Chad McQueen, actor/racer Steve McQueen’s only son, died last Wednesday at home from what has been reported as organ failure.
His children released a statement: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our father Chad McQueen. 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. He passed his passion, knowledge and dedication down to us and we will continue not only his legacy but our grandfather’s as well.”
While Chad McQueen became an actor, his career was overshadowed by his father’s. Chad’s most famous role was as Dutch in The Karate Kid movies. His last acting role was in 2001 in The Fall. He appeared in some documentaries about his father, most recently the 2020 documentary A Life of Endless Summers: The Bruce Brown Story. Steve McQueen largely financed Brown’s 1972 motorcycle documentary, On Any Sunday.
Like his father, he also found a path into motorsports, and he was a talented driver. That portion of his career ended in 2006, when he crashed while practicing for the Rolex 24 at Daytona. He had a broken left leg, two fractures to his vertebrae, and multiple rib fractures. According to Wikipedia, 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, but he did drive at historic events.
He leaves three children, Steven, a successful actor himself, and Chase and Madison, along with his wife, Jeanie Galbraith.