Chad McQueen: 'Karate Kid' Villain to 24 Hours  of Le Mans Competitor, Dies at 63

Cruxbuzz Staff

Chad McQueen, the son of legendary actor Steve McQueen, known for his role as "Dutch" in "The Karate Kid" films, passed away on Wednesday in Palm Springs at the age of 63 due to organ failure.

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Born on December 28, 1960, in Los Angeles, Chad McQueen grew up in Malibu, California. His parents, Steve McQueen and Filipino-born actress Neile Adams, were married from 1956 until their divorce in 1972.

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McQueen's most notable acting role was as "Dutch," a Cobra Kai member in "The Karate Kid" (1984) and its sequel "The Karate Kid Part II" (1986).

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Following in his father's footsteps, Chad McQueen found his true passion in auto racing.

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This career allowed him to honor his father's legacy while carving out his own niche in the motorsports world.

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 In 2006, McQueen's racing career came to an abrupt end after a near-fatal crash during practice for the Daytona International Speedway's Rolex 24 event.

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This incident forced him to reassess his involvement in motorsports. In response, he founded McQueen Racing in 2010, a company focused on developing high-performance cars and motorcycles.

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In 2020, he suffered a fall from which he never fully recovered, leading to his eventual passing in 2023.

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McQueen Racing, now run by his children, represents a third-generation effort to continue the McQueen legacy in the automotive world.

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