ago

Bill Cosby his show was funny and the kids were never hit and he doesn’t attack people personally and Bob Newhart both of his shows were funny and he still acts to this day. 14 months ago

and Issac Newton. There should be more , but it seems to be hard to think of them. 15 months ago

and Benjamin Franklin without them how we could communicate and know about electricity 15 months ago

He really made a difference by freeing the slaves and Dan Rather, he showed that newscasters are human being. 15 months ago

I know Gandhi. Also Bob Barker. He might be an odd choice but if you get his book you’ll see he really cared about animals and wasn’t violent. Don’t forget to have your pets spayed or neutered….:) 16 months ago

there’s no particular right but he dose seem to get good guests on the show and he seems to be a good interviewer and Steve Martin. he’s funny without hurting people and i can’t think any of his movie where he was violent and he’s real down to earth from the interviews I’ve seen of him 17 months ago

his telethon has raised millions of dollars and

Alfred Hitchcock his movies really didn’t have much violence and he was very creative 17 months ago

He’s trying to make people aware of Parkinson’s and develop enough interest, I believe, to increase research. And he’s doing it without complaint. 17 months ago

and…

Ray Bradbury . Even if you haven't read any of Bradbury's books, you probably have heard of him and saw some movies based on his works. His books are still somewhat popular. It amazing he has been around a long time. 17 months ago

I just read a book – “Mandela’s Way” by Richard Stengel- fantastic book and I just really, REALLY wish I could talk to Nelson Mandela for a few months. It sounds like he is an incredible source of wisdom, common sense, adjustment, intelligence, and so much more. To know him well must really be something. I think he is a good guide for ANYONE – male or female. 17 months ago

He didn’t give up after he was paralyzed and Ryan White , he fough for his right to be educated when he could have just given up because of AIDS17 months ago

How can you not admire the 1st President of the United States?

The one that Blind Side was based on (i think it was Michael Oder ) you gotta admire someone when they come from so little and make it. 18 months ago

that was my godfather He was generous with his time and money.

Rod Sterling was very creative for his time  and he won several Emmys. Overall Twilight Zone wasn't violent. 18 months ago

He donated his time and money to St. Jude.My mother got to meet him when she was growing up .

Also the one in the Pursuit of Happiness (not Will Smith) the 1 it was based on. He showed you can come back from anything. 18 months ago

Jackie Robinson he made it possible for other black baseball players . The biography i saw of him made him seem like a really nice guy.

Paul Newman because all his profits from his dressing went to charity. He had a long successful which seems very rare in Hollywood. 18 months ago

even his ex wife had kind words after he died , he started a charity for his brother and…

Martin Luther King Jr. He did make a difference for people as a whole. He didn’t even spank his siblings with a belt for punishment when they would him. 18 months ago

MY GRANDFATHER THAT died when i was 10. He never had a bad word for anyone. He gave of himself and i still miss him a whole bunch.

Chris Farley I know he might he seemed like an odd choice but what i have heard he was trying to clean him self up and he did give his time to others and he was 1 of the funnier 1 from SNL and i wish i'll be remembered as kind as him when it's my time to leave. 18 months ago