Margot Kidder: Superman star's death ruled a suicide

'It's a big relief that the truth is out there', daughter says

Harry Cockburn
Thursday 09 August 2018 08:37 BST
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The death of US actor Margot Kidder, whose best-known role was in the Superman films, has been ruled a suicide.

At the time of her death in May this year, her manager, Camilla Fluxman Pines, had said Kidder, who played Lois Lane in the film franchise of the late 1970s and early 1980s, died peacefully in her sleep.

But Park County coroner Richard Wood said in a statement released on Wednesday that Kidder, who was 69, had died “as a result of a self-inflicted drug and alcohol overdose”.

In a joint statement, Kidder’s family and the coroner’s office said they are urging “those suffering from mental illnesses, addiction and/or suicidal thoughts to seek appropriate counselling and treatment”.

No further details will be released and the family has asked for privacy, the statement said.

Maggie McGuane, Kidder’s daughter by her ex-husband, author Thomas McGuane, had known her mother had died from suicide and said it was “a big relief that the truth is out there”.

“It’s important to be open and honest so there’s not a cloud of shame in dealing with this,” she said.

Kidder, who was also known for her political, environmental and anti-war activism, dealt with mental health issues for several prolonged periods of her life.

Margot Kidder relaxes on the set of 1969 comedy ‘Gaily, Gaily’, in which she starred with Brian Keith

A 1990 car crash left her in a wheelchair, bankrupt and with chronic back pain. She became known for erratic behaviour, drank heavily and was married three times.

Her first marriage, to Mr McGuane, lasted less than a year. Her later marriages to actor John Heard and French filmmaker Philippe de Broca also were also short-lived. For years, she was also in a relationship with former Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau.

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Kidder suffered what she described as “the biggest nervous breakdown in history” in 1996, after a computer virus erased years of work she had done on a memoir.

Kidder signs autographs at Comic Con International in 2005

Kidder starred in four Superman films opposite Christopher Reeve, and maintained a close friendship with him until his death in 2004.

She also appeared in The Great Waldo Pepper with Robert Redford in 1975, Brian De Palma’s Sisters in 1973 and The Amityville Horror in 1979.

She later appeared in small films and television shows until 2017, including RL Stine’s the Haunting Hour.

Joan Kesich, a long-time friend, said Kidder was fearless and always spoke the truth, regardless of the consequences.

“In her last months, she was herself – same kind of love, same kind of energy,” Ms Kesich said. “The challenges that she had were very public. I want what I know about her to be out there because it was glorious. She was really a blazing energy.”

Kidder died on 13 May 2018 at her Montana home.

For confidential support call Samaritans on 116 123.

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