From Hollywood stardom and a shocking mental health crisis to a quiet life in Montana and an unusual request in her final years, this actress’s story is one of resilience.

For many, this Hollywood star will always be Superman’s Lois Lane — sharp, fearless, and full of life. But beyond the silver screen, her story was far more complex as she experienced one of Hollywood’s highest peaks and its most devastating lows.

In her later years, she found peace in Montana, away from the spotlight. Then when she passed away, a startling detail about her final wish emerged. Take a closer look at this actress’ incredible story.

A Star’s Rise to Fame

Long before this actress became a household name, she was a young girl with big dreams and even bigger emotions. From an early age, she felt a deep connection to the world of storytelling and performance, an outlet that allowed her to channel her ever-changing moods.

But despite early successes, a harsh critique from a director left the actress questioning her abilities, prompting her to step away from film for a while.

She once scribbled in her childhood diary that she would be a movie star one day. But before she could reach for the stars, she first had to navigate the inner turmoil that seemed to follow her wherever she went.

Recognizing her struggles, her parents sought a way to help their daughter. They sent her to boarding school, where she found herself drawn to the stage.

Performing in school plays, including a memorable turn as Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet,” solidified her passion for acting. For the first time, she felt at home in a world where emotions were not just accepted but celebrated.

After graduation, the actress set her sights on Hollywood. However, breaking into the film industry was no easy feat. The competitive nature of the business, coupled with industry biases, made her early years in Los Angeles a challenge.

Struggling to find her footing, she eventually crossed paths with a Canadian agent who believed in her talent. This connection led to her first major film role in “Gaily, Gaily” in 1969, a stepping stone that opened more doors.

Soon after, she landed a co-starring role alongside Gene Wilder in “Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx” in 1970. But despite early successes, a harsh critique from a director left the actress questioning her abilities, prompting her to step away from film for a while.

She moved to New York, taking on television roles to support herself while refining her craft. When funds ran low, she returned to Hollywood, determined to make another go at it.

A chance encounter at a screen test introduced her to Jennifer Salt, an aspiring actress who would become a lifelong friend. The two young women rented a beach house together, creating a makeshift haven for struggling artists.

Among their frequent houseguests were now-iconic filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese, Brian De Palma, and Steven Spielberg — an ambitious group of creatives who spent long nights dreaming of revolutionizing the film industry.

Her portrayal of Lois Lane, alongside Christopher Reeve’s Superman, won audiences over and cemented her place in Hollywood history.

During this period, she developed a relationship with De Palma, who recognized her potential and cast her in his psychological thriller “Sisters” in 1972. The film was a critical success, branding her as a rising talent.

This breakthrough role led to a string of major films throughout the 1970s, including the horror classic “Black Christmas,” the adventure drama “The Great Waldo Pepper,” and the supernatural thriller “The Reincarnation of Peter Proud.”

However, for a brief period, the star stepped away from the spotlight to embrace family life. Marriage and motherhood became her focus, and she took a hiatus from acting to raise her daughter.

But after three years of domesticity, the urge to return to the screen became impossible to ignore. Newly single and eager to reignite her career, she set her sights on a role that would forever change her legacy.

Her agent introduced her to a relatively unknown director named Richard Donner, who was searching for the perfect actress to play Lois Lane in “Superman.”

She auditioned, capturing the fearless, quick-witted spirit of the iconic reporter, and secured the role. Her portrayal of Lois Lane, alongside Christopher Reeve’s Superman, won audiences over and cemented her place in Hollywood history.

With newfound fame, the actress continued taking on intense and varied roles. Her career in film, television, and theater flourished throughout the 1980s, including a return to her most famous role in “Superman IV: The Quest for Peace” in 1987.

However, despite her many successes, the star privately battled a lifelong struggle with mental health. As the years passed, her internal battles became more difficult to manage, eventually leading to a moment in her life that shocked the world.

A Tragic Breakdown

By the mid-1990s, the bright lights of Hollywood had dimmed, and the actress found herself slipping into one of the darkest chapters of her life. In April 1996, she vanished without a trace, sending her loved ones into a desperate search.

When she was finally found four days later, the scene was heartbreaking. Disoriented, missing some of her dental work, and wearing ragged clothes, she had taken refuge inside a cardboard box belonging to a homeless man named Charlie in downtown Los Angeles.

The spiral started following a devastating personal loss. For years, the actress had been working on her memoir, “Calamities,” pouring her life into its pages.

But in an instant, a computer virus wiped out three years of her work. Panicked and desperate, she flew to Los Angeles on April 16, hoping that a data recovery company could restore her lost files. However, she was told the worst news possible — the files were gone. She later admitted:

“That’s when I went from really distressed to absolute delusion.”

