At 63, Steve McQueen's Son Finally Confirms What We Thought All Along

yeah he was a fascinating guy Steve McQueen he became a race car driver like serious race car driver yeah he did race in In America which was I think was a 12h hour race and they came second with a broken foot he did it almost 50 years after his death the words of Steve McQueen still ring true as the world continues to fall for the charm of the 20th century icon as a man who always did things on his terms the actor still holds the title of King of Cool a bonafide bad boy from the streets who became a rock star on the Silver Screen in one of his quotes he lived for himself and answered to nobody however how true was he to this quote and how exactly did McQueen live his life join us as we unveil at 63 Steve McQueen's son finally confirms what we thought all along McQueen the man the star the legend more than just an actor for many Steve McQueen was the ultimate role model unashamed in his self-confidence a man's man was the strong silent type not overly enamored by The Glitz and glamour of Hollywood the racer turned actor or actor turned racer as McQueen probably saw it found inspiration in everyday life and took strides to stay true to his values and style he was an individual who didn't crack Under Pressure regardless of the situation however you only earn the nickname King of Cool by coming out with the odd sound bite guaranteed to revive a few engines here we celebrate some of McQueen's most unforgettable moments which promis to leave you Keen to embrace your inner bad boy he was an individual who didn't crack Under Pressure regardless of the situation I sced around for the next couple of years trying to get the scam on the human race and just where I fit in I discovered there were no openings McQueen's Legacy continues to inspire decades after his untimely death inextricably linked with tag Hoyer the king of cool had everything the brand embodies impeccable style irresistible charm and the ability to never crack Under Pressure how did McQueen end up an anti-hero and how is he still one of the coolest cats to ever stalk the planet not that he would have shown an ounce of recognition of that a tough childhood born Terren Steven McQueen on March 24th 1930 in Indiana to Mother Julia Anne and stunt pilot William Terrence McQueen life dealt our budding hero a cruel hand from the get-go abandoned by his father before his birth and his mother at 3 years old the young McQueen was brought up by his grandparents Victor and Lillian in Slater Missouri during one of the harshest Economic Times in American history as the Great Depression gripped America's purse strings leaving families destitute and struggling to cope McQueen's family moved into a farmhouse in Slater with lilian's brother clawed times were tough still when reflecting on his early childhood McQueen hailed the experience and influence of his uncle as hugely positive and one which shaped his future even if he didn't realize it at the time Uncle Claude introduced Steve to the racing World by giving him a red tricycle on his fourth birthday sparking a lifelong passion at age 8 McQueen was on the move again as his mother and her new husband took him to Indianapolis to begin a new life together however there was no denying the lasting influence of Uncle Claude speaking of leaving his childhood home McQueen said the day I left the farm Uncle Claude gave me a personal going away present a gold pocket watch with an inscription inside the case reading to Steve who has been a son to me the time piece became one of McQueen's most cherished possessions however the move wasn't all the family had hoped and the young McQueen suffered at the hands of both his first and second stepfather driving him to join a street gang and commit Petty crimes he noted the day I left the farm Uncle Claude gave me a personal going away present a gold pocket watch with an inscription inside the case reading to Steve who has been a son to me the time piece became one of McQueen's most cherished possessions McQueen blazing his Trail rebellion was an integral part of his childhood at 14 McQueen joined the circus briefly before eventually being remanded in the California junior boys republic in Chino following his mother's signing a court order claiming he was encourageable it was here that McQueen began to grow and mature despite initially struggling to find his feet with the other boys he would later be heralded an inspiration after being elected to the boys council at age 16 this group set the rules and regulations governing the boys lives from the big top to the Marines with a stint of a brothel in between a glance through Steve McQueen's resumee is an eyeopener to say the least little did the world know that his harrowing experiences would provide a wealth of inspiration for his future acting career joining the military McQueen's journey of discipline began when he enlisted in the Marine Corps at 17 despite joining the Armed Forces at such a young age he proved to be a skilled fighter proficient in using various weapons including guns knives and his bare hands while he started well earning a promotion to private first class his rebellious nature soon got the better of him he was demoted to private seven times and