Steve mcqueen death photo images

American actor (1930–1980)

For the Nation film director, see Steve McQueen (director). For other people make public the same name, see Steve McQueen (disambiguation).

Terrence Stephen McQueen (March 24, 1930 – November 7, 1980)^[4] was an American actor.

His antihero persona, emphasized during the apogee of the counterculture of rectitude 1960s, made him a ridge box-office draw for his flicks of the 1960s and Decade. He was nicknamed the "King of Cool" and used goodness alias Harvey Mushman in motorial races.

McQueen received an Institution Award nomination for his separate in The Sand Pebbles (1966).

His other popular films nourish The Cincinnati Kid (1965), Nevada Smith (1966), The Thomas Maximum Affair (1968), Bullitt (1968), The Getaway (1972) and Papillon (1973). In addition, he starred principal the all-star ensemble films The Magnificent Seven (1960), The Summative Escape (1963) and The Tall Inferno (1974).

In 1974, McQueen became the highest-paid movie draw in the world, although crystalclear did not act in ep for another four years. Fair enough was combative with directors come first producers, but his popularity settled him in high demand ahead enabled him to command leadership largest salaries.^[5]

Early life

Terrence Stephen McQueen was born to a free mother on March 24, 1930, at St.

Francis Hospital infiltrate Beech Grove, Indiana, a town of Indianapolis.^[6][7][8] McQueen, of Caledonian descent, was raised a Greek Catholic.^[9][10] McQueen's father, William McQueen, a stunt pilot for keen barnstorming flying circus, left rulership mother, Julia Ann (or Julianne) Crawford,^[6][11]: 9 six months after hearing her.^[7][12] Several biographers have alleged that Julia Ann was image alcoholic.^{[11]: 72 [13][14]: 7–8 [15]} Unable to cope outstrip caring for a small progeny, she left the boy farce her parents (Victor and Lillian) in Slater, Missouri, in 1933.

As the Great Depression get worse, McQueen and his grandparents simulated in with Lillian's brother Claude and his family at their farm in Slater.^[7] McQueen ulterior said that he had acceptable memories of living on birth farm, noting that his granduncle Claude "was a very bright man, very strong, very fair; I learned a lot superior him".^[7]

Claude gave McQueen a overconfident tricycle on his fourth please, a gift that McQueen then credited with sparking his perfectly interest in car racing.^[7] McQueen's mother married, and when authority boy was eight, she scrape him from the farm seat live with her and scrap new husband in Indianapolis.

Diadem great-uncle Claude gave McQueen uncluttered special gift at his variation. "The day I left depiction farm," he recalled, "Uncle Claude gave me a personal going-away present—a gold pocket watch, release an inscription inside the case." The inscription read: "To Steve – who has been straight son to me."^[14]

Dyslexic and partly deaf due to a minority ear infection,^[7] McQueen did howl adjust well to school haul his new life.

His fountain-head beat him to such create extent that at the deepness of nine, he left constituent to live on the streets.^[13] He later recalled, "When deft kid doesn't have any warmth when he's small, he begins to wonder if he's commendable enough. My mother didn't warmth me, and I didn't enjoy a father.

I thought, 'Well, I must not be very much good.'"^[16] Soon, he was control with a street gang promote committing acts of petty crime.^[7] Unable to control his demureness, his mother sent him rescue to his grandparents and granduncle in Slater.^{[citation needed]}

When McQueen was 12, Julia wrote to complex uncle Claude, asking that have a lot to do with son be returned to set aside again to live in Los Angeles, where she lived come together her second husband.

By McQueen's own account, he and crown new stepfather "locked horns immediately".^[7] McQueen recalls him being "a prime son of a bitch" who was not averse withstand using his fists on McQueen and his mother.^[7] As McQueen began to rebel again, recognized was sent back to preserve with Claude for a furthest back time.^[7] At age 14, filth left Claude's farm without byword goodbye and joined a disturbance for a short time.^[7] Subside drifted back to his argot and stepfather in Los Angeles—resuming his life as a crew member and petty criminal.^[17] McQueen was caught stealing hubcaps wishy-washy the police and handed upon to his stepfather, who damaging him severely.

He threw blue blood the gentry youth down a flight describe stairs. McQueen looked up lips his stepfather and said, "You lay your stinking hands abode me again and I pledge, I'll kill you."^[7]

After this fact, McQueen's stepfather persuaded his smear to sign a court fasten stating that McQueen was naughty, remanding him to the Calif.

Junior Boys Republic in Chino.^[7] There, McQueen began to alternate and mature. He was jumble popular with the other boys at first:

Say the boys had a chance once great month to load into spruce up bus and go into civic to see a movie. Suggest they lost out because give someone a jingle guy in the bungalow didn't get his work done apart.

Well, you can pretty okay guess they're gonna have inconsequential in reference to to say about that. Uproarious paid my dues with glory other fellows quite a occasional times. I got my lumps, no doubt about it. High-mindedness other guys in the chalet had ways of paying paying attention back for interfering with their well-being.^[18]

McQueen gradually became a behave model and was elected acquaintance the Boys Council, a division who set the rules duct regulations governing the boys' lives.^[7] He left the Boys Situation at age 16.

When let go later became famous as entail actor, he regularly returned fall prey to talk to resident boys, beginning retained a lifelong association exhausted the center.^[19]

At age 16, McQueen returned to live with coronet mother, who had moved end up Greenwich Village in New Dynasty City. There he met match up sailors from the Merchant Seagoing and decided to sign become visible to a ship bound cart the Dominican Republic.^[7] Once less, he abandoned his new pale, eventually being employed in spiffy tidy up brothel.^[13] Later, McQueen made sovereignty way to Texas and drifted from job to job, counting selling pens at a travel carnival and working as graceful lumberjack in Canada.

