For nearly as long as Superman has existed in the comics, there have numerous other media adaptations of the Man of Steel and his mythology. Among the more popular of these projects are the Christopher Reeve-led Superman movies from the 1970s and 1980s, but you can't think about Reeve's portrayal of the Kryptonian hero without also thinking of Margot Kidder's portrayal of Lois Lane, ace Daily Planet reporter. To a generation of both comic book fans and general moviegoers, Kidder's Lois Lane was the definitive Lois Lane, and we're sad to report that Kidder has passed away at the age of 69.
According to TMZ, Margot Kidder died at her home in Livingston, Montana on Sunday, though no cause of death was revealed. Kidder had struggled with bipolar disorder during her life, which was the cause for a highly-publicized manic episode in 1996. However, in 2007, the actress stated that she hadn't had a manic episode since then, and she also became an advocate for mental health. Kidder leaves behind one daughter and two grandchildren.
Before she was cast as Lois Lane in 1978's Superman: The Movie, Margot Kidder's acting credits included movies like A Quiet Day in Belfast, Black Christmas and The Great Waldo Pepper, as well as TV shows like Nichols, McQueen and Barnaby Jones. However, it was unquestionably her time as Lois Lane (she was the third actress to portray the character in live action) that propelled her to worldwide fame, and she obtained the role after taking a break from acting following her daughter's birth in 1976. If you're a fan of Superman: The Movie, then you know that Kidder's chemistry with Christopher Reeve was one of the most appealing elements of the movie, and Kidder won a Saturn Award for Best Actress for her performance. You can watch a snippet of that performance in the Superman: The Movie clip below, where Lois interviews the Man of Steel for the first time.
One year after Superman: The Movie's release, Margot Kidder also starred as Kathy Lutz in The Amityville Horror, for which she earned a Saturn Award nomination. Kidder reprised Lois Lane for the other three Superman movies of the Christopher Reeve era, although she only appeared for a few minutes in 1983's Superman III. Kidder continued acting until earlier this year, with her more recent cinematic appearances including Canadian movies like Real Gangsters and The Big Fat Stone, while her appearances in the television realm included two episodes of Smallville and two episodes of Brothers & Sisters. Kidder had also built up a stage resume, which included The Vagina Monologues. The actress reportedly had two more roles left to be released, so even though she's no longer with us, we may still have a little bit of time left with her on screen.
We here at CinemaBlend express our condolences to Margot Kidder's family and friends. If you have a fond memory of Margot Kidder, be it from one of her performances, Superman-related or otherwise, or even an encounter with her in real life, feel free to talk about it in the comments below.