then detained for staying with his girlfriend Beyond his leave though he resisted he eventually spent 41 days in the brig The Experience seems to have positively affected McQueen as he became a model Marine afterwards however the highlight of of his military career came during a brutal Arctic exercise when his ship hit a sandbar throwing several men into the freezing Waters McQueen without hesitation dove in and pulled five of his fellow Marines ashore saving their lives when McQueen turned 22 he realized his true calling was elsewhere despite his successes as a marine his Restless Soul yearned for something else the beginning of the career of the century in 19 52 a young Steve McQueen had already gone through several jobs but the one he is now most famous for acting was still unexplored territory for him McQueen was a Man Who Loved to try new things and was never afraid of experimenting with life with the money he received from the GI Bill McQueen enrolled himself in acting classes in New York City learning from the likes of Sanford Meisner and UT Hagen two renowned teachers of the time acting was the new world for McQueen but he quickly adapted to it and found many benefits Steve McQueen's love life remained a Fascination for the tabloids throughout his career he went from one beautiful actress to another and this trend started back in his early days as an acting student in New York City one of his early flings was with another aspiring actress Gia Scala who never quite achieved the level of success that McQueen did but still appeared in dozens of Hollywood films throughout the 50s and 60s while the GI Bill helped McQueen get his foot in the door in New York City it was not enough to sustain him forever however McQueen had other skills that could help him make ends meet he started racing motorcycles every weekend to support his budding acting career and as it turned out he was quite good at it soon enough he was making around $100 every weekend which would be equivalent to about $11,000 today if fate had taken a different turn McQueen might have become a professional racer but the world of stardom awaited him on the Silver Screen finding love in Hollywood the union of passions in 1955 McQueen decided to leave New York City and move west to Hollywood in search of better opportunities there he met his first love neie Adams who was a Broadway dancer despite his initial struggles in Hollywood McQueen went on to marry Nila in 1956 Neil later wrote about how their shared difficult childhoods helped them better understand each other however their marriage was far from perfect Nila was well aware of McQueen's drug problem from the outset and he was also known to be a jealous and physically violent partner in addition to this McQueen had many Affairs and flings during their marriage despite these challenges the couple had two children together Terry Leslie McQueen who sadly passed away in 1998 and Chad McQueen born in 1960 Nila eventually filed for divorce in 1971 around a year after arriving in La McQueen married another actress but their marriage ended in Flames nonetheless McQueen's career started taking off during this time even as his life was filled with turmoil McQueen is a man of style it's one thing being a lovable Rogue and quite another to be a lovable Rogue with a desirable style McQueen managed that bringing a Swagger from a different era to the masses effortlessly cool his cleancut yet masculine style encapsulated his bad boy Persona and his love of a high octane lifestyle McQueen could effortlessly switch between a look perfect for the racetrack and the finest smart casual attire regardless of what he wore his fashion choices were always practical he would just get dressed in a quick second and always looked great Chad McQueen said speaking of his father's sense of fashion I never saw him once get out of something to get into something else keeping it simple but significant was key to McQueen's look much has been and continues to be written about emulating his style the key is getting well fitted Timeless pieces Steve McQueen the first thing that probably Springs to mind is a roll neck jumper and Blazer a classic look that secured his place as a style icon a well-tailored three-piece suit paired with poule 714 sunglasses was another look pivotal to McQueen's masculine bad boy style then of course there was the double denim normally considered a faux paa McQueen looked like the style icon in jeans and a denim shirt teamed with a pair of desert boots other signature looks included khaki chinos worn with white plimsoles he was photographed in the iconic photo where he sat on a sofa pointing a revolver with one leg crossed War photographer John Dominus cap Ed the moment in a shoot for Life Magazine this photo was taken before the real photo shoot began and never actually made it into the magazine highlighting his unparalleled knack for looking Incredible without even trying when it came to outerwear McQueen's dawning of a Harrington jacket helped his appeal and influence spread to mod culture in the UK another staple was a leather jacket over simple layers when he led the US team at 1964's International Six-Day trial motorcycle event McQueen looked impeccable in a barber International jacket the brand