Back in Montana, her disappearance had sent shockwaves through her family. Her daughter, Maggie Kern, along with her agent launched an urgent search.

In the early hours of April 21, confusion and fear took hold. She tried to take a taxi but lacked the money to cover the fare. Outside the airport, she attempted to withdraw cash but became convinced the ATM was about to explode.

Overcome with panic, she ran. She spent the next several hours wandering through unfamiliar streets, seeking shelter on porches and in backyards as her fear escalated. By the afternoon, she had traveled nearly 20 miles and ended up downtown, where she was taken in by two homeless men.

As she sat among them, trying to make light of the situation, one of the men simply said, “None of us are from this neighborhood.” The words struck her — just days earlier, she had been working on her book, living a vastly different life. Now, she was one of them.

At one point, the actress watched another homeless man use drugs. Concerned, she told him, “Don’t do that to your body.” He responded bluntly, “Don’t you be judgin’.” That moment forced her to confront her reality. She reflected:

“He’s right. have no right to be superior. Here I am. I am homeless.”

Back in Montana, her disappearance had sent shockwaves through her family. Her daughter, Maggie Kern, along with her agent launched an urgent search.

The LAPD was contacted, and Kern spent hours making frantic calls. At one point, police warned that they could not guarantee the actress would be found alive. She revealed, “I even tore apart my mother’s cabin looking for old phone books.”

But her brother never lost hope. “[She] is incredibly strong. She’s a survivor,” he said. A breakthrough came when a 911 call led police to her location.

Officers from Glendale PD found her and took her to Olive View Medical Center, where she was placed under observation. On April 25, her sister arranged for her transfer to UCLA Medical Center, believing the actress would receive better care there.

While her “Superman” co-star became a widely respected figure of resilience following his accident, she was often cast as a tragic headline.

But in order to leave, she had to appear in court on April 30 and prove that she was no danger to herself or others. Emerging from the crisis, she knew one thing had to change — her relationship with her daughter.

The actress had long carried guilt over Maggie’s unstable upbringing. She had also gone through multiple marriages, leaving her daughter with little sense of permanence. The star further admitted:

“Manics run through a lot of money, so there was no financial security.”

Still, she set out on the path to recovery. However, she also remained realistic about her struggles. “I’m not saying it’s all over,” she said. “I’m saying this is the pattern of my life. In three years, I might be having another wig-out. I have no idea. I just have to accept the fact that this is me, or I ain’t gonna make it.”

Sadly, the industry was less forgiving. While her “Superman” co-star became a widely respected figure of resilience following his accident, she was often cast as a tragic headline.

But those closest to her knew she was far more than that. Rosie Shuster, a longtime friend, described the actress in one simple phrase — “[She] has the resilience of Rasputin. She just keeps coming back.”

Her Final Years and Last Wish

This actress is none other than Margot Kidder, who, after stepping away from the Hollywood spotlight, found peace in a quiet life in Livingston, Montana.

She continued to act in smaller films, dedicating herself to political activism and mental health advocacy. She became an outspoken champion for those struggling with mental illness, refusing to shy away from her own past.

“She was completely open,” recalled her friend and director Frank D’Angelo. “She was homeless and she didn’t regret that. To her, that was an experience.”

Sadly, on May 13, 2018, the former Hollywood star was found dead in her home. She was 69. Initially, her manager stated that Kidder had died peacefully in her sleep.

However, in August 2018, the Park County coroner ruled her death a suicide, caused by a self-inflicted drug and alcohol overdose. Her daughter had suspected the truth from the moment she arrived at her mother’s home. She said:

“It’s 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.”

Kidder had always lived life on her own terms, and even in death, she had an unusual request. She had resided at the foot of Canyon Mountain and had a deep admiration for the local wolves, often leaving meat out to watch them feed.

She once told friends that if she died, her final wish would be for her body to be wrapped in a bedsheet and left on the mountain for the wolves.

“If she ever went missing, she wanted the world to know she was wolf food,” recalled writer Ted Geoghegan. However, when she passed, paramedics were called, and her wishes went unfulfilled.

“I’m doubly sad she didn’t get to quietly disappear into the bellies of what would have been some very loopy wolves,” Geoghegan lamented.

While many might remember the actress as the fearless and charming Lois Lane or the crazy actress from the tabloids, those who truly knew Kidder understood that she was far more than either of those labels. One friend noted:

“It’s a shame how people remember her. She was so much more than that. She was such a caring person.”

Morgot Kidder’s legacy remains a complex one — a woman who embraced the highs and lows of life, who fought for the causes she believed in, and who, in the end, wanted nothing more than to be free in the place she loved most.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “help” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.