Steve McQueen’s Son Chad McQueen, Who Appeared In ‘The Karate Kid,’ Dead At 63

Chad McQueen, the son of the legendary Hollywood star Steve McQueen, died on Tuesday at the age of 63. He was best known for playing a supporting but iconic role in the original The Karate Kid film in 1984.

Chad McQueen Passes Away

Chad’s longtime attorney Arthur Barens told TMZ that the actor died from organ failure at his home in Palm Desert, California. He tragically suffered a serious injury a few years ago that led to progressive organ failure. This ultimately killed him.

At the time of his death, Chad was surrounded by his wife Jeanie and his children. His attorney was present as well.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our father, Chad McQueen,” Chad’s wife and two children told Variety. “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,” they continued. “He passed his passion, knowledge and dedication down to us, and we will continue not only his legacy but our grandfather’s as well.”

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Chad’s Life

Born on December 28, 1960, Chad was the only son of the Hollywood legend Steve McQueen, who died in 1980. Chad’s mother was the Filipina American actress Neile Adams, who is currently 92 years-old.

Chad was best known for playing Dutch in The Karate Kid in 1984. He later reprised his role in The Karate Kid II in 1986. Indeed, Dutch was known for being one of the most reckless and aggressive of the Cobra Kai members.

The role was like a match made in heaven. Consider – Chad’s father was a dedicated martial artist.

Steve McQueen famously learned under the legend himself, Bruce Lee.

Unlike many of his co-stars, however, Chad never appeared in the popular Netflix sequel series Cobra Kai.

After The Karate Kid movies, Chad later had mostly small supporting roles in television and film. This included several direct-to-video movies.

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Chad’s Racing Career

Chad had other interests outside of acting. Like his father, Chad was also passionate about racing, and he became a gifted racer in his own right. Chad won the World Mini Grand Prix when he was just 12 years old.
He went on to compete in events like 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring.

Sadly, Chad’s racing career ended in 2006 with a devastating crash on a practice run for the Daytona International Speedway’s Rolex 24 event. This crash left Chad with a broken left leg and multiple broken ribs. Chad also suffered two spinal fractures.

Despite this, Chad’s passion for racing still shown through. In 2010, he founded McQueen Racing, which teamed up with manufacturers to create high-end limited-edition motorcycles and cars intended for racing.

Chad was predeceased by his father and by his sister Terry, who died in 1998 at the age of 38. He is survived by his wife, his three children, and his mother.

Rest in peace, Chad McQueen.