has since capitalized on this with an entire Steve McQueen range not a man to over accessorize his less is more attitude was never more evident than in his close relationship with tag hoer since wearing the square dialed tag hoer Monaco on his wrist in L man in 1971 the blue-eyed actor and blue-faced watch became forever linked with McQueen acting as an ambassador of the brands don't crack Under Pressure Mantra while each of his looks expressed his personality his choice of clothing was only part of what made McQueen so iconic his nonchalant Spirit rugged personality and undeniable confidence were the main ingredients and a perfect match for the 1960s counterculture McQueen is a man of lights camera and action there's no escaping McQueen's Allure and Charisma on the sil screen known for portraying cool reticent anti-heroes his devilish charm made him one of the biggest box office attractions of the 1960s and 1970s McQueen's first tentative steps into acting came in 1950 after he was honorably discharged from the Marines at 20 with support from the GI bill which helped pay veterans tuition fees McQueen escaped to New York City to study acting however when he swapped the Big Apple for the bright lights of Los Angeles the young actor got his first break into film in 1953 a movie called The Blob was released which marked McQueen's rise to Fame The Blob is an independent cult sci-fi horror film that follows Steve played by McQueen and his best girl Jane as they attempt to protect their Hometown from an alien life form that engulfs everything it touches the be movie may have been his first role but his stint in in the long running Western TV show Wanted Dead or Alive secured McQueen's status as an on-screen Crush taking his career to the next level the role of Josh Randall gave McQueen the space to grow into his famed anti-hero Persona and cemented his reputation as a rising star castings came in quickly with the young actor transforming himself into College Dropout turned getaway driver George Fowler in the great St Louis bank robbery in 1959 Corporal ringa in never so few in 1959 and Drifter Vin Tanner in the iconic magnificent 7 in 1960 again the real movie star status came with the character of Captain Virgil hiltz a one2 prisoner of war in the Blockbuster The Great Escape in 1963 the film directed by John Sturgis tells the real life tale of Allied Forces PWS who not only attempt to escape from a German camp but also draw Nazi forces away from the battle to search for fugitives in a stunt packed film McQueen took on most of the action himself except the unforgettable final leap for Freedom which had to be carried out by Stunt Driver Bud eans for insurance purposes also the bullet made in 1968 The Great Escape wasn't the only time McQueen and eans worked together as the pair raced together for the US in 1964 and then teamed up again for the cult Warner Brothers classic bullet in 1968 despite practicing high octane driving on the Streets of San Francisco in preparation for the role of police detective Frank bullet McQueen was behind the wheel of the iconic 1968 Ford Mustang for 10% of the car chase scene with ekins and two other stunt drivers taking on the bulk of the driving in addition released in 1968 The Thomas Crown Affair is a classic Heist romance film featuring Steve McQueen and Fay dunway in the lead roles the role was actually first offered to Shawn connory who later regretted his decision to decline the stunts in this classic film are less extensive than those in some of his other movies however McQueen performed them himself including the beach buggy scene in the lon 1971 his passion for Motorsport was taken up a gear in the 1971 cult classic lemon set at the 24-hour lemon's auto r in France the film tells the story of Michael Delaney played by McQueen a 1970 Porsche 911 driver haunted by the memory of an accident at the previous year's race in which a competing driver was killed the minimal story line focuses on the Rivalry between Delaney and his Ferrari driving arch nemesis Eric acted by sigfried Ral during this film McQueen dawned a tag Hoyer Crest on his racing suit and the square dialed mon mono watch on his wrist catapulting the watch into super stardom McQueen continued to Grace the Silver Screen taking on leading roles in films such as papon in 1973 and the Towering Inferno in 1974 for which he was paid $12 million making him the highest paid actor in the world his final role was that of American Bounty Hunter Ralph Papa Thorson in the hunter released in 1979 before the icon's untimely death in November 1980 McQueen elevated his talents to new heights celebrities and motor racing have gone hand inand for decades these days stars like Tom Cruz and Patrick Dempsey have been known to add a little extra speed to their CVS by getting behind the wheels of race cars however there's no denying that Steve McQueen led the pack regarding the track a legendary Hollywood Daredevil McQueen never shied away from the opportunity to get his hands dirty taking on many of his stunts and living on the edge armed with a passion for motorcycles and racing from a young age his hobby was the driving force behind many of his role choices determined to become king of the track he took part in various professional