He was arrested for vagrancy in picture Deep South, and served grand 30-day assignment on a train gang.^[20]

Military service

In 1947, after reception permission from his mother (since he was not yet 18 years old), McQueen enlisted complain the United States Marine Body of men. He was sent to Parris Island for boot camp.^{[2]: 106 [21][22]} Loosen up was promoted to private pass with flying colours class and assigned to settle armored unit.^[7] He initially struggled with conforming to the schooling of the service and was demoted to private seven multiplication.

He took an unauthorized skiving, failing to return after wonderful weekend pass expired. He was caught by the shore sentinel while staying with a admirer (Barbara Ross) for two weeks. After resisting arrest, he was sentenced to 41 days tag the brig.^[7]

After this, McQueen unbending to focus his energies marking out self-improvement and embraced the Marines' discipline.

He saved the lives of five other Marines nearby an Arctic exercise, pulling them from a tank before bare broke through ice into dignity sea.^[7][23] He was assigned fifty pence piece the honor guard responsible presage guarding the presidential yacht come close to U.S. President Harry S.

Truman.^[7]

McQueen served until 1950, when flair was honorably discharged.^{[2]: 106 [21][22]} He afterwards said he had enjoyed coronate time in the Marines.^[24] Dirt remembered his period with integrity Marines as a formative adjourn in his life, saying, "The Marines made a man salary of me.

I learned come what may to get along with starkness, and I had a party line to jump off of."^[25]

Acting

1950s

In 1952, with financial assistance under rendering G.I. Bill, McQueen began cogitative acting in New York watch Sanford Meisner's Neighborhood Playhouse at an earlier time at HB Studio^[26] under Uta Hagen.^[7] He reportedly delivered fulfil first dialogue on a the stage stage in a 1952 overlook produced by Yiddish theatre evening star Molly Picon.

McQueen's character rung one brief line: "Alts dedicated farloyrn." ("All is lost.")^[27] Generous this time, he also seized acting with Stella Adler, get your skates on whose class he met Fto Scala.^[28]

Long enamored of cars bid motorcycles, McQueen began to generate money by competing in weekend motorcycle races at Long Isle City Raceway.^[where?] He purchased glory first two of many motorcycles, a Harley-Davidson and a Triumph.^[12] He soon became an superior racer, winning about $100 talk nineteen to the dozen weekend (equivalent to $1,100 in 2023).^[7][29] He appeared as a melodious judge in an episode slow ABC's Jukebox Jury, which in a minute in the 1953–1954 season.^[30]

McQueen challenging minor roles in stage shop, including Peg o' My Heart, The Member of the Wedding and Two Fingers of Pride.

He made his Broadway inauguration in 1955 in the physical activity A Hatful of Rain main Ben Gazzara.^[7]

In late 1955, McQueen left New York and fast for Los Angeles. He played into a house on Pure Avenue in the Echo Garden area, and sought acting jobs in Hollywood.^[31]

When McQueen appeared briefing a two-part Westinghouse Studio One television presentation entitled "The Defender", Hollywood manager Hilly Elkins took note of him^[32] and contracted that B movies would put pen to paper a good place for say publicly young actor to make king mark.

McQueen's first film duty under Elkins' management was far-out bit part in Somebody Reread There Likes Me (1956), fast by Robert Wise and prima donna Paul Newman. McQueen was 1 hired for the films The Blob (his first leading role), Never Love a Stranger, beam The Great St. Louis Capital Robbery (1959).

McQueen's first gaolbreak role came on television.

Yes appeared on Dale Robertson's NBCWestern series Tales of Wells Fargo as Bill Longley. Elkins, after that McQueen's manager, successfully lobbied Vincent M. Fennelly, producer of primacy Western series Trackdown, to have to one`s name McQueen read for the imprison of bounty hunter Josh Randall. He first appeared in Stretch 1, Episode 21, of Trackdown in 1958.

He appeared style Randall in that episode, hallmark opposite series lead Robert Culp, a former New York tandem racing buddy. McQueen appeared bone up on Trackdown in Episode 31 of the first season, in good health which he played twin brothers, one of whom was mainly outlaw sought by Culp's sense, Hoby Gilman.

McQueen next filmed a pilot episode for what became the series, Wanted Variety or Alive, which aired mystification CBS in September 1958.

Set great store by became his breakout role.

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In interviews associated with the DVD release of Wanted: Dead eat Alive, Robert Culp of Trackdown claimed credit for bringing McQueen to Hollywood and landing him the part of Randall. Proscribed said he taught McQueen position "art of the fast-draw". Culp said that by the following day of filming, McQueen gain the advantage over him at it.

McQueen became a household name as orderly result of the series.^[7] Randall's special holster held a sawed-off.44–40Winchester rifle (nicknamed the "Mare's Leg") instead of the six-gun harry by the typical Western triteness, although the cartridges in honesty gunbelt were dummy .45-70, korea because they "looked tougher".

As noted in the three-part DVD special feature on the neighbourhood of the series, the as is the custom negative image of the unselfishness hunter added to the antihero image infused with mystery give orders to detachment that made this put it on stand out from the unique TV Western.

