Chad McQueen, an actor recognized for his performances within the Karate Child motion pictures and the son of the late actor and race automotive driver Steve McQueen, has died. He was 63.
McQueen’s lawyer and pal Arthur H. Barens confirmed to The Related Press that he died Wednesday. The reason for loss of life was not disclosed. His spouse, Jeanie, and his youngsters, Chase and Madison, shared an announcement on Instagram Thursday afternoon from McQueen’s verified account, saying the information of his loss of life with “a heavy coronary heart.”
“His outstanding journey as a loving father to us, alongside together with his unwavering dedication to our mom, actually exemplified a life stuffed with love and dedication. His ardour for racing not solely highlighted his distinctive expertise, but additionally served as a method to honour his father’s legacy, a testomony to the values instilled in him,” the assertion reads.
“He handed his ardour, data and dedication right down to us and we’ll proceed not solely his legacy however our grandfather’s as effectively.”
The household requested privateness whereas they “keep in mind and have fun his extraordinary life.”
McQueen adopted in his father’s footsteps, pursuing each performing and race automotive driving. He grew to become well-known for his function as Dutch, an antagonist from the Cobra Kai staff in 1984’s The Karate Child, in addition to its sequel two years later.
Give attention to racing
Whereas he starred in a number of movies after the hit motion franchise, together with New York Cop, Squanderers and Crimson Line, he finally engaged extra in racing than performing, and he finally based McQueen Racing, an organization that creates customized automobiles, bikes and equipment. His son, Chase, who additionally races, and his daughter, Madison, now run the corporate.
“I did not discover performing enjoyable anymore,” McQueen informed The Related Press in a 2005 interview. “So, I made a decision to provide racing a complete dedication.”
McQueen raced professionally for years, competing within the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona races earlier than he suffered from a collection of accidents behind the wheel.
His work with McQueen Racing was designed to protect and proceed his father’s legacy. McQueen additionally produced two documentaries about his father: I Am Steve McQueen and Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans.
The Karate Child franchise has gained a brand new technology of viewers by the Netflix collection, Cobra Kai.
Jon Hurwitz, Cobra Kai producer, paid tribute to Chad McQueen in a prolonged publish on X.
“When interviewing writers for Cobra Kai, if the candidate did not know who Dutch was, it was an uphill battle for them,” stated Hurwitz.
“We all the time wished Chad McQueen to look on the present. And it nearly occurred a few instances. Chad was torn. His racing accidents restricted his capabilities, however he liked the concept of taking part in once more together with his pal, [Billy Zabka].”
McQueen was the one son of his father and mom, Neile Toffel, who was additionally an actor. He had one sister, Terry, who died of respiratory failure at age 38 in 1998.
Steve McQueen, star of movies like The Nice Escape, Bullitt and Towering Inferno, died a cancer-related loss of life in 1980 at age 50.
Chad McQueen is survived by his spouse and three youngsters, Chase, Madison and Steven, who’s an actor finest recognized for The Vampire Diaries.