races over the years including the British Touring Car Championship in 1961 and the 12 hours of Sebring race in 1970 to name just a few he also often competed in off-road motorcycle racing with his BSA Hornet taking part in the Baja 1000 mint 400 and Elenor Grand Prix his passion for motorcycles was such that McQueen owned about 140 bikes himself the bikes were auctioned off after his death with his 1937 Crocker auctioned and sold for a world record amount of $276,500 as if his thrill-seeking Hobbies on land weren't enough McQueen also flew and owned a range of different aircraft he was the proud owner of the 1945 steeran 1946 Piper j3 Cub and 1931 pitar pa8 B plane during his final days these were hanged at Santa Paula airport an hour's drive away from Hollywood McQueen's Breaking Point Steve McQueen's marriage was falling apart while his career was thriving his wife NE and he had been growing apart and her 1971 abortion pushed their relationship to the brink though they had been together for over 15 years McQueen fell into the arms of another woman to make matters worse his affair was with one of his co-stars Ali McGraw the two had an instant connection on the set of the getaway but their Affair was kept a secret given that both were married however few Affairs in Hollywood stay a secret for long and and Steve's wife soon finds out Ali's marriage was also on the rocks and the pair began a secret affair it was the last straw for McQueen's wife and ended up being the last straw for Ali's marriage within a year of divorcing McQueen and McGraw married each other their relationship was intense but tumultuous and they couldn't make it work despite their love for each other they divorced in 1978 after his split from McGraw McQueen soon found himself drawn to an utterly captivating woman he saw in an advertisement he had his agent track down the ads model and set a date her name was Barbara minty and she became McQueen's third and final wife although he had many flings in Affairs throughout his life McQueen was mostly a serial monogamist he had an affair with actress and model Lauren Hutton in the early 1960s while still married to his first wife he also had an affair with Barbara Lee his co-star in junior boner just before meeting Ali McGraw however none of these trrs compared to his wildest affair with m voran one of Hollywood's great incorrigible starlets who claimed to have had a sorted affair with McQueen in the 1960s the pair would party long into the night taking hallucinogens together while McQueen was still married and with kids although many people close to McQueen would vouch for him as an allaround around great guy women were always his greatest Vice bringing out his Dark Side confronting his inner demons in the mid 1970s Steve McQueen arguably the biggest star on the planet suddenly disappeared from the public eye he stopped appearing in movies and spent his days driving around the country in a motor home racing motorcycles wherever he stopped for McQueen racing had always been the passion that held his heart however ever it seems that some underlying factors led to his sudden decision to step away from the Limelight as it turns out McQueen had been battling his demons and closet Secrets throughout his life McQueen suffered from addiction issues which were exacerbated by his up and down career and tumultuous love life by the 1970s he had hit rock bottom smoking like a chimney and drinking heavily he pretty much covered all his bases when it came to partying nonetheless McQueen's love for racing remained steadfast and he spent his days indulging in his passion for Speed perhaps as a means to escape from his troubles McQueen's Health challenged around the time his marriage to Ali McGraw disintegrated Steve McQueen developed a persistent cough it was not too surprising given how much he smoked but even when he quit the cough remained he tried antibiotic treatments but still he couldn't stop coughing he finally went in for a biopsy and the result was devastating doctors found plural mesothelioma in his lungs in other words Steve McQueen had cancer the news was heartbreaking enough but it got worse the cause of McQueen's illness was also tragic many types of cancer can't be prevented but there was a specific culprit behind McQueen's plural mesothelioma asbestos McQueen was exposed to carcinogenic material throughout his life from removing asbestos insulation from ships as a Marine to acting around asbest soundproofing on sound stages there was even asbest in the protective helmets and Suits McQueen wore while racing though no one knew any better Steve McQueen spent most of his adult life inhaling the dangerous material and it finally caught up to him although McQueen tried to keep his diagnosis hidden for as long as he could within months the national Inquirer had gotten a hold of the story and revealed his illness to the world a massive outpouring of support followed but no one could do anything to help him now secret or not his cancer was terminal but that doesn't mean Steve McQueen was going down without a fight when American doctors told McQueen there was nothing they could do he started looking elsewhere leading him to a truly Twisted character there was nothing anyone could do to save Steve