Margot Kidder (1948-2018)
Monday, May 14, 2018 at 7:23PM by Nathaniel R
My generation lost its Superman, Christopher Reeve, tragically early 14 years ago. And now we've lost our Lois Lane. The Canadian American actress Margot Kidder has passed away at 69. I can still picture the heroes flying together across that Metropolis sky. And I do mean heroes plural. The magic of the first two Superman films was definitely in the fact that they understood Lois's heroism, too. Their faces aren't the only thing burned in memory but their voices, too...
Reeve's aw-shucks earnestness was perfectly countered by Kidder's raspy screwball resulting in delightful bickering. Maureen McGovern sang the love theme "Can You Read My Mind?" while they flew (I remember the song so fondly from my sister playing the sheet music on the piano). One supposed the song was to heighten the romanticism of the moment but Reeve and Kidder didn't need much help in the chemistry department; future big screen Supermans and Lois Lanes have never come anywhere close.
Kidder first gained fans in cult horror hits like Sisters (1972) and Black Christmas (1974) but her career came to be defined by the splashy success of three hits in quick succession: Superman (1978), The Amityville Horror (1979), and Superman 2 (1980). But the actress struggled with fame and with bipolar disorder. That didn't stop her, though, from carving out a career on stage and screen, and from becoming a political activist. Like Lois, she proved tenacious.
Most will be sharing pictures of Margot Kidder as Lois Lane. Instead, I thought I'd share this. #MargotKidder, handcuffed and smiling, being arrested at the White House for peacefully sitting against the potential environmental destruction of the Keystone pipeline. pic.twitter.com/CUFdHb9u9O
— Tom Taylor (@TomTaylorMade) May 14, 2018
Margot Kidder should be remembered as much for courageously, candidly discussing her battles with mental illness as for any screen role.
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) May 14, 2018
There are no Supermen— or women. It is not a character deficiency to acknowledge such struggles and get the help and treatment you need!
RIP pic.twitter.com/ZD6RB3cfzU
May she rest in peace.
Margot Kidder, RIP, Superman
Reader Comments (18)
I first noticed her in a short lived series "Nichols" with James Garner. Intense, funny, raspy voice, she was like a 70's version of Lauren Bacall. She made a great Lois Lane, and I will always be grateful to her for making that part come alive. RIP.
I agree...no other Lois Lanes on TV or in the cinema come close to what she has given us. RIP.
Maureen McGovern sang all the key songs of the 70s. She's like the Jennifer Warnes of the 80s.
Rest in peace Margot Kidder.
I'm glad you said what I think couldn't be truer. Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder are THE definitive Clark Kent/Superman & Lois Lane.
Her spunky grit and vivacity were perfect fits for Lois and all the others since, especially in the movies have been very very pale imitations. I will say that Teri Hatcher had many of the right elements in the TV Lois and Clark but Kidder will always be the template.
Sad news indeed.
Sad news. RIP.
I met her in Bozeman, Montana, while working on a political campaign in 2006. She was still active and fired up!
She is amazing in Sisters as earlier today, I saw her funny cameo in Delirious (an underrated comedy) as it was strange as I saw that film and then hear the news that she died.
To me, she will always be the Lois Lane. I grew up on the original Superman movies and that film will always have a place in my heart as I still think it's the greatest superhero film ever made. Margot was a reason for that as she was dead-on as Lois. I hope she and Christopher Reeve are flying above us all in Heaven. I just want to wave to them.
Let's also remember her in the very good Brian DePalma psycho thriller SISTERS and in the original BLACK CHRISTMAS. Margot did horror films proud. RIP Margot, you will be remembered fondly.
I love her onscreen presence - I can watch Sisters over and over and she'll never fail to crack me up.
RIP Margot. Canada misses you already.
She really was so good in "Superman". I wonder what the arguments were about that led to her cameo size performance in 3. (not that she was missing much).
And she was also really good in the scary (if true or untrue) "Amityville Horror". Rest in Peace.
Yes, sad news. Margot Kidder was the Lois Lane of my childhood, the definitive Lois. You're right, Nathaniel: her chemistry with Christopher Reeve was as sky-high as their flying.
R.I.P.
sisters, black christmas, amityville. a gem, a treasure, an icon of genre movies. sensual voice, gorgeous face. RIP
I'm glad we live in a world now were an Actress who so publicly crashed could get access to services and not be afraid to say something,The ultimate Lois Lane,the chemistry and believability between her and Reeve made the films something a bit special to genre and non genre fans.
She still stands as the least annoying "Lois Lane," which I mean as an earnest compliment.
Always appreciated her. The Amityville Horror remains one of my guilty pleasures just because of her dear presence. RIP!
Yep, her Lane was fantastic and worked perfectly with Reeves' Superman. It's hard to believe that the modern Lanes are even playing the same character.
RIP.
She was Lois Lane-
I wonder if I'm the only one who fondly recalls Willie & Phil and Sisters?