I really thought Christopher Reeve would pull through his tragedy. He was so tireless in his efforts to regain his ability to walk and regain his mobility after being paralyzed during an equestrian accident almost a decade ago.

Reeve's horse, Eastern Express, missed a rail jump, throwing him forward in May 1995 at an event in Culpeper, Va.

Although I've interviewed countless celebrities, I never had the opportunity to talk to Reeve although our paths crossed in other ways.

Reeve got his start at the Williamstown Theater Festival. He started there as an apprentice at the age of 15 and frequently appeared at the festival in Massachusetts after becoming a film actor. He met his wife, Dana, in Williamstown in the summer of 1987 when she was performing at a cabaret.

When I was a journalist in Albany, I would frequently go to Williamstown, where Reeve was considered part of the family.

Reeve is also somewhat of a legend at one of my favorite summer retreats, Mackinac Island. It was there he filmed "Somewhere In Time" with Jane Seymour at the famous Grand Hotel in 1979. The film was released in 1980, but according to its fans, didn't get the buzz needed to generate it as a hit because of an actor's strike that year.

Meanwhile, the quaint Michigan island (where still to this day automobiles are not allowed), keeps "Somewhere in Time" alive. A reunion is set for "Time" fans at the Grand Hotel at the end of this month. Find out more, click here.

Reeve, who died Sunday at the age of 52, will forever be remembered as "Superman."But for many people, he will also be known as a champion for a cause.

His wife, Dana, will continue her work with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center (PRC), a program of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation (CRPF).

For those who want to send a card or a donation, the family has requested that donations be made in his honor to the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation. Cards may be sent to the family in care of the Foundation at 500 Morris Ave., Springfield, N.J. 07081.

Beatle Baby

Fashion designer Stella McCartney announced she's having a baby. If you do the math, that will make her Aunt Beatrice (daughter of dad, Paul McCartney, and his wife, Heather Mills McCartney) only a year older than her new niece.

McCartney made the announcement Thursday at the launch of her new collection during Paris Fashion Week.

Celebrity Chatter has learned that McCartney is 3½ months pregnant.

McCartney is married to Alasdhair Willis. The baby (she said she does not want to know if it is a boy or a girl until it is born) will be the third grandchild for former Beatle McCartney. His oldest daughter, Mary, from his wife Linda McCartney, has two boys.

Gere's Premiere Cast

Richard Gere was at the New York premiere of his new movie "Shall We Dance" sporting a cast on his left hand.

Gere, plays a workaholic lawyer who finds new passion when he learns to ballroom dance in the new movie opening Friday, did not hurt his hand while dancing, but rather when he was riding his horse.

The dashing movie star ended up with some broken bones after taking a fall from his horse last week. Richard said he briefly lost consciousness during the accident, but said he's doing fine.

Barenaked Ladies Go TV

Somebody pinch me! Comedy rockers Barenaked Ladies could be getting their own show from Fox, according to Variety magazine.

The Ladies, who actually are five men, are expected to host a comedy variety hour.

If you've ever seen the Ladies in person, you know they have enough yuk-yuks to fill an hour.

Ben's Bet

I'll be talking one on one with Ben Affleck about his new movie "Surviving Christmas." For those of you who follow Celebrity Chatter, you know that I've been egging the actor on to teach me how to play poker.

Watch out, Ben! I have a deck of cards all set for our next meeting.

Michelle Solomon's gossip column, Celebrity Chatter, appears each Monday. You can email Michelle at Michelle Solomon@Celebrity Chatter.