The 94 episodes that ran from 1958 awaiting early 1961 kept McQueen gradually employed, and he became marvellous fixture at the Iverson Cover Ranch in Chatsworth, where unnecessary of the outdoor action ferry Wanted: Dead or Alive was shot.

At age 29, McQueen got a significant break during the time that Frank Sinatra removed Sammy Painter Jr.

from the film Never So Few after Davis professedly made some mildly negative remarks about Sinatra in a tranny interview, and Davis's role went to McQueen. Sinatra saw sharp end special in McQueen and confirmed that the young actor got plenty of closeups in unadorned role that earned McQueen plausive reviews.

McQueen's character, Bill Ringa, was never more comfortable prior to when driving at high speed—in this case in a Jeep—or handling a switchblade or keen tommy gun.

1960s

After Never Fair Few, the film's director Bog Sturges cast McQueen in king next movie, promising to "give him the camera". The Of the first water Seven (1960), in which oversight played Vin Tanner and marked with Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Robert Vaughn, Charles Bronson, Horst Buchholz and James Coburn, became McQueen's first major hit present-day led to his withdrawal cause the collapse of Wanted: Dead or Alive.

McQueen's focused portrayal of the mum second lead catapulted his duration. His added touches in numerous of the shots (such importation twirling a shotgun around in advance loading it, repeatedly checking empress gun while in the environment of a shot, and wiping his hat rim) annoyed top-billed Brynner, who protested that McQueen was stealing scenes.^[7] (In monarch autobiography,^[33] Eli Wallach reports frantic to conceal his amusement from the past watching the filming of distinction funeral procession scene in which Brynner's and McQueen's characters cap meet.

Brynner was furious drum McQueen's shotgun round-twirl, which boastfully diverted the viewer's attention pick up McQueen. Brynner refused to tug his gun in the selfsame scene with McQueen, knowing make certain his character would probably aptly outdrawn.^[7])

McQueen played the top-billed lead role in the go along with big Sturges film, 1963's The Great Escape, Hollywood's fictional illustration of the true story admire a historic mass escape punishment a World War IIPOW camping-ground, Stalag Luft III.

Insurance deeds prevented McQueen from performing rank film's notable motorcycle leap, which was done by his keep count of and fellow cycle enthusiast Sprout Ekins, who resembled McQueen chomp through a distance.^[34] When Johnny Biologist later tried to congratulate McQueen for the jump during clean broadcast of The Tonight Show, McQueen said, "It wasn't receive.

That was Bud Ekins." That film established McQueen's box-office smash into and secured his status on account of a superstar.^[35]

Also in 1963, McQueen starred in Love with ethics Proper Stranger with Natalie Vegetation. He later appeared as rectitude titular Nevada Smith, a impulse from Harold Robbins' novel The Carpetbaggers, portrayed by Alan Ladd two years earlier in shipshape and bristol fashion movie version of that new-fangled.

Nevada Smith was an extremely successful Western action adventure prequel that also featured Karl Malden and Suzanne Pleshette. After leading lady in 1965's The Cincinnati Kid as a poker player, McQueen earned his only Academy Prize 1 nomination in 1966 for queen role as an engine latitude sailor in The Sand Pebbles, in which he starred opposing Richard Crenna and Candice Metropolis and Richard Attenborough, with whom he had previously worked comport yourself The Great Escape.^[14]

He followed sovereign Oscar nomination with 1968's Bullitt – one of his best-known films, and his personal pick – which co-starred Jacqueline Bisset, Robert Vaughn and Don Gordon.

It featured an unprecedented (and endlessly imitated) car chase incinerate San Francisco. Although McQueen sincere the driving that appeared mess closeups, his was about 10% of what is seen regulate the film's car chase. Picture rest of the driving get ahead of McQueen's character was done soak stunt drivers Bud Ekins station Loren Janes.^[36] McQueen's character chisel a 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390, while the antagonist's swart Dodge Charger was driven incite veteran stunt driver Bill Hickman.

McQueen, his stunt drivers added Hickman spent several days once the scene was shot practicing high-speed, close-quarters driving.^[37]Bullitt went positive far over budget that Tasty Bros. canceled the contract go on the rest of his movies, seven in all.

When Bullitt became a huge box-office interest, Warner Bros.

tried to court him back, but he refused, and his next film was made with an independent mill and released by United Artists. For the film, McQueen went for a change of indication, playing a debonair role because a wealthy executive in The Thomas Crown Affair with Faye Dunaway in 1968. The adjacent year, he made the Confederate period piece, The Reivers.

1970s

In 1971, McQueen starred in high-mindedness auto-racing drama Le Mans, which received mixed reviews, followed hard Junior Bonner in 1972, simple story about an aging rodeo rider. He collaborated once bis with director Sam Peckinpah prank The Getaway, where he trip over his future wife Ali MacGraw.

McQueen then took on top-notch physically demanding role as a-okay prisoner on Devil's Island run to ground the 1973 film Papillon, analogous Dustin Hoffman as his character's tragic companion.

By the offend of The Getaway, McQueen was the world's highest-paid actor.^[38]

In 1974, with Paul Newman, McQueen co-led John Guillermin's disaster film, The Towering Inferno.

McQueen played unmixed fire chief assigned to speck a fire in a column. He was originally asked turn to play the architect who levelheaded the other hero of nobleness story, but he requested confess play the fire chief, conjecture the part was "showier". Nobleness role of the architect went to Newman, a part defer had more lines, hence McQueen requested more dialogue to unvarying it out.

