Steve McQueen's Son and 'Karate Kid' Actor Chad McQueen Dead at Age 63: Read His Family's Tribute

Hollywood icon Steve McQueen’s son, actor and racing driver Chad McQueen, died on Wednesday, September 11, at the young age of 63. His family announced his death via social media, mourning the Karate Kid star and paying tribute to his life and legacy. 

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our father Chad McQueen,” the actor's children Chase and Madison, and wife Jeanie wrote in an Instagram post on Thursday, September 12. “His remarkable journey as a loving father to us, along with his unwavering commitment to our mother, truly exemplified a life filled with love and dedication.” 

“His passion for racing not only highlighted his exceptional talent but also served as a way to honor his father’s legacy, a testament to the values instilled in him,” their statement continued. “He passed his passion, knowledge and dedication down to us, and we will continue not only his legacy but our grandfathers as well. As a family, we need to navigate this difficult time, and we kindly ask for privacy as we remember and celebrate his extraordinary life.” 

Chad sustained a fall in 2020, his close friend Arthur Barens told The Hollywood Reporter after his death, noting that the actor never fully recovered from his injuries. Barens later confirmed that Chad died from organ failure at his home in Palm Springs, California. 

The early life of Chad McQueen, Steve McQueen’s son 

Chad was born in 1960 to legendary actor Steve McQueen and Neile Adams. Like his father, Chad quickly developed a passion for racing, automobiles and motorcycles, and began competing on the dirt bike circuit at the young age of 9. He took home the Mini Le Mans auto racing gold one year later, and won the World Mini Grand Prix title by the time he was 12. Like his father, Chad turned his attention to the film industry, and got a starring role in the seminial 1980s classic films, The Karate Kid and The Karate Kid Part II. 

Chad McQueen’s starring role in ‘The Karate Kid’ and ‘The Karate Kid Part II’ 

Starring alongside Ralph Macchio, Chad played the film’s “villain” in both the 1984  Karate Kid movie and its sequel, released in 1986.  

Despite his success in the films, Chad did not return for the 2018 Netflix show Cobra Kai, with the show’s co-creator Jon Hurwitz explaining on X (formally known as Twitter), “We always wanted Chad McQueen to appear on the show. And it almost happened a couple of times. Chad was torn. His racing injuries limited his capabilities, but he loved the idea of playing again with his pal, @william_zabka. They had so much fun together while making Karate Kid.” 

“Before Season 6, word got to us that Chad had decided he was ready to join the party. Josh, Hayden, and I drove out to his ranch to meet him in person for the very first time. He and his family greeted us warmly,” Hurwitz continued writing. “We left Chad’s place excited and determined to make Dutch’s return special. And yes, we dropped his name in episode 602 partly to keep him fresh in the audience’s mind. We wrote a scene for him much later in the season…. Unfortunately, Chad was unable to join us when it came time to shoot. At the end of the day, it wasn’t meant to be. “ 

The co-creator also noted in the post that Chad was “the purest Cobra of them all” and that he was “sending much love and strength to his wonderful family.” 

Chad McQueen’s racing career

Aside from acting, Chad was a very well-established racer, a trait he also inherited from his father, Steve. 

In 2010, after spending most of his life racing, the actor opened a performance vehicle company called McQueen Racing. This came after his 2007 accident at the Daytona International Speedway, which caused the actor  to spend a month in a coma. 

Chad’s impressive racing career consisted of  events like the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He also frequently posted about his favorite cars on Instagram. 

Inside Chad McQueen’s personal life 

Chad was married twice, first to Stacia  Toten from 1987 to 1990. ,  They had a child together, naming him Steven R. McQueen, who would go on to pursue his own acting career. Steven is best known for playing s Jeremy Gilbert in The Vampire Diaries. 

The racer and actor married Jeanie Galbraith in 1993, and remained with her until his death. They had two children together, Madison and Chase. 

May Chad McQueen rest in peace. 

For more trending news, keep scrolling!

Paris Wants to Keep Olympic Rings on Eiffel Tower—But Family Says ‘Non’

Bon Jovi Saved a Life on a Bridge: What to Do If You See Someone in Crisis

Remembering James Earl Jones Through His Greatest Quotes About Life