Reeve’s Juilliard memorial draws 900

Three weeks after Christopher Reeve’s death, his family and friends celebrated him Friday at a place that was central to his life: the Juilliard School, where he first honed his acting skills and later returned to receive an honorary doctorate.

More than 900 people, including Hollywood stars and Washington politicians, arrived at the school’s Lincoln Center campus for the memorial to Reeve, the strapping actor who played “Superman” on screen and then, after a riding accident, spent the last nine years of his life as a quadriplegic.

Among the early arrivals were Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Teresa Heinz Kerry, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.); actresses Glenn Close, Mary Tyler Moore and Susan Sarandon; television hosts Larry King and Katie Couric; and director Mike Nichols.

“His courage and inspiration will live on,” Clinton said of Reeve, who after his accident worked toward finding a cure for paralysis.

The 52-year-old Reeve died Oct. 10 of complications from an infection caused by a bedsore. Days later, a close circle of family and friends attended a private ceremony at his Pound Ridge home in New York’s suburbs.

Friday’s service, which was closed to the media, was held at the same place where Reeve received his doctorate in May 1997 before delivering a memorable speech to the graduating class.