Margot Kidd – A True Hollywood Tragedy…
Working in Hollywood all these years, I was lucky enough to be around some of the best and brightest in the business. But it’s a tough industry to survive in, and here’s the story of one bright and shining star who fell on hard times…
With the release of the new “Superman” film, I wanted to pay tribute to the greatest Lois Lane of them all!
Margot Kidder had many big hits during her career, along with some critically acclaimed performances – but she had a series of personal setbacks as well – here’s a look at her career.
Margaret Ruth Kidder was born in 1948 in Canada’s Northwest Territories. Kidder began working in TV and film in the late 1960s, and she was modeling as well…small roles in a variety of projects.
Her big break came when she scored a lead role in Director Brian DePalma’s thriller “Sisters.”
This was a tour-de-force performance by Margot, a siamese twin separated at birth – and one could be a killer…here is the trailer:
After “Sisters” in 1972, she then starred in the shock classic “Black Christmas” the following year.
Kidder was terrific as the caustic friend who helps Olivia Hussey search for a missing sorority sister, as a serial killer is stalking students during Christmas break!
You can see the film’s original trailer and read all about this horror classic here:
These roles were great, but she achieved her biggest success starring as Lois Lane in the classic “Superman” films with Christopher Reeve.
According to wikipedia, Kidder read for the character only one month before principal photography was scheduled to begin. Kidder was flown to England for screen-tests for Director Richard Donner and when she walked into the room, Kidder tripped and fell! Donner recalled: “I just fell in love with her. It was perfect, this clumsy [behavior].”
She got the role and movie magic was made.
Cinema’s Best Lois Lane!
Kidder’s quick wit and “tough as nails” demeanor were the perfect foil for Reeve, and the chemistry between the two stars was perfect for the material…this was an era when no one was making super hero films, and the success of “Superman” revitalized the genre. Here is the original trailer, which literally lays out the mythology behind the character:
The first two “Superman” films in the late 70’s are considered by many to be the best superhero films ever made…and much of that credit goes to Kidder’s feisty performances…”Suerpman II” was also massively successful, but the third added Richard Pryor to the mix, and Kidder’s role was a glorified cameo…the film didn’t do well and she moved on.
Among many other roles, Kidder had a central supporting part in the Robert Redford film “The Great Waldo Pepper, followed by a lead role in “The Reincarnation Of Peter Proud.”
Prior to her “Superman” films Kidder was hired in 1975 to direct a behind-the-scenes mini-documentary capturing the making of “The Missouri Breaks” starring Jack Nicholson and Marlon Brando. But what sounded like a cool project was a disaster!
“I was such a jerk,” she recalled. “I mean, I thought they wanted a real documentary. So, I filmed all the behind-the-scenes rows and arguments and shot footage of the vet shooting up the horses with tranquilizers so the actors would look as if they rode well. What an idiot I was. Then when they fired me, I realized what they’d wanted was a publicity film.”
Kidder shook that off and had many more hit films.
“The Amityville Horror” in 1979 is still considered one of the great horror films of that era.
Here’s a look at the trailer:
Kidder’s Rough Stretch…
Kidder’s career slowed down in the 80’s as she took on political causes and became an Activist. In 990, she sustained serious injuries in a car accident that left her temporarily paralyzed…and it got worse: suffered a highly publicized manic episode and nervous breakdown in 1996 stemming from bipolar disorder.
She disappeared for four days, and was found in a back yard by a homeowner and was taken by Los Angeles police to a Medical Center in a distressed state. She was later placed in psychiatric care.
She received medical care and a new health regimen, and in 2007, Kidder said that she had not had a manic episode in 11 years.
Kidder since worked in numerous films as well as numerous television series and films such as Rob Zombie’s 2009 film “Halloween II.”
In 2015, she won an Emmy Award for her performance in the children’s television series “R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour.”
Kidder died on May 13, 2018, at her home in Livingston, Montana, at the age of 69. Her death was ruled a suicide by a “self-inflicted drug and alcohol overdose.” Whether intentional or not, the mixture of drugs and alcohol killed her at far too early an age…
Unfortunately, many Hollywood stars can’t overcome their personal demons…it’s a story with too many examples like this one:
The Shocking Tale Of Jan-Michael Vincent!
This 70’s star of such films as “Big Wednesday” and “The Mechanic” struggled as he got older as well…you can read this story here:
Another star from the late 60’s also fell from grace…
June Fairchild starred with The Monkees in their movie “Head”, but ended up on LA’s skid row!
You can read more about this tragic Hollywood story here:
And here’s the true story of a murdered mobster and a movie star!
See it here:
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Categories: 70's Cinema, Action Films, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Great Films, Hollywood, Horror films, Memoirs, Movies, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities, True Hollywood Mystery
johnrieber 
I didn’t know what other films Lous Lane starred in and I didn’t even know she’d died. What a great shame.
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Robbie, it’s a really tough business to have a long career and she had a great one with some personal issues that she couldnt’ overcome…thank you for the comment
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So many stars end up dying of alcohol or drugs 😢
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Very sad. I loved her in the Superman films, and as a big fan of De Palma’s thrillers, I always liked SISTERS. Life can be hard, and it’s too bad that many of our great stars have very private and personal issues played out publicly. It still doesn’t change their great work, like Margot’s, that will survive well after they are gone.
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That comment was not aimed at your write-up, just more of a comment that it’s sad that because of her great success, her darkest moments were played out in the public eye while they were happening. At this point, that’s part of her story and leaving it out would make any write up seem incomplete.
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Sorry I shouldn’t have posted my comment but I wanted to make sure my story was taken as exploitation..I work in entertainment and have seen that happen…I am taking my comment down
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So sad! I loved her as Lois Lane. She always reminds me of Karen Allen in the Indiana Jones movies.
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what an arc her life took and I always felt she was so talented. what a toll that life takes on some people
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I always liked her but my favorite movie was the Reincarnation of Peter Proud. chuq
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Many people experience tragic periods in their lives and, luckily, do so privately – if you are in the public eye like Margot Kidder, everyone and their dog wants to know and gossip about the parts none of their business. Truly a sad story > think how much pain she must have felt . . . thanks for telling . . .
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A lovely lady. Such a sad loss. She will always be Lois Lane.
Outside of the Superman films, I love her in Sisters and The Amityville Horror.
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Thanks for commenting, great to hear from you…she was on a great career role, but the business really does a number of some people…this was an homage to a great talent…
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We all have demons, it all depends on how you deal with them.
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Yes, perfectly stated.
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I mainly knew her from Black Christmas and the Superman films. I agree that she was the perfect casting for Lois Lane. A sad end indeed, one more Hollywood tragedy.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I also read that Kidder was homeless for a while, but I don’t know if that’s true.
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I think that was around the time she was found in a mental state…I wasn’t sure so left it out but it was heartbreaking…she was one of the smartest and most talented Artists of that time…the business is really tough on anyone in it for the long haul…thanks for the comment, I appreciate it!
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I agree. Margot Kidder was the best Lois Lane. My husband bumped (literally) into her at Vancouver International Airport and she was very gracious about it all.
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I have shared other true Hollywood tragedies in the past…it’s a very tough business and it can bring out emotional trauma in some, especially those in front of the camera…thanks for commenting…I love your story!
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