US actor Christopher Reeve, who brought comic book hero Superman to the silver screen, then championed the disabled after an equestrian accident in 1995 left him paralysed, has died of heart failure at the age of 52, his publicist said early Monday.
Reeve died at 5:30 pm (2130 GMT) Sunday at Northern Westchester Hospital at Mount Kisco, New York, after suffering cardiac arrest and falling into a coma at his home the previous day, publicist Wesley Combs said.
The actor was being treated for a pressure wound, a common complication for people living with paralysis, Combs said in a statement. The wound had become severely infected, resulting in a serious systemic infection.
"Reeve was admitted to Northern Westchester Hospital on Saturday evening and never regained consciousness. His family was at his side at the time of death," Combs said.
Dana Reeve, the actor's wife, thanked his nurses and caregivers and "the millions of fans from around the world who have supported and loved my husband over the years."
No funeral plans were immediately announced.
Reeve was one of the country's leading actors when his horse threw him during a riding competition in Virginia. He suffered two broken cervical vertebrae and damage to the spinal cord.
The paralysis left him unable to breathe without a respirator.
Reeve was best known at the time for his portrayal of the title character in a series of four "Superman" films in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
He went on to become an active and beloved advocate for those suffering from spinal cord injuries, founding and chairing charitable organisations in support of medical research into treatments and a cure for spinal cord injury paralysis and other central nervous system disorders.
He continued his artistic career as well, directing television and film to critical acclaim. And he starred in a made-for-television version of Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window," netting a Screen Actors Guild acting award for the role.
Reeve also championed improved quality of life for the disabled, leading efforts to organise challenging sports events for people with disabilities, and helping pass federal legislation enabling disabled people to return to work and still receive disability benefits.
Reeve authored two books after his accident: "Still Me" (1998), which became a New York Times best-seller, and "Nothing Is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life" (2002). His audio recordings of the books were both nominated for Grammy Awards.
He is survived by his wife Dana, their 12-year-old son Will, and two adult children from an earlier relationship, Matthew and Alexandra.