According to CNN, Margot Kidder, the actress most known for her iconic portrayal of Daily Planet news reporter Lois Lane, died on May 13, 2018 at the age of 69 at her home in Livingston, Montana. The cause of death is unknown at this time.
Margot Kidder played the love interest of Superman in the four films of the original series starring Christopher Reeve as the man of steel: Superman: The Movie (1978), Superman II (1980), Superman III (1983), and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987). While she starred in all four films, her role was much more substantial in the first two, which is just as well, because the first two Superman films with her aside Christopher Reeve are arguably still two of the best comic book superhero movies to date. The next two films are uh…often regarded on the opposite end of that spectrum. Regardless, Kidder brought her A-game everytime, and we surely would not have many of the strong female characters not just in superhero movies, but movies in general today without her portrayal, certainly not the most recent Lois Lane seen in Justice League (2017) brought to life by Amy Adams. Kidder was often the pretty damsel in distress, but she could still hold her own with a confident, sensitive, and funny personality, which Clark Kent and Superman obviously took a real shining to.
Besides the original Superman film series, Kidder also starred in films like Halloween II (2009), Some Kind of Hero (1982), Maverick (1994), The Amityville Horror (1979), Black Christmas (1974), The Gravy Train (1974), Heartaches (1981), Gaily (1969), and starred alongside Gene Wilder (Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)) in Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx (1970).
Notable television show appearances include: Smallville (2001-11), Nichols (1971-72), The Outer Limits (1995-2002), Street Legal (1987-94), Amazon (1999-2000), Murder She Wrote (1984-96), Tales From the Crypt (1989-96), Barnaby Jones (1973-80), Harry O (1973-76), Brothers & Sisters (2006-11), The Mod Squad (1968-73), and The L Word (2004-09). Kidder also portrayed the lead role of Eliza Doolittle in the 1983 TV Movie version of Pygmalion. She also lended her voice to the animated world for shows like Captain Planet and the Planeteers (1990-96) and Phantom 2040 (1994-).
Rest in peace, Margot Kidder. It’s amazing the kind of people, the actors and actresses who with one role can leave behind such an incredible legacy.
