Chad McQueen

Chadwick Steven McQueen (December 28, 1960 – September 11, 2024) was an American actor, film producer, martial artist, and race car driver. He was the only son of actor Steve McQueen.

Chadwick Steven McQueen was born on December 28, 1960, in Los Angeles to actors Steve McQueen and Neile Adams. From an early age, McQueen was an avid enthusiast of automobiles, motorcycles, and racing, interests that he inherited from his father. He began racing dirt bikes by age 9 and, in three years, went on to win his class in the World Mini Grand Prix. He quickly moved on to auto racing, winning his first race: the Mini Le Mans event, a children-only track created on the set of the 1971 film Le Mans, when McQueen was 10 years old. Before filming was completed on that film, McQueen enjoyed racing at triple-digit speeds down the straights while seated in his father's lap at the wheel of a Porsche 917. At 12, he won his class at the World Mini Grand Prix.

McQueen began his career as a film actor, notably playing the very intense character “Dutch” in The Karate Kid and The Karate Kid Part II. His further acting work included main roles in direct-to-video action films including Martial Law, Death Ring, and Red Line. He also worked as a producer, winning a Telly Award for his documentary Filming at Speed. After his retirement from acting, McQueen appeared as himself on various television programs related to motorsports, including Hot Rod TV and Celebrity Rides.

His professional racing career started in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). McQueen competed in several types of racing from Motocross to the Baja 1000. He teamed with Belgian racing legend Jacky Ickx and his daughter Vanina, piloting a trio of Porsche 959s restored by Porsche Motorsports for the 2004 Goodwood event. Also in 2004, he qualified for the SCCA Runoffs, winning multiple events. Racing for Westernesse Racing, he finished fourth.

In January 2006, he was seriously injured (suffering a broken lower left leg, two fractures to his vertebrae, and multiple rib fractures) in an accident at the Daytona International Speedway while practicing for the 24 Hours of Daytona Sports Car race. He returned to Daytona during the 2007 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona race to thank the medics and track workers who he said saved his life. McQueen subsequently stated that his driving days were over and he wanted to become a team owner.

In November 2007, he returned to the Daytona International Speedway and got behind the wheel of the Brumos 1975 Ecurie Escargot RSR, driving it in the exhibitions at the Porsche Rennsport Reunion III.

In January 2010, he started McQueen Racing, LLC, a company that partners with leaders in the motorcycle and custom-car industries towards development of high-performance, limited-edition custom cars, motorcycles, and accessories.

Chad McQueen dated Jill Henderson White Pasceri in the 1980s, a USEF Equestrian rider and horse trainer. Jill is the daughter of trombonist Jimmy Henderson. He was married to Stacia Toten (who later wed Hockey Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille) from 1987 to 1990. The couple had one son, actor Steven R. McQueen (b. 1988), who was a regular in the television series The Vampire Diaries and Chicago Fire. McQueen married Jeanie Galbraith in 1993. They had two children, son Chase McQueen (b. 1995) and daughter Madison McQueen (b. 1996).

His sister, Terry, died at age 38 in 1998.

McQueen died on September 11, 2024, at the age of 63. A day later, his wife Jeanie and his two children, Chase and Madison, released a joint statement to Variety confirming that McQueen died in Palm Springs. His friend Arthur Barens told The Hollywood Reporter that McQueen died from organ failure while at his Palm Springs ranch. McQueen had never fully recovered from an injury he sustained in a fall in 2020.