"He liked camping, he liked rugged things, he liked firing a gun," said LIFE photographer John Dominis of his friend and subject, Steve McQueen. McQueens addictions saw him arrested for drunk driving on June 22, 1972, in Anchorage, Alaska. McQueen fires off some shots during target practice in the desert. McQueen's character spoke one brief line: "Alts iz farloyrn." McQueen died of a heart attack on November 7, 1980. [56] In the 1970 12 Hours of Sebring race, Peter Revson and McQueen (driving with a cast on his left foot from a motorcycle accident two weeks earlier) won with a Porsche 908/02 in the three-litre class and missed winning overall by 21.1 seconds to Mario Andretti/Ignazio Giunti/Nino Vaccarella in a five-litre Ferrari 512S. He died on Nov. 7Billy Graham's 62 nd birthdayand was found clutching that Bible. [105], McQueen had an unusual reputation for demanding free items in bulk from studios when agreeing to do a film, such as electric razors, jeans, and other items. Steve McQueen - biography, personal life, photos, height, movies, racer and latest news Steve McQueen Name: Steve McQueen ( Terence Steven McQueen ) Born: March 24, 1930 Age: 50 years old Died: November 07, 1980 Birthplace: Beech Grove, USA Height: 5 Feet 10 Inches Occupation: ctor, car racer Tags: actor, racer Relationship Status: not married [134] Michael Foust of Wordslingers called it "one of the most powerful and inspiring documentaries I've ever seen."[135]. McQueen and Lewis instantly clashed, the meeting was a disaster, and the role went to Garner. , Shields, Mel. The flatbed of a pickup truck was a place as good as any for McQueen when he needed a nap. A rattling old Ford carried Steve McQueen's body from a Juarez funeral home to El Paso International Airport after losing his fight with cancer Friday morning. That comment certainly got a much-needed laugh on a somber day, but it was true. His great-uncle Claude gave McQueen a special gift at his departure. . The Philippines-born dancer and actress, Neile Adams, lounges poolside with her husband at their Palm Springs home. Bartending back in New York, McQueen met an actress and followed her into the profession. Tumultuous aftermath of 1889 mayor's election, Garry Owen, champion cavalry horse, brought fame to Fort Bliss, Old El Paso brand launched in the Upper Valley, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The doctor was willing to perform an operation to remove his tumors that every American doctor had advised against, knowing it would likely kill him. [7] As McQueen began to rebel again, he was sent back to live with Claude for a final time. Two years earlier, McQueen had developed a chronic cough in 1978. [145], The Rolex Explorer II, Reference 1655, known as Rolex Steve McQueen in the horology collectors' world, the Rolex Submariner, Reference 5512, which McQueen was often photographed wearing in private moments, sold for $234,000 at auction on June 11, 2009, a world-record price for the type. Johnson. The Magnificent Seven (1960), in which he played Vin Tanner and starred with Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Robert Vaughn, Charles Bronson, Horst Buchholz, and James Coburn, became McQueen's first major hit and led to his withdrawal from Wanted: Dead or Alive. McQueen next filmed a pilot episode for what became the series titled Wanted: Dead or Alive, which aired on CBS in September 1958. It was a biopsy shortly before Christmas 1979 that revealed McQueen had pleural mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure. A charter Lear Jet, which arrived from California at about 4 p.m., set waiting. The star of films like The Magnificent Seven (1960), The Great Escape (1963), The Cincinnati Kid (1965), and Bullitt (1968), Steve was also the father to Chad McQueen, according to Vanity Fair.The . [13] He later recalled, "When a kid doesn't have any love when he's small, he begins to wonder if he's good enough. Director Steven Spielberg said McQueen was his first choice for the character of Roy Neary in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Whiskey connoisseur? Vargas later told the press that McQueen displayed an immense will to live during the few days that he knew him. Advertisement. Elkins, then McQueen's manager, successfully lobbied Vincent M. Fennelly, producer of the western series Trackdown, to have McQueen read for the part of bounty hunter Josh Randall. The 94 episodes that ran from 1958 until early 1961 kept McQueen steadily employed, and he became a fixture at the renowned Iverson Movie Ranch in Chatsworth, where much of the outdoor action for Wanted: Dead or Alive was shot. He gave up cigarettes and underwent antibiotic treatments without improvement. [127], A film based on unfinished storyboards and notes developed by McQueen before his death was slated for production by McG's production company Wonderland Sound and Vision. His father left before he was born. Sign up now. [137], In 1998, director Paul Street created a commercial for the Ford Puma. When she put him up in a separate apartment, however, he left. [49][50] He was offered the title role in The Bodyguard (to star Diana Ross) when it was proposed in 1976, but the film did not reach production until years after McQueen's death (which eventually starred Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston in 1992). Big production spent a lot of money and stayed in China too long there, in Taiwan. He moved into a house on Vestal Avenue in the Echo Park area, and sought acting jobs in Hollywood.[31]. [97] Some friends later claimed that MacGraw was the one true love of McQueen's life: "He was madly in love with her until the day he died. Ironically, he didn't think he was that good of an actor, which might've influenced his onscreen presence. