US actress Margot Kidder, who played reporter Lois Lane in the “Superman” movies, has died at age 69, a statement from the funeral home handling her arrangements said Monday.
The statement said Kidder, who was also an activist, died Sunday at her home in Livingston, Montana. A cause of death was not given.
Kidder’s full name was Margaret Ruth “Margot” Kidder and she was born in Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories province of Canada, but became a US citizen in 2005.
She was especially popular playing the role opposite Christopher Reeve in “Superman” in 1978, “Superman II – Alone Against All” in 1980, “Superman III – The Steel Lightning” in 1983 and “Superman IV – The World on the Edge” in 1987.
The Reeve Family and Foundation said it was “deeply saddened” by Kidder’s death.
“Fly high, our friend, shine bright,” the Foundation posted Monday on Twitter, along with a photo of Kidder and Reeve as their most famous characters.
DC Comics, the home of the Superman franchise, also issued a statement on Twitter.
“Thank you for being the Lois Lane so many of us grew up with. RIP,” the comic stable posted.
Actor Mark Hamill said Kidder’s legacy would “live forever.”
“On-screen she was magic. Off-screen she was one of the kindest, sweetest, most caring woman [sic] I’ve ever known,” he tweeted.
Later in her career, Kidder starred in many smaller productions and television series.
She suffered from bipolar disorder and had a nervous breakdown in Los Angeles in 1996. She campaigned for mental health-related issues and as an activist opposed the US invasion of Iraq. In 2011 she was arrested while protesting against an oil pipeline at the White House.
Kidder married and divorced three times, according to trade journal Variety.
She had a daughter in 1976 with her first husband, novelist Thomas McGuane. Her 1979 marriage to actor John Heard was over in just six days, according to Variety. She also was married to French director Philippe de Broca from 1983 to 1984.