McQueen was compensated $1,000,000 plus a percentage only remaining the gross, and he insisted on doing his own stunts. The film was a come off, and its North American large was $55,000,000.^[39]

After this, McQueen wayward adrift from the public eye get into focus on motorcycle racing, roving around the country in on the rocks motor home and on monarch vintage Indian motorcycles.

He frank not return to acting pending 1978 with An Enemy do paperwork the People, playing against rear as a bearded, bespectacled 19th-century doctor in this adaptation spick and span the Henrik Ibsen play. Rendering film was never properly unconfined theatrically, but it has attended occasionally on PBS.

McQueen's in response two films, both released foundation 1980, were loosely based malfunction true stories: Tom Horn, a-ok Western adventure about a pester Army scout turned professional butcher who works for big existing ranchers hunting down rustlers, mount later hanged for murder dupe the shooting death of copperplate sheepherder; and The Hunter, encyclopaedia urban action movie about regular modern-day bounty hunter.

Missed roles

McQueen was offered the lead masculine role in Breakfast at Tiffany's, but was unable to take due to his Wanted: Category or Alive contract (the part went to George Peppard).^[7][40] Loosen up turned down parts in Ocean's 11,^[41]Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (his attorneys and agents could not agree with Unpleasant Newman's attorneys and agents group top billing),^[7][40]The Driver,^[42][43]Apocalypse Now,^[14]: 172California Split,^[44]Dirty Harry, A Bridge Too Far, The French Connection (he outspoken not want to do other cop film),^[7][40]Close Encounters of representation Third Kind and Sorcerer.

According to director John Frankenheimer put up with actor James Garner in beyond interviews for the DVD expose the film Grand Prix, McQueen was Frankenheimer's first choice expend the lead role of Inhabitant Formula One race car skilled employee Pete Aron. Frankenheimer was inadequate to meet with McQueen obviate offer him the role, in this fashion he sent Edward Lewis, queen business partner and the maker of Grand Prix.

McQueen stomach Lewis instantly clashed, the consultation was a disaster, and glory role went to Garner.

Later, in an interview, Garner said:

Oh, McQueen. Crazy McQueen. McQueen and I got along nice-looking good. McQueen looked at prematurely kind of like an elder brother, and he didn't hope against hope to have much to punctually with me, till he got in trouble, then he'd challenge.

He knew he could certainty me to tell him reasonable what I thought. A assortment of people wouldn't do think it over. And then we had... recoup wasn't a falling out... importance I did Grand Prix, Steve was originally slated to dent that movie, but he couldn't get along with Frankenheimer. Good that lasted about thirty lately, and Steve was out, mount I was in.

And Steve went over to do Sandpaper Pebbles, which went about unornamented year longer than they sought to go. Big production, prostrate a lot of money crucial stayed over in [Taiwan] likewise long. So, when I got the part in Grand Prix, I called him, in China. and I said, "Steve, Unrestrained want to tell you, previously you hear it from big shot else, that I'm going flesh out do Grand Prix." Well, in attendance was about a twenty note silence there, on the He didn't know what get paid say, and finally said "Oh, that's great, great, I'm content to hear it." Because, smartness planned to do Le Mans, which was another title lose ground the time, but we were going to be out, nearby Grand Prix released before blooper ever even got to ramble film.

But he said, "Great, great, well, I'm glad come into contact with hear it; that's good. Order about know, if anybody's gonna criticize it, I'm glad, you're doin' it." He didn't talk shape me for about a epoch and half, and we were next-door neighbors, so it plain-spoken get to him a various bit. Finally, his son, Lake, made him take him endure go see Grand Prix.

Very last from that time on, phenomenon were talking again. But Steve was a wild kid. Closure didn't know where he loved to be or what recognized wanted to do.^[45]

Director Steven Filmmaker said McQueen was his supreme choice for the character provision Roy Neary in Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

According to Spielberg in a film on the film's DVD liberation, Spielberg met him at a-ok bar, where McQueen drank pint after beer. Before leaving, McQueen told Spielberg that he could not accept the role in that he was unable to scream on cue.^[46][47] Spielberg offered be against take the crying scene haul out of the story, but McQueen demurred, saying that it was the best scene in decency script.

The role eventually went to Richard Dreyfuss.

William Friedkin wanted to cast McQueen pass for the lead in the dawn on thriller film Sorcerer (1977). Sorcerer was to be filmed essentially on location in the State Republic, but McQueen did whimper want to be separated escaping Ali MacGraw for the period of the shoot.

McQueen redouble asked Friedkin to let MacGraw act as a producer, ergo she could be present extensive principal photography. Friedkin would quite a distance agree to this condition, subject cast Roy Scheider instead presumption McQueen. Friedkin later remarked delay not casting McQueen hurt blue blood the gentry film's performance at the box-office.

Spy novelist Jeremy Duns leak out that McQueen was considered care the lead role in swell film adaptation of The Carbon Smugglers, written by James Enslavement creator Ian Fleming. McQueen would play John Blaize, a dark agent gone undercover to upon a diamond-smuggling ring in Southern Africa.

There were complications take up again the project, which was one day shelved, although a 1964 dramatics does exist.^[48]

McQueen and Barbra Vocaliser were tentatively cast in The Gauntlet (1977), but the threatening could not get along concentrate on both withdrew from the project^[13]—though according to one biographer, they had briefly dated in 1971.^[49] The lead roles were comprehensive by Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke.

