Karate Kid Actor Chad McQueen Dead: Steve McQueen's Son Was 63

Passionate about car racing like his father, he played Dutch opposite Ralph Maccio in the first films.

Arthur Barens, friend of Chad McQueen for 40 years, has just announced his death to Hollywood Reporterat only 63 years old. Sad news confirmed by his children, Chase and Madison McQueen.

“His journey was remarkable, both as a caring father and as a devoted husband to our mother, he truly showed us what a life dedicated to love and devotion was, did they write about Instagram. His passion for car racing not only demonstrated his enormous talent in this field, it also honored the legacy of his father, who had instilled in him values ​​that he would never cease to carry.

He passed on his passion, knowledge and dedication to us, his children, and we will continue to pass on all of this, as well as our grandfather's legacy. As a family, we are going through a difficult time and we ask that you respect our privacy, while celebrating his extraordinary life with us.

With our hearts filled with gratitude,

Jeanie, Chase and Madison.”

Born from the union between the star of BullittSteve McQueen, and actress Neile Adams (Chickens, Fantasy Island…), Chad McQueen has had some success in cinema thanks to the saga Karate Kidas a student confronting Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), Dutch. A role he played in the first two installments, in 1984 and 1986, but which he did not reprise in the third sequel, nor in the Netflix spin-off series, Cobra Kaiin which we learn that his character ended up in prison.

His parents divorced when he was twelve, and he lost his father at 19. His sister Terry, born of the same union, died in 1998. In addition to his experience on Karate KidChad starred in a few other films in the 1990s (New York Cop, Red Line…), but his first passion being car racing, it is above all in this field that he made his career, and this from his childhood via a race set up by his father during the making of his cult film, Le Mansin 1971 – Chad was 11 years old at the time.

Chad McQueen and Steven R. McQueen.

On this subject, he participated in the documentary Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans with his mother, detailing from his childhood memories his father's all-consuming passion for racing cars. Chad has also produced motorsports-related television programs, such as Hot Rod TV or documents such as Filming at Speed.

He competed in multiple races until 2006, when an accident at the 24 Hours of Daytona forced him to end his racing career. Injured again in 2020, he had not fully recovered, reveals Arthur Barens, who explains that his death is linked to his recent health problems. In addition to his two children, his wife Jeanie and his mother, now 92, he is survived by his ex-wife Stacey Toten, as well as their son, Steven R. McQueen, known for the series The Vampire Diaries And Legacies. He also has a grandson, Michael.

Le Mans filming nearly killed Steve McQueen [critique]