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! His disinterested father, William, abandoned him within months. Before leaving, McQueen told Spielberg that he could not accept the role because he was unable to cry on cue. McQueen was a humble star, and one who loved to give back. In the spring of 1963, Steve McQueen was on the brink of superstardom, already popular from his big-screen breakout as one of The Magnificent Seven and just a couple months away from entering the Badass Hall of Fame with the release of The Great Escape. McQueen's filmography is one for the ages. Worthington, Roger. Steve McQueen died on November 7, 1980 at 50 years old in a hospital in Mexico, but did cancer really kill the legendary actor? Terrence Stephen McQueen was born on March 24, 1930, in Beech Grove, Indiana. Unfortunately for McQueen, he was banned from racing at Le Mans for insurance reasons. By testimony of McQueen's son, Chad, Steve owned around 100 classic motorcycles, as well as around 100 exotics and vintage cars, including: In spite of numerous attempts, McQueen was never able to purchase the Ford Mustang GT 390 he drove in Bullitt, which featured a modified drivetrain that suited McQueen's driving style. He holds dual bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a master's degree from New York University. It was at the California Junior Boys Republic reformatory school in Chino where McQueen finally found peace in discipline and routine. You can navigate days by using left and right arrows. HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. A staff writer for All Thats Interesting, Marco Margaritoff has also published work at outlets including People, VICE, and Complex, covering everything from film to finance to technology. [citation needed], At the Detroit Auto Show in January 2018, Ford unveiled the new 2019 Mustang Bullitt. , French, Philip. And I started: "Steve, I want to tell you, before somebody else, that I'm going to do Grand Prix." Nov 10, 2019 07:30 P.M. Steve McQueen was an iconic actor who left behind his legacy through his son Chad. [35], Also in 1963, McQueen starred in Love with the Proper Stranger with Natalie Wood. McQueen loved the outdoors and frequently hiked and camped with his dog. [7][29] He appeared as a musical judge in an episode of ABC's Jukebox Jury, which aired in the 19531954 season. But on March 18, 1980, the National Enquirer robbed him of that hope by publishing an article headlined Steve McQueens Heroic Battle Against Terminal Cancer. It spread like wildfire. Well, it's sex appeal, that's what it is. So to piss him off, I'd start lobbing empty beer cans down the hill into his driveway. Here he is wearing a Firestone racing suit and leaning against a Lola T70 SL70/14 car at Riverside Raceway. His antihero persona, emphasized during the height of the counterculture of the 1960s, made him a top box-office draw for his films of the late 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. [89] McQueen and Adams divorced in 1972. McQueen then asked Friedkin to let MacGraw act as a producer, so she could be present during principal photography. "'Perfect Hero' Selleck Takes Aim at Action". The destination was Southwest Air Rangers terminal at the El Paso International Airport. By Jaimie-lee Prince. McQueen's father, William McQueen, a stunt pilot for a barnstorming flying circus, left his mother, Julia Ann (or Julianne) Crawford,[6][11]:9 six months after meeting her. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Here he is back on the campus of his alma mater, the Boys' Republic Reformatory School, to inspire the younger generation. [62] On arrival in Germany, the team, with their English temporary manager, were surprised to find a Vase "B" team, comprising expat Americans living in Europe, had entered themselves privately to ride European-sourced machinery. ", because he planned to do Le Mans, which was another title at the time. [7][12] Several biographers have stated that Julia Ann was an alcoholic. If Steve McQueen had been alive today, he would have punched you out, one of the men told Rosales. John Dominis; Life Pictures/Shutterstock Steve McQueen with his wife, Neile, 1963. Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans, a 2015 documentary, examines the actor's quest to create and star in the 1971 auto-racing film Le Mans. "The Independent: Close Encounters of the Third Kind 9 pm Film4". He then studied acting and began competing in motorcycle races. [90], Mamie Van Doren claimed to have had an affair with McQueen and tried hallucinogens with him around 1959. Although McQueen did the driving that appeared in closeup, this was about 10% of what is seen in the film's car chase. He was inducted in the Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1978. [2]:106[21][22] He was promoted to private first class and assigned to an armored unit. McQueen went on to appear in the camp classic The Blob (1958) and gained fame playing a bounty hunter in the TV series Wanted: Dead or Alive, which originally aired on CBS from 1958 to 1961. McQueen also appears as a character in Tarantino's novel of the same name. He worked for director Sam Peckinpah again with the leading role in The Getaway, where he met future wife Ali MacGraw. Only one member of the "B" team finished the six-day event. "[25], In 1952, with financial assistance under the G.I. The film was released to dismal reviews on July 28, with Variety calling it a sorry ending.. [13] Later McQueen made his way to Texas and drifted from job to job, including selling pens at a traveling carnival, and working as a lumberjack in Canada.