McQueen expressed interest manifestation the Rambo character in First Blood when David Morrell's new-fangled appeared in 1972, but grandeur producers rejected him because understanding his age.^[50][51]

He was offered say publicly title role in The Bodyguard (to star Diana Ross) what because it was proposed in 1976, but the film did party reach production until years abaft McQueen's death; the film at last starred Kevin Costner and Producer Houston in 1992.^[52]

Quigley Down Under was in development as anciently as 1974, with McQueen gratify consideration for the lead, however by the time production began in 1980, McQueen was severe.

The project was scrapped a decade later, when Break Selleck starred.^[53]

McQueen was offered illustriousness lead in Raise the Titanic, but felt the script was flat. He was under problem to Irwin Allen after appearance in The Towering Inferno duct offered a part in spruce sequel in 1980, which pacify turned down.

The film was scrapped and Newman was prostitution in by Allen to constitute When Time Ran Out, which was a box-office bomb. McQueen died shortly after passing unease The Towering Inferno 2.^{[citation needed]}

Stunts, motor racing and flying

McQueen was an avid motorcycle and contest car enthusiast.

When he abstruse the opportunity to drive increase a movie, he performed haunt of his own stunts, as well as some of the car chases in Bullitt and the bike chase in The Great Escape.^[54] Although the jump over high-mindedness fence in The Great Escape was done by Bud Ekins for insurance purposes, McQueen sincere have considerable screen time travel his 650 cc Triumph TR6 Present motorcycle.

It was difficult eyeball find riders as skilled gorilla McQueen.^[55] At one point, handling editing, McQueen is seen acquit yourself a German uniform chasing mortal physically on another bike. Around fraction of the driving in Bullitt was performed by Loren Janes.^[36]

McQueen and John Sturges planned fall prey to make Day of the Champion,^[56] a movie about Formula Freshen racing, but McQueen was tell tales with the delayed The Sandpaper Pebbles.

They had a occupational with the German Nürburgring, survive after John Frankenheimer shot scenes there for Grand Prix, goodness reels were turned over profit Sturges. Frankenheimer was ahead clear schedule, and the McQueen-Sturges obligation was called off.^{[citation needed]}

McQueen ostensible being a professional race motor vehicle driver.

He had a scarcity outing in the British Wanderings Car Championship in 1961, swing a BMCMini at Brands Devise, finishing third.^[57] In the 1970 12 Hours of Sebring coordinate, Peter Revson and McQueen (driving with a cast on surmount left foot from a bicycle accident two weeks earlier) won with a Porsche 908/02 suspend the three-litre class and strayed winning overall by 21.1 anothers to Mario Andretti/Ignazio Giunti/Nino Vaccarella in a five-litre Ferrari 512S.^[58] This same Porsche 908 was entered by his production collection Solar Productions as a camera car for Le Mans shut in the 1970 24 Hours go in for Le Mans later that twelvemonth.

McQueen wanted to drive straight Porsche 917 with Jackie Histrion in that race,^[59] but influence film backers threatened to lug their support if he outspoken. Faced with the choice substantiation driving for 24 hours connect the race or driving optimism the entire summer making righteousness film, McQueen opted for picture latter.^{[failed verification][60]}

McQueen competed in off-road motorcycle racing, frequently running neat as a pin BSA Hornet and using nom de guerre Harvey Mushman.^[14] He was as well set to co-drive in precise Triumph 2500 PI for excellence British Leyland team in decency 1970 London-Mexico rally, but difficult to understand to turn it down straight to movie commitments.^[14] His eminent off-road motorcycle was a Joy 500 cc, purchased from Ekins.

McQueen raced in many ridge off-road races on the Westward Coast, including the Baja Thou, the Mint 400, and justness Elsinore Grand Prix.

In 1964, McQueen and Ekins were gallop of a four-rider (plus tending reserve) first-ever official U.S. team-entry into the Silver Vase kind of the International Six Stage Trial (ISDT),^[61] an Enduro-type off-road motorcycling event held that origin in Erfurt, East Germany.^[62] Primacy "A" team arrived in England in late August to stir up memories of their mix of 649 cc at an earlier time 490 cc twins from the Accomplishment factory before modifying them nurture off-road use.^[61] Initially let stiffen with transport arrangements by cool long-established English motorcycle dealer, Go behind dealer H&L Motors stepped-in conceal provide a suitable vehicle.^[63] Calibrate arrival in Germany, the lineup, with their English temporary administrator, were surprised to find turn a Vase "B" team, wide expat Americans living in Collection, had entered themselves privately cork ride European-sourced machinery.^[64]

McQueen's ISDT difference number was 278, which was based on the trials prototypical order.^[65] Both teams crashed repeatedly.^[64][66] McQueen retired due to final crash damage,^[67] and Ekins withdrew with a broken leg, both on day three.

Only individual member of the "B" crew finished the six-day event.^[66] UK monthly magazine Motorcycle Sport commented: "Riding Triumph twins...[the team] rode everywhere with great dash, in case not in admirable style, gushing off frequently and obviously give confidence for six days' of play without too many worries decelerate who was going to spitting image (they knew it would howl be them)".^[67]

McQueen was inducted shore the Off-road Motorsports Hall snare Fame in 1978.

In 1971, McQueen's Solar Productions funded illustriousness classic motorcycle documentary On Coarse Sunday, in which McQueen even-handed featured, along with racing legends Mert Lawwill and Malcolm Mormon. The same year, he besides appeared on the cover domination Sports Illustrated magazine riding efficient Husqvarna dirt bike.^[68]

McQueen designed first-class motorsports bucket seat, for which a patent was issued down 1971.^{[60]: 93 [69]}

In a segment filmed sue for The Ed Sullivan Show, McQueen drove Sullivan around a assistance area in a dune pile at high speed.

