Sad farewell to Lois Lane
'Superman's Kidder dies at 69
Margot Kidder, who won our hearts and Superman’s as reporter Lois Lane in the original “Superman” movies, died over the weekend at age 69.
Her manager said she passed away at her home in Montana. The cause of death was unknown.
“Thank you for being the Lois Lane so many of us grew up with,” tweeted DC Comics, publisher of the “Superman” series. “RIP, Margot Kidder.” Born in Yellowknife in Canada’s Northwest Territories, Kidder began acting in 1968 and rose to fame in the late ’70s, thanks to her first appearance as Lois, opposite Christopher Reeve’s Clark Kent/Superman.
She starred in numerous films over the years, including “The Amityville Horror” “Black Christmas” and Brian De Palma’s “Sisters,” but it was her portrayal as the fierce and fun-loving newspaper reporter that stuck with fans.
“RIP Margot Kidder, my first Lois Lane,” tweeted author Eric Rosswood. “I hope you’re soaring with Christopher Reeve.”
Although Kidder was a relative unknown before 1978’s “Superman,” she left a big impression, going on to star in three sequels alongside Reeve.
She made headlines later in life due to her battle with bipolar disorder, and was reported to be homeless in 1996. Kidder got back on her feet, though, becoming a mental-health advocate and a leading voice in the mental-health community.
“Margot Kidder should be remembered as much for courageously, candidly discussing her battles with mental illness as for any screen role,” tweeted political consultant David Axelrod.
“There are no Supermen — or women,” he said. “It is not a character deficiency to acknowledge such struggles and get the help and treatment you need!”
Writer Joanna Robinson observed on Twitter, “Like Carrie Fisher, Margot Kidder’s human struggle with mental illness and passionate social activism meant as much to me in terms of inspiration and love as her iconic on-screen role.”
Kidder — who was friends with Fisher — said in interviews that playing Lois was tiresome at times, but she eventually accepted the role for what it was.
“It was exciting, but for a while, being typecast as Lois made my vanity and narcissism scream,” Kidder told The Guardian in 2005. “Hadn’t people seen my other work? But now my grandkids watch it and think I was Superman’s friend, so that’s a thrill.”
Kidder appeared in both TV and movies during the later years of her life, and even managed to take home a Daytime Emmy for her portrayal of Mrs. Worthington in “R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour.” She also guest-starred in the teen Superman drama, “Smallville.”
“I guess I came to terms with my demons,” Kidder told The Guardian.
“Horrifying as it was to crack up in the public eye, it made me look at myself and fix it.”
The actress was married three times and is survived by her daughter, Maggie McGuane.
Funeral arrangements were pending on Monday.