McQueen but he wasn't about to admit that he traveled to Mexico seeking advice from a quack named William Donald Kelly Kelly falsely claimed he had a method that could cure cancer and McQueen was desperate so he listened he underwent treatment with Kelly and it involved operations that ranged from bizarre to horrifying under Kelly's instruction McQueen received coffee enemas daily injections of cow and sheep cells constant massages and doses of a horrible miracle cure called leetal and as if these humiliating uncomfortable and ineffective treatments weren't bad enough Kelly dared to charge the desperate McQueen $440,000 a month it was also found that Dr William Donald Kelly had had his medical license revoked years before this and that he had only been an orthodontist but McQueen had absolutely no options so he listened to Kelly anyway sadly it only made his final days more painful in October 1980 McQueen flew down to Mexico one last time he had a massive 5B tumor on his liver but his American doctors told him they couldn't operate on it it was too large and he was too weak there was no way his heart could stand the operation still McQueen had come this far so he wasn't about to stop now under the pseudonym Samuel Shephard McQueen signed himself into a small Warez Medical Clinic none of the doctors knew his real identity not that it would have made made a difference sadly Steve McQueen passed from heart failure at 3:45 a.m. on November 7th 1980 at the clinic in harez not long after his surgery he was only 50 years old it was just like his doctor had said the cancer was terminal and there was nothing anyone could do but no one could say that Steve McQueen went down without a fight Steve McQueen's son's Revelations after his death the documentary I am Steve McQueen uncovers the real personality of the iconic actor Steve McQueen who is widely known for his roles in bullet and the Great Escape the film produced by his son Chad sheds light on McQueen's troubled upbringing which resulted in his unpredictable and violent Behavior Chad discloses that his father suffered from paranoia and was always anxious about losing things a trait that he attributes to his early life experiences Steve McQueen's childhood was was marked by abandonment and neglect growing up as the son of an alcoholic prostitute he eventually ended up in reform school after indulging in petty crime and fighting despite his challenging upbringing McQueen fought hard for his beliefs but his short temper often got the better of him Chad witnessed this Behavior both at home and on set the documentary also features testimony from McQueen's first wife Neil Adams who admits he tended to become violently jealous she describes how he beat her when he found out about her affair with maximilan shell in addition the seon revealed that after marrying Ali McGraw whom he met on the set of the getaway McQueen became increasingly controlling and insecure he insisted that McGraw quit her career and stay home with dinner ready by 600 p.m. sharp he banned her from wearing high heels and having long nails and their relationship was fraught with tension and danger McGraw admits that McQueen's Behavior was unpredictable and when things were good they were excellent however when things were bad they were unbearable the marriage eventually fell apart with McQueen becoming increasingly distant and unresponsive in the late 1970s McQueen retreated from Hollywood after turning down several leading roles including A Bridge Too Far Close Encounters of the Third Kind and apocalypse now primarily because of his excessive demands for money Steve McQueen a successful Hollywood actor had the power to demand anything he wanted however the items he requested were quite unusual he often asked for bulk supplies of electric razors jeans and other necessities and it was puzzling why a movie star like him would need such things however there was a heartwarming reason behind McQueen's unusual demands McQueen spent his early teenage years in a boarding school which despite being a rocky experience became a place he held very dear to his heart he considered it his home a place that accepted him when few others did Steve McQueen donated all the supplies he received from his writers to the school he often returned to spend time with the students playing pool and sharing his life experiences in 1964 at the peak of the Cold War McQueen provided most of the funding required to form the first authentic Team USA at the international Six-Day trials isdt held in erfort Germany the team consisted of McQueen bud and Dave Ekans Cliff Coleman and John Steen Steve McQueen was proud to carry the stars and stripes for the US team at the opening ceremony thanks for watching check out another interesting video by clicking on the link appearing 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Channel: Prime Discovery

Views: 2,457

Keywords: Steve McQueen, Steve, McQueen, Steve McQueen tragic life, iconic actor, cinematic history, intense personality, an insatiable drive for on-screen dominance, behind the scenes stories, ultimate expedition, ultimate, expedition, Steve McQueen's Son, Finally Confirms, What We Thought All Along

Id: 5n7ovUxdGrE

Length: 29min 25sec (1765 seconds)

Published: Sat Jul 13 2024