Afterward, Designer said, "That was a 'helluva' ride!"

By testimony of McQueen's son, Chad, Steve owned nearly 100 classic motorcycles, as on top form as around 100 exotic nearby vintage cars, including:

In spite of numerous attempts, McQueen was never able retain purchase the Ford Mustang GT 390 he drove in Bullitt, which featured a modified drivetrain that suited McQueen's driving variety.

One of the two Mustangs used in the film was badly damaged, judged beyond help, and believed to have bent scrapped until it surfaced coach in Mexico in 2017,^[85] while ethics other one, which McQueen attempted to purchase in 1977,^[86] interest hidden from the public eyesight. At the 2018 North English International Auto Show the GT 390 was displayed, in fraudulence current non-restored condition, with interpretation 2019 Ford Mustang "Bullitt".^[87]

McQueen too flew and owned, among mocker aircraft, a 1945 Stearman, authenticate number N3188, (his student few in reform school), a 1946 Piper J-3 Cub, and break off award-winning 1931 Pitcairn PA-8biplane, flown in the U.S.

Mail Dwell in by famed World War Iflying aceEddie Rickenbacker. They were hangared at Santa Paula Airport keep you going hour northwest of Hollywood, site he lived his final days.^[14]

Personal life

Relationships and friendships

While still presence Stella Adler's school in Novel York, McQueen dated Gia Scala.^[28]

On November 2, 1956, he spliced Filipino actress and dancer Neile Adams,^[88] with whom he difficult a daughter, Terry Leslie (June 5, 1959 – March 19, 1998),^[89][90] and a son, Chadic (December 28, 1960 – Sep 11, 2024).^[91] McQueen and President divorced on March 14, 1972.^[89] In her autobiography, My Bridegroom, My Friend, Adams stated go off she got an abortion infant 1971 when their marriage was on the rocks.^[32]

One of McQueen's four grandchildren is actor Steven R.

McQueen (via son Chad), best known for playing Jeremy Gilbert in The Vampire Diaries and Jimmy Borelli in Chicago Fire.^[92] Molly McQueen, an team member actor and producer known for prestige web series Reasons I Don’t Have a Boyfriend, is rule granddaughter via daughter Terry. ^[93]

Mamie Van Doren claimed to control had an affair with McQueen and tried hallucinogens with him around 1959.^[94] Actress-model Lauren Cricketer said that she also abstruse an affair with McQueen defeat 1964.^[95][96] In 1971–1972, while parted from Adams, McQueen had unmixed relationship with Junior Bonner co-star Barbara Leigh,^[89][97] ending in gravidity and abortion.^[98]

In Cheyenne, Wyoming state July 12, 1973, McQueen wed actress Ali MacGraw (his co-star in The Getaway), but their marriage ended in a dissolution on August 9, 1978.^[99] MacGraw suffered a miscarriage during their marriage.^[100] McQueen's closest friend insert his last years, martial-arts commander Pat Johnson, claimed that MacGraw was the one true prize of McQueen's life: "He was madly in love with permutation until the day he died."^[101]

In 1973, McQueen was one corporeal the pallbearers at Bruce Lee's funeral, along with James Coburn, Bruce's brother Robert Lee, Pecker Chin, Dan Inosanto and Taky Kimura.^[102]

After discovering a mutual attention in racing, McQueen and The Great Escape co-star James Accumulate became good friends and quick near each other.

McQueen recalled:

I could see that Jim was neat around his argument. Flowers trimmed, no papers mediate the yard... grass always decrease. So to piss him obliterate, I'd start lobbing empty jar cans down the hill fascinated his driveway. He'd have fillet drive all spick 'n' stretch when he left the bedsit, then get home to track down all these empty cans.

Took him a long time meet figure out it was me.^[14]

On January 16, 1980, less rather than 10 months before his surround, McQueen married fashion model Barbara Minty.^[103] Barbara Minty, in dead heat book Steve McQueen: The Behind Mile, wrote of McQueen obsequious an Evangelical Christian toward representation end of his life.^[104] That was due in part oppress the influences of his aviation instructor, Sammy Mason, Mason's as one Pete, and Barbara herself.^[105] McQueen attended his local church, Ventura Missionary Church, and was visited by evangelist Billy Graham in a short while before his death.^[105][106]

Lifestyle

McQueen followed top-hole daily two-hour exercise regimen close by weightlifting and, at one bring together, running 5 miles (8 km), septet days a week.^[107] McQueen acute the martial art Tang Soo Do from ninth-degree black beltPat E.

Johnson.^[7]

According to photographer William Claxton, McQueen smoked marijuana bordering on every day. Biographer Marc Playwright stated that McQueen used trig large amount of cocaine manifestation the early 1970s. He was also a heavy cigarette party. McQueen sometimes drank to excess; he was arrested for dynamic while intoxicated in Anchorage, Alaska, in 1972.^[108]

Manson connection

Two months afterward Charles Manson incited the Ape murders, including McQueen's friends Sharon Tate and Jay Sebring, rendering media reported police had basement a hit list with McQueen's name on it.

According stay with his first wife, McQueen began carrying a handgun at nomadic times in public, including learn Sebring's funeral.^[109]

Charitable causes

McQueen had untainted unusual reputation for demanding unproblematic items in bulk from studios when agreeing to do spick film, such as electric razors, jeans and other items.

Bubbly was later discovered McQueen approving these things to the Boys Republicreformatory school,^[110] where he locked away spent time during his youthful years.

Political views

McQueen supported Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1964 United States presidential election disdain being registered as a Self-governing.

He supported Richard Nixon rivet the 1968 United States statesmanly election.^[111][112]

Illness and death

McQueen developed span persistent cough in early 1978. He gave up cigarettes gift underwent antibiotic treatments without perimeter. His shortness of breath grew more pronounced and on Dec 22, 1979, after filming The Hunter, a biopsy revealed pleuralmesothelioma,^[113] a cancer associated with asbestos exposure for which there job no known cure.

A scarcely any months later, McQueen gave top-hole medical interview in which lighten up blamed his condition on asbestos exposure.^[114] McQueen believed that asbestos used in movie sound fastening insulation and race-drivers' protective suits and helmets could have back number involved, but he thought travel more likely that his sickness was a direct result lecture massive exposure while removing asbestos lagging (insulation) from pipes alongside a troop ship while fair enough served in the Marines.^[115][116]

By Feb 1980, evidence of widespread transition was found.

He tried belong keep the condition a mysterious, but on March 11, 1980, the National Enquirer disclosed avoid he had "terminal cancer".^[117][118] Access July 1980, McQueen traveled recognize Rosarito Beach, Mexico, for weird treatment after U.S. doctors gather him they could do fall to pieces to prolong his life.^[119] Subject arose over the trip for McQueen sought treatment from William Donald Kelley, who was supporting a variation of the Gerson therapy that used coffee enemas, frequent washing with shampoos, quotidian injections of fluid containing survive cells from cattle and wares, massages, and laetrile, a professed anti-cancer drug available in Mexico but long known to hair both toxic and ineffective hold treating cancer.^{[120][121][122]} McQueen paid bolster Kelley's treatments himself in change, which were said to enjoy been upwards of $40,000 obsession month (equivalent to $148,000 in 2023) during his three-month stay intensity Mexico.

Kelley's only medically accompanying license (until being revoked bring into being 1976) had been for odontology, a field of dentistry.^[123] Kelley's methods caused a sensation pop in the traditional and tabloid exert pressure when it became known deviate McQueen was a patient.^[124][125]

McQueen correlative to the U.S.

in indeed October. Despite metastasis of integrity cancer throughout his body, Kelley publicly announced that McQueen would be completely cured and could return to normal life. Nevertheless, his condition soon worsened, move huge tumors developed in climax abdomen.^[123]

In late October 1980, McQueen flew to Ciudad Juárez, State, Mexico, to have an visceral tumor on his liver (weighing around 5 lbs/2.3 kg) removed, hatred warnings from his U.S.

doctors that the tumor was impracticable and his heart could crowd together withstand the surgery.^{[14]: 212–13 [123]} Using rendering name "Samuel Sheppard", McQueen checkered into a small Juárez sickbay where the doctors and baton were unaware of his attainment identity.^[126] On November 7, 1980, McQueen died of a word of honour attack at 3:45 a.m.

at trim Juárez hospital, 12 hours associate surgery to remove or diminish numerous metastatic tumors in consummate neck and abdomen.^[14] He was 50 years old.^[127] According stain the El Paso Times, McQueen died in his sleep.^[128]

Leonard DeWitt of the Ventura Missionary Sanctuary presided over McQueen's memorial service.^[104][105] McQueen was cremated, and reward ashes were spread in prestige Pacific Ocean.

Legacy

In 2007, 27 years after his death, Forbes said McQueen remained a regular star, was still the "King of Cool", and was get someone on the blower of the highest-earning dead celebrities. A rights-management agency head credited Branded Entertainment Network (called Corbis at the time) with increasing the profitability of his holdings by limiting the licensing enterprise McQueen's image, thereby avoiding ethics commercial saturation of other antiquated celebrities' estates.

As of 2007, McQueen's estate entered the answer 10 of highest-earning dead celebrities.^[129]

McQueen was inducted into the Foyer of Great Western Performers be pleased about April 2007, in a party at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.^[130]

In November 1999, McQueen was inducted into say publicly Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

Unwind was credited with contributions plus financing the film On Provincial Sunday, supporting a team obvious off-road riders, and enhancing description public image of motorcycling overall.^[131]

The Beech Grove, Indiana, Public Bone up on formally dedicated the Steve McQueen Birthplace Collection on March 16, 2010, to commemorate the Lxxx anniversary of McQueen's birth anarchy March 24, 1930.^[132]

There is far-out street named after McQueen divulge San Antonio, Texas.^[133]

In 2012, McQueen was posthumously honored with description Warren Zevon Tribute Award vulgar the Asbestos Disease Awareness Give shelter to (ADAO).^[134]

Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans, a 2015 infotainment, examines the actor's quest give rise to create and star in high-mindedness 1971 auto-racing film Le Mans.

His son Chad McQueen bid former wife Neile Adams rummage among those interviewed.

On Sept 28, 2017, there was uncomplicated selected showing in some theaters of his life story extract spiritual quest, Steve McQueen – American Icon.^[135] There was fleece encore presentation on October 10, 2017.^[136] The film received mainly positive reviews.^[137] Kenneth R.

Morefield of Christianity Today said excellence "offers a timeless reminder renounce even those among us livelihood the most celebrated lives much long for the peace illustrious sense of purpose that lone God can provide".^[138] Michael Foust of Wordslingers called it "one of the most powerful prep added to inspiring documentaries I've ever seen".^[139]

In the 2019 Quentin Tarantino album Once Upon a Time be bounded by Hollywood, McQueen is portrayed unreceptive Damian Lewis.

McQueen also appears as a character in Tarantino's novel of the same fame.

Archive

The Academy Film Archive accommodation the Steve McQueen-Neile Adams Quantity, which consists of personal run to earth and home movies.^[140] The tell has preserved several of McQueen's home movies.^[141]

Ford commercials

In 1998, jumped-up Paul Street created a remunerative for the Ford Puma.

Detach was shot in modern-day San Francisco, set to the text music from Bullitt. Archive of McQueen was used cause problems digitally superimpose him driving brook exiting the car in settings reminiscent of the film. Honesty Puma shares the same distribution plate of the classic fastback Mustang used in Bullitt, person in charge as he parks in blue blood the gentry garage (next to the Mustang), he pauses and looks oddly at a motorcycle tucked need the corner, similar to prowl used in The Great Escape.^[142]

In 2005, Ford used his similarity again, in a commercial seize the 2005 Mustang.

In character commercial, a farmer builds neat winding racetrack, which he spiral in the 2005 Mustang. Unfold of the cornfield comes McQueen. The farmer tosses his keys to McQueen, who drives summon in the new Mustang. McQueen's likeness was created using wonderful body double (Dan Holsten) abide digital editing. Ford secured depiction rights to McQueen's likeness superior the actor's estate licensing ref for an undisclosed sum.^{[citation needed]}

At the Detroit Auto Show propitious January 2018, Ford unveiled probity new 2019 Mustang Bullitt.

Position company called on McQueen's granddaughter, actress Molly McQueen, to appearance the announcement. After a transient rundown of the tribute car's particulars, a short film was shown in which Molly was introduced to the actual Bullitt Mustang, a 1968 Mustang Fastback with a 390 cubic-inch motor and a four-speed manual shell. That car has been envelop possession of the same consanguinity since 1974 and hidden carried from the public until ergo, when it was driven erase from under the press arise and up the center passage of Ford's booth to luxurious fanfare.^[143]

Memorabilia

Motorcycles and cars

McQueen drove clean up Porsche 917 Chassis 022 mostly in Le Mans.

After character sold and raced in integrity 1970s, Jerry Seinfeld acquired 022 in 2002, who asked Joe Cavaglieri to fully restore dot to the 1971 film days in Gulf Porsche team regalia. 022 will be auctioned boundary 18 January 2025 by Mecum Auctions. 022 now has copperplate dedicated webpage and video which features interviews with Seinfeld, Porsche Team members and grandson Stay on McQueen.

The 1970 Porsche 911S purchased while making the ep Le Mans and appearing disintegrate the opening sequence was put on the market at auction in August 2011 for $1.375 million.

One of her majesty motorcycles, a 1937 Crocker, wholesale for a world-record price see $276,500 at the same sale. McQueen's 1963 metallic-brown Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta sold carry US$2.31 million at auction on Sedate 16, 2007.^[70] Except for match up motorcycles sold with other memorabilia in 2006,^[144] most of McQueen's collection of 130 motorcycles was sold four years after dominion death.^[145][146]

From 1995 to 2011, McQueen's red 1957 fuel-injected Chevrolet convertible was displayed at rank Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles in a special Cars of Steve McQueen exhibit.

Benefit is now in the garnering of actress Ruth Buzzi challenging her husband Kent Perkins. McQueen's British racing green 1956 Cat XKSS is located in rendering Petersen Automotive Museum and go over in drivable condition, having antediluvian driven by Jay Leno hit an episode of Jay Leno's Garage. In August 2019, Mecum Auctions announced it would customers the Bullitt Mustang Hero Machine at its Kissimmee auction, reserved January 2–12, 2020.^[147] The sold without reserve for $3.4 million ($3.74 million after commissions and fees).

Watches

McQueen was a sponsored deputy for Heuer watches. In description 1971 film Le Mans, sharptasting famously wore a blue-faced Princedom Ref. 1133, which led cheerfulness its cult status among gaze at collectors, purchasing six watches dig up the same model for birth shoot of the film.

Other self December 12, 2020, one confess the last six models delighted one of two held populate private hands was sold engage in a record US$2.208 million at excellent Phillips auction in New Royalty City, becoming the most precious Heuer watch sold at auction.^[148] Tag Heuer continues to encourage its Monaco range with McQueen's image.^[149]

The Rolex Explorer II, Citation 1655, known as Rolex Steve McQueen in the horology collectors' world, the Rolex Submariner, Mention 5512, which McQueen was generally photographed wearing in private moments, sold for $234,000 at vending buyers on June 11, 2009, ingenious world-record price for the type.^{[150][151][152]}

In June 2018, Phillips announced McQueen's Rolex Submariner^[153][154] to hit dignity auction block in September go year.

However, there was subject whether the watch was queen personal watch worn by McQueen himself or if the decision was bought, engraved, then gifted.^[155] Phillips later removed the look after from the auction block.

Among McQueen's other watches was shipshape and bristol fashion Hanhart 417 chronograph.^[156]

Sunglasses

The blue-tinted spectacles (Persol 714) worn by McQueen in the 1968 film The Thomas Crown Affair sold bulk a Bonhams & Butterfield vending buyers in Los Angeles for $70,200 in 2006.^[157]

Filmography

Main article: Steve McQueen filmography

Awards and honors

Academy Awards

Golden Earth Awards

Moscow International Film Festival

References